Goats and sheep as seed dispersal agents of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth

The Caatinga vegetation features species that have seed dormancy, and grazing by ruminants, such as goats and sheep, helps overcome dormancy and disperse the seeds by goats and sheep. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of ingestion of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia seeds by goats and sheep on the dispersal capacity and improvement of seed germination. The research consisted of a 2 × 8 + 1 factorial arrangement, with two animal species (goats and sheep), eight seed ingestion times (24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, 168 and 192 h), and an additional control (intact seeds). Seed recovery after ingestion lasted for 192 h in goats and 144 h in sheep, respectively. The highest germination seeds occurred after ingestion times of 120 and 168 h for goats, while in sheep it occurred after 96 h. The most vigorous seedlings in seeds that had passed through the goats digestive system for 120 h. Anatomical analysis of the seed coat indicated the opening of small fissures after passing through the goats and sheep digestive system. The ingestion of seeds helps in the dispersal and overcome dormancy, improvement of germination and initial establishment of M. caesalpiniifolia , favoring to the perpetuation of the species and maintenance of the plant biodiversity of the Caatinga. • The recovery of M. caesalpiniifolia seeds after ingestion lasts 192 and 144 in goats and sheep. • The ingestion of seeds by goats and sheep helps overcome seed dormancy. • The passage of seeds through the digestive system promotes the opening of fissures in the tegument.