Seed protection through dispersal by African savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana africana) in northern Tanzania.

We examined effectiveness of African savannah elephant dung as a protective barrier for seeds of three tree species, Acacia tortilis Hayne, Tamarindus indica L. and Ximenia aegyptiaca L. Seeds were collected from dung and underneath fruiting trees in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania. Experimental treatments were established to test: (i) the efficacy of dung in protecting seeds of A. tortilis from bruchid beetle infestation and the role of animals larger than insects in removing seeds; (ii) the same tenets as in Experiment 1, using seeds of T. indica; and (iii) the effect of distance on survival of seeds of X. aegyptiaca. Sites were established during two field seasons underneath conspecific trees, where seed predation was likely highest. Repeated-measures two-way ANOVA indicated that there was no treatment effect for Experiment 1. For Experiments 2 and 3 in October 2013, seeds in dung experienced less beetle infestation than fresh seeds. Repeated-measures two-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD indicated that treatment effect differed among all treatments. Passed seeds at distances >= 5 m experienced less beetle infestation than fresh seeds underneath conspecifics. African savannah elephants appear to be important seed dispersers of these three tree species.