Short-distance seed and pollen dispersal in both hunted and intact forests in the lower canopy African rainforest tree, Coula edulis Baill (Coulaceae)

Background Mammal-dispersed tropical trees can face regeneration problems due to increasing hunting pressure. We studied the case of Coula edulis Baill (Coulaceae), an African rainforest tree that produces the 'African walnut', an essential food and income resource for rural communities in Cameroon. We compared gene flow and regeneration dynamics in three populations with contrasting levels of human disturbance and mammal abundance. Using 21 nuclear microsatellite markers, we estimated the outcrossing rate and contemporary seed and pollen dispersal distances, and we analyzed the fine-scale spatial genetic structure (FSGS) to infer historical gene dispersal distances. Results Juveniles were outcrossed while 22–30% of the seeds were selfed, suggesting the elimination of inbred seeds. The mean dispersal distances were relatively short for seeds (105–219 m) and pollen (173–358 m), both shorter in the most intact forest. Immigration rates were three to four times higher for pollen (33–71%) than for seeds (7–28%), indicating some long-distance pollen dispersal. FSGS was strong in all populations (Sp = 0.023–0.036), suggesting short-range historical gene dispersal distances consistent with contemporary estimates. We detected assortative mating, possibly due to higher flowering synchronicity between related individuals. The most disturbed plots had an inverted J-shaped trunk diameter structure, typical of continuous regeneration, while the intact forest had a complex diameter structure with a weak regeneration pulse. Conclusions Our results suggest that forest disturbance and mammal hunting do not significantly affect the dispersal distances of seed and pollen for Coula edulis, contrary to other mammals-dispersed trees. We hypothesize that the main dispersers are scatter hoarding rodents that are less impacted, or even facilitated, by hunting pressure. The species appears to regenerate better in disturbed forests, possibly due to a reduction in seed and seedling predators. However, natural populations are threatened by ongoing forest conversion into agriculture.