Rodents can be important in seed dispersal through their scatterhoarding behaviour, yet, the seed traits that are most influential in seed removal by Afrotropical scatterhoarding rodents remains unclear. Here, we investigated the effect of seed size and nutrient content of four seed species on the scatterhoarding behaviour of rodents in an Afromontane forest, Ngel Nyaki forest, Nigeria. To do this we marked with thread-tags the seeds of Santiria trimera, Beilschmedia mannii, Carapa oreophila and Anthonotha noldeae and observed their fate. We predicted that (1) caching frequency would be higher for larger than smaller seed species; (2) caching frequency would be higher for nutrient-rich than nutrient-poor seeds; (3) larger seeds would be taken across farther distances; and (4) survival of cached seeds would be higher for nutrient-rich seeds. In contrast to studies elsewhere we found no difference in caching probabilities based on seed size, although nutrient-rich (high fat content) seeds had a higher probability of being predated than seeds with lower fat content. Larger and smaller seeds were dispersed over the same distances and nutrient-poor (high fibre content) seeds survived longer in seed caches. Overall, our findings suggest that large, nutrient-rich seed species are less likely to be dispersed by rodents.

The brush-tailed porcupine Atherurus africanus is an important source of meat for local people in tropical forested areas of Central Africa. Information on the biology of this species in free-ranging conditions is scarce. Data on its reproduction and productivity are essential to establish accurate management practices in the exploitation of this rodent. In order to provide data on the reproductive physiology and to assess the prolificacy of the brush-tailed porcupine in the wild, the structural and functional anatomy of the ovaries of free-ranging females were studied. Twenty-two female carcasses were obtained from various markets in Libreville, Gabon, between August 1995 and February 1997. Reproductive tracts were macroscopically examined for the presence of embryos or foetuses. The ovaries were embedded in paraffin wax or plastic and examined by light microscopy. The morphology and constituent cell types of the ovaries were similar to those described for other hystricognath rodents. All pregnant females had only one embryo or foetus and the number of corpora lutea (CL) per female was 19.9 ± 5.4 (mean diameter ± sd, 1709 ± 421 μm), including one CL of pregnancy (diameter, 4821 ± 1364 μm). Also, 8.9 ± 6.8 accessory CL per female in the pre-implantation and embryonic stages of pregnancy (diameter, 1629 ± 463 μm) were observed. The average active luteal volume was high (115.6 ± 73.5 mm3). The mean number of antral follicles in the adult females was 24.6 ± 9.9. The study confirms that the brush-tailed porcupine is a mono-embryonic species, as observed in captive breeding experiences, but polyovular, suggesting important ovum mortality. This unusual reproductive feature in a mammalian species gives this rodent a low reproductive productivity. Therefore, A. africanus could be more susceptible to the effects of hunting than generally thought.