Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A comparison of morphological and chemical fruit traits between two sites with different frugivore assemblages

  • Plant Animal Interactions
  • Published:
Oecologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Large-scale comparisons might reveal matching between fruit traits and frugivore assemblages that might be cryptic on a local scale. Therefore, we compared morphological (colour, size, husk thickness) and chemical fruit traits (protein, nitrogen, sugar, lipid, tannin and fibre content) between Malagasy and South African tree communities with different frugivore communities. In Madagascar, where lemurs are important seed dispersers, we found more tree species with fruit colour classified as “primate fruits”. In contrast, in South Africa we found more tree species with fruits classified as “bird coloured”. This correlated with the greater importance of frugivorous birds in South Africa vs. Madagascar. Additionally, we found higher sugar concentrations in fruits from the South African tree community and higher fibre content in fruits from the Malagasy tree community. However, fibre content could be related to differences in abiotic conditions between the two study sites. This suggests that fruit colour more than other morphological and chemical fruit traits, reflects food selection by the different frugivore assemblages of those two sites.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acocks JPH (1988) Veld types of South Africa. Mem Bot Surv S Afr 57:1–146

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett ATD, Cuthill IC (1994) Ultraviolet vision in birds: What is the function? Vis Res 34:1471–1478

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bleher B, Böhning-Gaese K (2001) Consequences of frugivore diversity for seed dispersal, seedling establishment and the spatial pattern of seedlings and trees. Oecologia 129:385–394

    Google Scholar 

  • Bleher B, Potgieter CJ, Johnson DN, Böhning-Gaese K (2003) The importance of figs for frugivores in a South African coastal forest. J Trop Ecol 19:375–386

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Böhning-Gaese K, Oberrath R (1999) Phylogenetic effects on morphological, life-history, behavioural and ecological traits of birds. Evol Ecol Res 1:347–364

    Google Scholar 

  • Böhning-Gaese K, Gaese BH, Rabemanantsoa SB (1999) Importance of primary and secondary seed dispersal in the Malagasy tree Commiphora guillaumini. Ecology 80:821–832

    Google Scholar 

  • Bollen A, Van Elsacker L, Ganzhorn JU (2004) Tree dispersal strategies in the littoral forest of Sainte Luce (SE-Madagascar). Oecologia 139:604–616

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bollen A, Donati G, Fietz J, Schwab D, Ramanamanjato J-B, Randrihasipara L, Van Elsacker L, Ganzhorn JU. Fruit characteristics in a dry deciduous and a humid littoral forest of Madagascar: evidence for selection pressure through abiotic constraints rather than seed dispersers. In: Dew JL, Boubli JP (eds) Fruits and frugivores: the search for strong interactors. Kluwer (in press)

  • Bowmaker JK (1998) Evolution of colour vision in vertebrates. Eye 12:541–547

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bowman MF, Bailey RC (1997) Does taxonomy resolution affect the multivariate description of the structure of freshwater benthic macroinvertebrate communities? Can J Fisheries Aquat Sci 54:1802–1807

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bradford M (1976) A rapid and sensitive method for the quantification of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein-dye-binding. Anal Biochem 72:248–254

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brown ED, Hopkins MJG (2002) Test of dispersers specificity between frugivorous birds and rainforest fruits in New Guinea. Emu 102:137–146

    Google Scholar 

  • Burns KC, Dalen JL (2002) Foliage color contrasts and adaptive fruit color variation in a bird dispersed plant community. Oikos 96:463–469

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caine NG, Mundy NI (2000) Demonstration of foraging advantage for trichromatic marmosets (Callithrix geoffroyi) dependent on food colour. Proc R Soc Lond B 267:439–444

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman CA, Onderdonk DA (1998) Forest without primates: primate/plant codependency. Am J Primatol 45:127–141

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman CA, Chapman LJ (2002) Foraging challenges of red colobus monkeys: influence of nutrients and secondary compounds. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 133:861–875

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Charles-Dominique P (1993) Speciation and coevolution: an interpretation of frugivory phenomena. Vegetatio 107/108:75–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Cipollini ML, Bohs LA, Mink K, Paulk E, Böhning-Gaese K (2002) Secondary metabolites of ripe fleshy fruits: ecology and phylogeny in the genus Solanum. In: Levey DJ, Silva WR, Galetti M (eds) Seed dispersal and frugivory: ecology, evolution and conservation. CABI Publishing, pp 111–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper KH (1985) The conservation status of indigenous forests in the Transvaal, Natal and O.F.S., South Africa. Wildlife Society of Southern Africa, Durban

