Tapir-Generated Seed Shadows: Scale-Dependent Patchiness in the Amazon Rain Forest

Tapirs, peccaries, wild pigs, deer, duikers and larger rodents are among the most active seed dispersers or predators; a significant change in their population densities will have a major effect on seedling survival and forest regeneration.

“Tapirs, peccaries, wild pigs, deer, duikers and the larger rodents are among the most active seed dispersers or predators; thus a significant change in their population densities will have a major effect on seedling survival and forest regeneration (Beck 2005, Bodmer 1991, Fragoso 1997).”

The disappearance or extreme reduction of populations of keystone species, ecosystem engineers, or other important species is expected to have a disproportionate impact on the ecosystem compared to the loss of other species.

“The disappearance, or even extreme reduction, of populations of 'keystone species', 'ecosystem engineers', or other species or groups of importance in ecological communities is expected to have a disproportionate impact on the ecosystem compared to the loss of other species (Campos-Arceiz and Blake 2011, Fragoso 1997, Keuroghlian andEaton 2009).”

Elephants, tapirs, and peccaries can play major roles in modifying vegetation structure, composition and dynamics through their feeding habits and movements in the forest.

“Elephants (Campos-Arceiz and Blake 2011), but also ungulates such as tapirs and peccaries (Beck 2006, Fragoso 1997, Keuroghlian and Eaton 2009), can play major roles in modifying vegetation structure, composition and dynamic through their feeding habits and movements in the forest.”