Legitimate seed dispersal Ugni molinae Turcz. (Myrtaceae), by monito del monte, Dromiciops gliroides

Abstract

We investigated if the marsupial Dromiciops gliroides (Microbiotheriidae) is a legitimate seed disperser of Ugni molinae (Myrtaceae). We compared the germination rate of defecated and not-defecated seeds. The results show that defecated seeds are viable and show a high germination rate than no-defecated seeds. We conclude that D. gliroides is a legitimate seed disperser of U. molinae, and it may affect their reproductive success. These results are the first evidence of a seed disperser for U. molinae, and also support the proposal that D. gliroides have an important role as a seed disperser in the temperate forest of southern South America.