    Google Scholar 

  • Corlett RT (1998) Frugivory and seed dispersal by vertebrates in the Oriental (Indomalayan) Region. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 73:413–448

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dew JL, Wright P (1998) Frugivory and seed dispersal by primates in Madagascar’s eastern rainforest. Biotropica 30:425–437

    Google Scholar 

  • Dominy NJ, Svenning J-C, Li W-H (2003) Historical contingency in the evolution of primate color vision. J Hum Evol 44:25–45

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dowsett-Lemaire F (1988) Fruit choice and seed dissemination by birds and mammals in the evergreen forest of upland Malawi. Revue d’Ecologie - la Terre et la Vie 43:251–279

    Google Scholar 

  • Eze JMO, Dumbroff EB (1982) A comparison of the Bradford and Lowry methods for the analysis of protein in chlorophyllous tissue. Can J Bot 60:1046–1049

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fietz J, Ganzhorn JU (1999) Feeding ecology of the hibernating primate Cheirogaleus medius: how does it get so fat? Oecologia 121:157–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher KE, Chapman CA (1993) Frugivores and fruit syndromes: differences in patterns at the genus and species level. Oikos 66:472–482

    Google Scholar 

  • Fleming TH, Breitwisch R, Whiteside GH (1987) Patterns of tropical vertebrate frugivore diversity. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 18:91–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frost PGH (1980) Fruit-frugivore interactions in a South African coastal dune forest. In: Nöhring R (ed) Acta XVII. Congress international ornithology, Deutsche Ornithologische Gesellschaft, pp 1179–1184

  • Ganzhorn JU (1988) Food partitioning among Malagasy primates. Oecologia 75:436–450

    Google Scholar 

  • Ganzhorn JU (1995) Low-level forest disturbance effects on primary production, leaf chemistry, and lemur populations. Ecology 76:2084–2096

    Google Scholar 

  • Ganzhorn JU, Kappeler PM (1996) Lemurs of the Kirindy forest. In: Ganzhorn JU, Sorg J-P (eds) Ecology and economy of a tropical dry forest in Madagascar. Primate Report, special issue 46-1, Göttingen, pp 257–274

  • Ganzhorn JU, Sorg J-P (1996) Ecology and economy of a tropical dry forest in Madagascar. Primate Report, special issue 46-1, Göttingen

  • Ganzhorn JU, Fietz J, Rakotovao E, Schwab D, Zinner D (1999) Lemurs and the regeneration of dry deciduous forest in Madagascar. Conserv Biol 13:794–804

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gautier-Hion A, Duplantier JM, Quris R, Feer F, Sourd C, Decoux JP, Doubost GL, Emmons L, Erard C, Hecketsweiler P, Moungazi A, Roussilhon C, Thiollay JM (1985) Fruit-characters as a basis of fruit choice and seed dispersal in a tropical forest vertebrate community. Oecologia 65:324–337

    Google Scholar 

  • Gervais JA, Noon BR, Willson MF (1999) Avian selection of the color-dimorphic fruits of salmonberry, Rubus spectabilis: a field experiment. Oikos 84:77–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Glen HF (1996) A description of the vegetation of Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve, Natal. Part I. Trees S Afr 46:18–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Goering HK, van Soest PJ (1970) Forage fiber analysis. Agricultar Handbook No. 379. Agricultural Research Service. US Department of Agriculture

  • Goodman SM, Ganzhorn JU (1997) Rarity of figs (Ficus) on Madagascar and its relationship to a depauperate frugivore community. Revue d’Ecologie- la Terre et la Vie 52:321–329

    Google Scholar 

  • Hampe A (2003) Large-scale geographical trends in fruit traits of vertebrate-dispersed temperate plants. J Biogeography 30:487–496

    Google Scholar 

  • Herrera CM (1987) Vertebrate-dispersed plants of the Iberian peninsula: a study of fruit characteristics. Ecol Monogr 57:305–311

    Google Scholar 

  • Herrera CM (2002) Seed dispersal by vertebrates. In: Herrera CM, Pellmyr O (eds) Plant animal interactions. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 185–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Herrera CM, de Donana EB (2002) Correlated evolution of fruit and leaf size in bird dispersed plants: species-level variance in fruit traits explained a bit further? Oikos 97:426–432

