The squirrel Sciurus ingrami Sciuridae Rodentia as a disperser of Araucaria angustifolia seeds Araucariaceae Pinophyta O serelepe Sciurus ingrami Sciuridae Rodentia como dispersor do pinheiro do Parana Araucaria angustifolia Araucariaceae Pinophyta

Bordignon, M.; Monteiro-Filho, E. L.

A study on the catching and caching behavior of a Brazilian squirrel population Sciurus ingrami was conducted in a secondary Araucaria angustifolia forest in the Parana State, southern Brazil. Seventeen squirrels were marked and observed form March 20 to September 20, 1995. The squirrels showed a constant caching behavior upon Araucaria angustifolia seeds, principally between March to June, when this food item was more available. Squirrels generally cached the seeds near the trunk of other trees and many seeds were effectively scattered, enlarging the natural dispersion area of a mother plant. The importance of this behavior to Araucaria forest regeneration and seed dispersion is discussed.