Differential predation of Welfia georgii seeds in treefall gaps and the forest understory

We report the results of an experimental study of predation by vertebrates on the seeds of the palm Welfia georgii in gaps and the forest understory of La Selva. Costa Rica. Seed survival in gaps and beneath fruiting adults was very low, and significantly less than survival in the understory 10 m from an adult. Thus, the increase in survival with dispersal of seeds away from the parent is habitat-dependent. This result is consistent with other studies in neotropical lowland wet forests, but contrasts with results from other geographical regions. The difference is likely caused by the differential responses of various seed predator species to treefall gaps.