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ho LC (1992) Fruit growth and sink strength. In: Marshall C, Grace J (eds) Fruit and seed productin: aspects of development, environmental physiology and ecology. Blackwell, pp 101–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Holbrook KM, Smith TB (2000) Seed dispersal and movements of patterns in two species of Ceratogymna hornbills in a West African tropical lowland forest. Oecologia 125:239–257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howe HF (1986) Seed dispersal by fruit-eating birds and mammals. In: Murray DR (ed) Seed dispersal. Academic, pp 123–189

    Google Scholar 

  • Howe HF, Smallwood J (1982) Ecology of seed dispersal. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 13:201–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howe HF, Westley LC (1993) Ecological relationships of plants and animals. Oxford University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Humbert H (ed) (1936–1984) Flore de Madagascar et des Comores. Imprimerie officielle Tananarive, Muséum national d’histoire naturelle Paris, or Typographie Firmin Didot et Cie

  • Izhaki I, Tsahar E, Paluy I, Friedman J (2002) Within population variation and interrelationships between morphology, nutritional contents, and secondary compounds of Rhamnus alaternus fruits. New Phytologist 156:217–223

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs DH, Deegan JF (1993) Photopigments underlying color vision in Ringtail Lemur (Lemur catta) and Brown Lemurs (Eulemur fulvus). Am J Primatol 30:243–256

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs DH, Deegan JF (1999) Uniformity of colour vision in Old World monkeys. Proc R Soc Lond B 266:2023–2028

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Janson CH (1983) Adaptation of fruit morphology to dispersal agents in Neotropical forest. Science 219:183–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Jordano P (1992) Fruits and frugivory. In: Fenner M (ed) Seeds. The ecology of regeneration in plant communities. CABI Publishing, pp 105–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Jordano P (1995) Angiosperm fleshy fruits and seed dispersers—a comparative-analysis of adaptation and constraints in plant-animal interactions. Am Nat 145:163–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Julliot C (1994) Frugivory and seed dispersal by red howler monkeys: evolutionary aspects. Revue d’Ecologie- la Terre et la Vie 49:331–341

    Google Scholar 

  • Kates M (1972) Technology of lipidology. In: Work TS, Work E (eds) Laboratory techniques in biochemistry and molecular biology. North-Holland, Amsterdam, pp 267–610

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly CK, Woodward FI (1996) Ecological correlates of plant size: taxonomies and phylogenies in the study of plant commonness and rarity in Great Britain. Phil Trans R Soc Lond B 351:1261–1269

    Google Scholar 

  • Knight RS, Siegfried WR (1983) Inter-relationship between type, size and colour of fruits and dispersal in Southern African trees. Oecologia 56:405–412

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause DW, Hartman JH, Wells NA (1997) Implications for biotic change in deep time. In: Goodman SM, Patterson BD (eds) Natural change and human impact in Madagascar. Smithsonian Institution Press, pp 3–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Langrand O (1990) Birds of Madagascar. Yale University Press, New Haven

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawes MJ (1991) Diet of samango monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis erythrarchus) in the Cape Vidal dune forest, South Africa. J Zool Lond 224:149–173

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lawes MJ, Henzi SP, Perrin MR (1990) Diet and feeding behaviour of Samango Monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis labiatus) in Ngoye Forest, South Africa. Folia Primatol 54:57–69

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Legendre P, Lapointe FJ, Casgrain P (1994) Modelling brain evolution from behaviour: a premutational regression approach. Evolution 48:1487–1499

    Google Scholar 

  • Levey DJ, Silva WR, Galetti M (2002) Seed dispersal and frugivory: ecology, evolution and conservation. CABI Publishing

    Google Scholar 

  • Mack AL (1993) The sizes of vertebrate-dispersed fruits: a Neotropical–Paleotropical comparison. Am Nat 142:840–856

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martins EP, Diniz-Filho JAF, Housworth EA (2002) Adaptive constraints and the phylogenetic comparative method: a computer simulation test. Evolution 56:1–13

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oates JF, Swain T, Zantovska J (1977) Secondary compounds and food selection by Colobus monkeys. Biochem Syst Ecol 5:317–321

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Osorio D, Vorobyev M (1996) Colour vision as an adaption to frugivory in primates. Proc R Soc Lond B 263:593–599

