FRUIT AND SEED DISPERSAL IN AMAZONIAN FLOODPLAIN TREES - A REVIEW

More than one thousand tree species grow in Amazonian floodplain forests, an environment which is closely linked to a periodical and predictable flood pulse. All biotic and abiotic modes of dispersal which are known for trees in surrounding ecosystems are also present in the floodplains. Additionally, the seasonal flood pulse being a dominant factor, many species employ water for dispersal, i.e. hydrochory or ichthyochory. In these species, diaspores possess adaptations which enhance the dispersal linked to water and which are not found in species of the surrounding uplands, e.g. spongy tissues and air-filled spaces. Both fruits and seeds are the object of dispersal and they cover all sizes and types, e.g. pods, capsules, drupes, berries, pyxidia, etc. An updated overview of the role of the different abiotic and biotic dispersal modes for trees in Amazonian floodplain forests is given. In light of the fine-tuned relationships between plants and animals, and the imminent threats imposed by human actions in floodplain forests of the Amazon River, the need to understand the interactions and main modes of dispersal is fundamental for the maintenance of the integrity of the forests and their sustainable use.