Small but Nice–Seed Dispersal by Tamarins Compared to Large Neotropical Primates

Tamarins, small Neotropical primates of the genera Saguinus and Leontocebus, have a mainly frugivorous-faunivorous diet. While consuming pulp high diversity fruit species, they also swallow seeds void them intact, thus acting as seed dispersers. Here we compare different aspects dispersal ecology tamarins with that large from Ateles (spider monkeys) Lagothrix (woolly monkeys). Due to their body size, disperse smaller size range, fewer per defecation, number plant species defecation compared these atelines. We discuss whether tamarin is redundant or complementary by On level our comparisons suggest redundancy complementarity depends on concerned. habitat level, New World probably complementary. Particularly, since are capable persisting in disturbed forests near human settlements, more likely contribute natural regeneration such areas than larger primates.