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pooley E (1994) The complete field guide to trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei. Natal Floral Publication Trust, Durban

    Google Scholar 

  • Poulsen JR, Clark CJ, Smith TB (2002) Differential resource use by primates and hornbills: implications for seed dispersal. Ecology 831:228–240

    Google Scholar 

  • Prinzing A, Durke W, Klotz S, Brandl R (2001) The niche of higher plants: evidence for phylogenetic conservatism. Proc R Soc Lond B 268:2383–2389

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rice WR (1989) Analyzing tables of statistical tests. Evolution 43:223–225

    Google Scholar 

  • Russo SE (2003) Responses of dispersal agents to tree and fruit traits in Virola calophylla (Myristicaceae): implications for selection. Oecologia 136:80–87

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Scharfe F, Schlund W (1996) Seed removal by lemurs in a dry deciduous forest of western Madagascar. In: Ganzhorn JU, Sorg J-P (eds) Ecology and economy of a tropical dry forest in Madagascar. Primate Report, special issue 46-1, Göttingen, pp 295–304

  • Siitari H, Honkavaara J, Viitala J (1999) Ultraviolet reflection of berries attracts foraging birds. A laboratory study with redwings (Turdus iliacus) and bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus). Proc R Soc Lond B 266:2125–2129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sorg J-P, Rohner U (1996) Climate and tree phenology of the dry deciduous forest of the Kirindy Forest. In: Ganzhorn JU, Sorg J-P (eds) Ecology and economy of a tropical dry forest in Madagascar. Primate Report, special issue 46–1, Göttingen, pp 57–80

  • Tamboia T, Cipollini ML, Levey DJ (1996) An evaluation of vertebrate seed dispersal syndromes in four species of black nightshade (Solanum sect. Solanum). Oecologia 107:522–532

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor CM, Gotelli NJ (1994) The macroecology of Cyprinella: correlates of phylogeny, body size, and geographical range. Am Nat 144:549–569

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thorne RF (1992) Classification and geography of the flowering plants. Bot Rev 58:225–348

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorpe RS, Black H, Malhotra A (1996) Matrix correspondence tests on the DNA phylogeny of the Tenerife lacertid elucidate both historical causes and morphological adaptations. Syst Biol 45:335–343

    Google Scholar 

  • Wenny DG (2001) Advantages of seed dispersal: a re-evaluation of directed dispersal. Evol Ecol Res 3:51–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitney KD, Fogiel MK, Lamperti AM, Holbrook KM, Stauffer DJ, Hardesty BD, Parker VT, Smith TB (1998) Seed dispersal by Certatogymna hornbills in the Dja Reserve, Cameroon. J Trop Ecol 14:351–357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Willson MF, Whelan CJ (1990) The evolution of fruit color in fleshy-fruited plants. Am Nat 136:790–809

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Willson MF (1992) The ecology of seed dispersal. In: Fenner M (ed) Seeds. The ecology of regeneration in plant communities. CABI International, pp 61–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Witmer MC, van Soest PJ (1998) Contrasting digestive strategies of fruit-eating birds. Funct Ecol 12:728–741

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wyk van B, van Wyk P (1997) Field guide to trees of Southern Africa. Struik Publishers, Cape Town

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Commission Tripartite of the Malagasy Government and the Ministère pour la Production Animale et des Eaux et Forêts for their permission to work in Madagascar, the Centre de Formation Professionelle Forestière de Morondava for their hospitality and the permission to work on their forestry concession, and the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service in South Africa for their support and the permission to work in Oribi Gorge. The project was financed by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Bo 1221/7-2; Ga 342/3-1,2) and by the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst. We thank A. L. Mack, an anonymous referee, the Paperclub of the Department of Ecology, University of Mainz, and especially N. Farwig, E. M. Griebeler, J. Johannesen, A. Prinzing and M. Veith for valuable comments on earlier versions of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Zoologie, Abt. Ökologie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Becherweg 13, 55099, Mainz, Germany

    F. A. Voigt, B. Bleher & K. Böhning-Gaese

  2. Abt. Verhaltensforschung und Ökologie, Deutsches Primatenzentrum, Kellnerweg 4, 37077, Göttingen, Germany

    J. Fietz & D. Schwab

  3. Abt. Oekologie und Naturschutz, Zoologisches Institut und Zoologisches Museum, Martin-Luther-King Platz 3, 20146, Hamburg, Germany

    J. U. Ganzhorn

Authors
  1. F. A. Voigt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. B. Bleher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Fietz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. U. Ganzhorn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. D. Schwab
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. K. Böhning-Gaese
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to F. A. Voigt.

