The fate of Prosopis ferox seeds from unremoved pods at National Park Los Cardones

Prosopis ferox is a tree that grows at the National Park Los Cardones. After abscission, its pods lie under the tree canopy and are removed by small mammals, donkeys and goats. The objectives of this study were to analyse whether P. ferox seeds are released from pods by pericarp decomposition and to assess the extent of seed loss by bruchid predation. Seven-hundred and twelve fruits from 15 trees were marked and released on the ground. After 1 and 2 years the marked fruits were counted. In the sixth year the remaining marked fruits were collected and their seeds were classified into intact or predated. None of the pods showed signs of decomposition after 6 years and 99% of their seeds had been predated. The incorporation of seeds to the bank through pericarp decomposition is unlikely because of the hardness of the fruits and bruchid predation.