Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 81 (3): 395-401, 2008
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Araucaria araucana and the Austral parakeet: pre-dispersal seed predation on a
masting species
Pre-dispersal seed predation by Austral parakeets, Enicognathus
ferrugineus, on pehuén, Araucaria araucana, was studied to assess the relationship between predation and seed
production. We collected falling seeds in four araucaria forests of southwestern Neuquén Province, Argentina during four
years that included both mast and intermast years. Predation rates were negatively correlated with seed production. When
seed production was high, predation rates ranged from 0.6 to 3.3 %; when it was low, predation rates ranged from 13.0 to
20.6 %. Years differed in the pattern of monthly seed fall with peak seed fall in March 2002 and April 2003.
Predation rates were lower and more uniform in the year of higher seed production, but did not differ between sites.
In an intermast year, predation rates increased during the season, reaching their highest rates after peak seed fall.
Parakeets handled seeds differently in mast and intermast years, dropping fewer slightly-damaged seeds when production
was low. We discuss these results in the context of the predator satiation hypothesis.
Key words:
pre-dispersal seed
predation, masting, Araucaria araucana, Enicognathus ferrugineus