Appendix

Appendix

Species list from Kirindy (Centre de Formation Professionelle Forestière de Morondava, Madagascar) and Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve (South Africa). Ninety-eight of the Malagasy tree species were taken from Ganzhorn (1995), supplemented by observations of J. Fietz and D. Schwab (unpublished data). The South African species list was taken from a survey of the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service (unpublished data). Systematic extensions follow Thorne (1992). M Species included in the analyses of morphological fruit traits, C species included in the analyses of chemical fruit traits

Madagascar

Adansonia

fony

M

Adansonia

rubrostipa

M

Adansonia

za

M

Adenia

refracta

M

Albizia

jaubertiana

 

Albizia

sp.

 

Anacolosa

pervilleana

 

Apaloxylon

tuberosum

 

Aphloia

sp.

M

Argomuellera

sp.

M

Astrocassine

pleurostyloides

M, C

Astrotrichillea

asterotricha

M

Baseonema

acuminata

M

Baudouinia

fluggeiformis

 

Bauhinia

grandidieri

 

Bauhinia

porosa

 

Berchemia

discolour

M, C

Bivinia

jalberti

 

Boscia

madagacariensis

M

Brachylaena

microphylla

 

Breonia

perrieri

M

Bridelia

pervilleana

M

Broussonetia

greveana

M

Buxus

madagascariensis

M

Byttneria

voulily

M, C

Calopxis

sphaeroides

M

Camptolepis

hygrophylla

M

Canthium

sp.

M, C

Capurodendron

rubrocostatum

M

Capurodendron

sp.

M

Capuronia

madagascariensis

M

Cassia

leandrii

 

Cedrelopsis

grevei

M, C

Cedrelopsis

sp.

M, C

Chadsia

grevei

 

Chloroxylon

falcatum

M

Clerodendrum

sp.

M

Colubrina

decipiens

M, C

Commiphora

brevicalyx

M

Commiphora

grandifolia

M

Commiphora

guillaumini

M

Commiphora

mafaidoa

M

Commiphora

sp.

M

Commiphora

stellulata

M

Cordia

varo

M, C

Cordylia

madagascariensis

 

Croton

bernieri

M

Croton

sp.

M

Dalbergia

chlorocarpa

 

Dalbergia

greveana

 

Dalbergia

pervilleana

 

Dalbergia

sp.

 

Dalbergia

trichocarpa

 

Delonix

boiviana

 

Delonix

floribunda

 

Diospyros

aculeata

M

Diospyros

greveana

M

Diospyros

intricantha

M

Diospyros

sp.

M, C

Diospyros

trophophylla

M, C

Diporidium

ciliatum (pervilleanum)

M, C

Drypetes

sp.

M

Enterospermum

resinosum

M

Erythroxylum

ferrugineum

M

Erythroxylum

platicladum

M

Erythroxylum

sp.

M

Euphorbia

antso

M

Evonymopsis

longipes

M

Fernandoa

grevei

 

Flacourtia

indica

M

Foetidia

asymmetrica

 

Gardenia

sp.

M, C

Grewia

cyclea

M, C

Grewia

sp.

M

Hazomalania

voyroni

M

Hibiscus

cf. diplocrater

M, C

Hildegardia

erythrosiphon

M, C

Hugonia

longipes

M

Hymenodicton

decaryi

M

Ludia

ludiaefolia

M

Macphersonia

gracilis

M

Mascarenhasia

arborescens

M

Memecylon

sp.

M

Neobeguea

mahafaliensis

M

Nesogordonia

normandi (stylosa)

M

Noronhia

sp.

M

Opercularia

gummifera

M

Pachypodium

sp.

M

Pandaca

calcarea

M

Pandaca

debreyi

M

Pandandus

sp.

M

Perriera

madagascariensis

M

Phyllanthus

casticum

M, C

Phyllanthus

decaryanum

M

Phyllarthron

bernierianum

M

Phylloctenium

decaryanum

M

Pongamiopsis

pervilleana

 

Poupartia

caffra

M, C

Poupartia

sylvatica

M

Psorospermum

androsemifolium

 

Quisvivanthe

papinae

M

Rhodolaena

sp.

