Pouteria ramiflora seed foraging and potential dispersal by the small rodent Thrichomys pachyurus (Echimyidae)

Abstract

Seed dispersal is a key ecological process, yet direct observations in the Cerrado remain rare. Using camera traps, we documented interactions between the small rodent Thrichomys pachyurus and Pouteria ramiflora , including frugivory, fruit handling, and transport. Individuals of T. pachyurus were observed on 10 days between January and February, totalling 19 records grouped into 14 activity events. These behaviours may be interpreted as stomatochory, suggesting a potential role of T. pachyurus in seed dispersal. However, as seed fate was not tracked and the survey was not specifically designed for dispersal studies, our conclusions remain cautious. These incidental records highlight how small rodents, often overlooked, may contribute to fruit removal and dispersal processes. Our findings underscore the need for targeted research on rodent-mediated seed dispersal in Neotropical ecosystems, while illustrating how general landscape monitoring can reveal ecological interactions that are easily underestimated.