Long Distance Seed Dispersal by Forest Elephants

By dispersing seeds long distances, large, fruit-eating animals influence plant population spread and community dynamics. After fruit consumption, animal gut passage time movement determine seed dispersal patterns distances. These, in turn, are influenced by extrinsic, environmental variables intrinsic, individual-level variables. We simulated forest elephants ( Loxodonta cyclotis ) integrating data from wild with 96 individuals. On average, dispersed 5.3 km, 89% of farther than 1 km. The longest distance was 101 an average maximum 40.1 Seed distances varied among national parks, perhaps due to unmeasured differences such as habitat heterogeneity configuration, but not human disturbance or openness. male females. Elephant behavioral traits strongly bold, exploratory 1.1 km shy, idler elephants. Protection elephants, particularly males highly mobile, individuals, is critical maintaining services that shape communities tropical habitat.