M

Rhopalocarpus

lucidus

M

Rhus

perrieri

M

Rothmannia

auriculiformis

M

Rothmannia

sp.

M

Rothmannia

trophophylla

M

Rothmannia

tropopholia

M

Sakoanala

villosa

 

Securinega

seyrigii

M

Securinega

perrier

M

Stereospermum

euphorioides

M

Strychnos

decussata

M

Strychnos

sp.

M, C

Strychnos

vacacoua

M, C

Tamarindus

indica

 

Terminalia

boivinii/fatrea

M

Terminalia

fatrea

M, C

Terminalia

ruffovestita

M

Terminalia

seyrigii

M

Terminalia

sp.

M

Terminalia

tricristata

M, C

Tetrapterocarpon

geayi

 

Turraea

gareinioides

M

Uncarina

stellulifera

M

Uraria

manjensis

 

Vepris

sp.

M

Vitex

sp.

M

Xyloolaena

sp.

M

Zanthoxylon

decaryanum

M

Zanthoxylum

tsihanihamposa

M

Ziziphus

mauritania

M

South Africa

Acacia

ataxacantha

 

Acacia

caffra

 

Acacia

karroo

 

Acalypha

glabrata

 

Acocanthera

oppositifolia

M

Acocanthera

rotundata

M

Alberta

magna

 

Albizia

adianthifolia

 

Allophyllus

dregeanus

M

Aloe

arborescens

 

Aloe

ferox

 

Aloe

pluridens

 

Anastrabe

integerrima

 

Antidesma

venosum

M

Apodytes

abbottii

M

Apodytes

dimidiata

M

Azima

tetracantha

 

Bachmannia

woodii

M

Baphia

racemosa

 

Bersama

swinnyi

M

Bersama

tysoniana

M

Brachylaena

discolour

 

Bridelia

micrantha

M

Burchellia

bubalina

M

Cadaba

natalensis

M

Calodendrum

capense

M

Calpurnia

aurea

 

Canthium

inerme

M

Canthium

gueinzii

M

Canthium

obovatum

M

Canthium

spinosum

M

Capparis

tomentosa

M, C

Carissa

bispinosa

M

Cassine

aethiopica

M

Cassine

crocea

M

Cassine

eucleiformis

 

Cassine

papillosa

 

Cassipourea

gerradii

M

Cassipourea

gummiflua

M, C

Celtis

africana

M, C

Chaetachme

aristata

M, C

Chionanthus

foveolatus

M

Chrysantemoides

monilifera

M

Chrysophyllum

viridifolium

M

Clausena

anisata

M

Clerodendrum

glabrum

M

Clutia

abyssinica

M

Clutia

pulchella

M

Cnestis

polyphylla

 

Coddia

rudis

M

Colpoon

compressum

M, C

Combretum

krausii

 

Commiphora

harveyi

M, C

Commiphora

woodii

M, C

Cordia

caffra

M

Crotalaria

capensis

 

Croton

sylvaticus

M, C

Cryptocarya

latifolia

M

Cryptocarya

myrtifolia

M, C

Cryptocarya

woodii

M

Cryptocarya

wyliei

M, C

Cussonia

nicholsonii

M, C

Cussonia

spicata

M

Cyathea

dregeri

 

Dalbergia

armata

 

Dalbergia

multijuga

 

Dalbergia

obovata

 

Dichrostachys

cinerea

 

Diospyros

inhacaensis

M

Diospyros

natalensis

M

Diospyros

simii

M

Diospyros

villosa

M

Diospyros

whyteana

M

Dodonaea

viscosa

 

Dombeya

cymosa

 

Dombeya

tiliacea

 

Dovyalis

caffra

M

Dracaena

aletriformis

M, C

Drypetes

arguta

M, C

Drypetes

gerradii

M

Duvernoia

adhatodoides

 

Ehretia

rigida

M

Ekebergia

capensis

M, C

Ekebergia

pterophylla

M, C

Encephalartos

ghellinckii

M

Encephalartos

natalensis

M

Englerophytum

natalense

M, C

Erythrina

humeana

 

Erythrina

lysistemon

 

Erythroxylum

emarginatum

M

Erythroxylum

pictum

M

Euclea

natalensis

M

Euclea

undulata

M

Eugenia

capensis

M

Eugenia

natalitia

M

Eugenia

zeyheri

M

Euphorbia

grandidens

 

