XVI International Botanical Congess

Dispersal of the woody species of six forest types of the Colombian Amazone, including upland, inundated, palm swamp and savanna forest, was studied. In the forest 416 species (DBH >10 cm) in total were observed. Biotic dispersal proved to be the most important in all forest types. Zoochory varies from 93% in high forest on terra firme and river flood plains, to 60% in savanna forest. Birds and monkeys, with about 30% each, are the most important dispersers. The ratio birds: monkeys increases towards forest types with simpler structure. Dispersal by scatter-hoarding rodents varies from 11% to 6% and is absent in the savanna forest. Bat dispersal is about 12%, but only 3% in the savanna. Wind dispersal is most important in savanna forest (25%). Water dispersal reaches over 8 % in an open palm swamp forest.