Euphorbia

tirucali

M

Euphorbia

triangularis

M

Faurea

macnaughtonii

 

Ficus

burt- davyi

M, C

Ficus

craterostoma

M

Ficus

glumosa

M

Ficus

ingens

M, C

Ficus

sur

M, C

Ficus

thonningii

M, C

Garcinia

gerrardii

M, C

Gardenia

thunbergia

M

Gerrardina

foliosa

M

Grewia

lasiocarpa

M

Grewia

occidentalis

M

Halleria

lucida

M, C

Harpephyllum

caffrum

M

Heteromorpha

arborescens

 

Heteropyxis

natalensis

 

Heywoodia

lucens

 

Hippobromus

pauciflorus

 

Homalium

rufescens

 

Hyperacanthus

amoenus

M

Indigofera

natalensis

 

Loxostylis

alata

 

Macaranga

capensis

M

Maerua

racemulosa

M, C

Maesa

lanceolata

M

Margaritaria

discoidea

M

Maytenus

acuminata

M

Maytenus

mossambicensis

M

Maytenus

peduncularis

M

Maytenus

undata

M

Memecylon

natalense

M

Micrococca

capensis

 

Milettia

grandis

 

Mimusops

obovata

M

Monanthotaxis

caffra

M, C

Nectaropetalum

zuluense

M

Nuxia

congesta

 

Nuxia

floribunda

 

Obetia

tenax

 

Ochna

arborea

M

Ochna

natalitia

M

Ochna

serrulata

M

Olea

capensis subsp. enervis

M

Olea

woodiana

M

Oncinotis

inandensis

 

Oricia

bachmannii

M

Oxyanthus

speciosus

M

Peddiea

africana

M, C

Phoenix

reclinata

M, C

Phylica

paniculata

M

Pittosporum

viridiflorum

M

Pleurostylia

capensis

 

Podocarpus

falcatus

M

Podocarpus

latifolius

M

Protea

caffra

 

Protea

roupelliae

 

Protorhus

longifolia

M

Pseudosalacia

streyi

 

Pseudoscolpia

polyantha

 

Psychotria

capensis

M, C

Ptaeroxylon

obliquum

 

Pterocelastrus

echinatus

M

Pterocelastrus

tricuspidatus

M

Rapanea

melanophloeos

M, C

Rawsonia

lucida

 

Rhoicissus

digitata

M

Rhoicissus

rhomboidea

M

Rhoicissus

tridentata

M

Rhus

chirindensis

M

Rhus

dentata

M

Rhus

gueinzii

M

Rhus

lucida

M

Rhus

rehmanniana

M

Rhynchocalyx

lawsonioides

 

Rothmannia

globosa

M

Sapium

interregium

M

Schefflera

umbellifera

M

Schotia

brachypetala

 

Schrebera

alata

 

Sclerocarya

birrea

M

Scutia

myrtina

M

Sideroxylon

inerme

M, C

Solanum

giganteum

M

Strelitzia

nicolai

M, C

Strophanthus

speciosus

 

Strychnos

decussata

M, C

Strychnos

henningsii

M

Strychnos

madagascariensis

M

Strychnos

mitis

M

Strychnos

spinosa

M

Strychnos

usambarensis

M

Suregada

africana

M

Syzygium

cordatum

M, C

Syzygium

gerradii

M

Syzygium

guineense

M

Tarchonanthus

trilobus

 

Teclea

gerarrdii

M

Teclea

natalensis

M

Tecomaria

capensis

 

Trema

orientalis

M

Tricalysia

capensis

M

Tricalysia

lanceolata

M

Trichilia

dregeana

M, C

Trichocladus

grandiflorus

 

Trimeria

grandifolia

M

Turrea

floribunda

M

Urera

cameroonensis

M

Uvaria

caffra

M

Vangueria

infausta

M, C

Vepris

lanceolata

M

Vitellariopsis

marginata

M

Xylotheca

kraussiana

M, C

Xymalos

monospora

M

Zanthoxylum

capense

M

Ziziphus

mucronata

M

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Voigt, F.A., Bleher, B., Fietz, J. et al. A comparison of morphological and chemical fruit traits between two sites with different frugivore assemblages. Oecologia 141, 94–104 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-004-1654-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-004-1654-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation