Dipteryx oleifera: A Keystone Tree of Barro Colorado Island Forests

The emergent tree Dipteryx oleifera Benth. (syn. D. panamensis), a keystone species of Panamanian forests, has a reproductive biology that intersects with the trophic ecology of mammalian fruit and seed consumers because its fruits are a crucial resource during a seasonal period of food scarcity. This intersection has been the subject of many Barro Colorado Island studies over several decades, with key questions focused on the ecological roles of various mammal species as seed dispersers or predators, the effects of variable annual fruiting on mammal populations, and implications for Dipteryx population biology. We summarize the findings and legacy of that research, and suggest some directions for future work on this majestic tropical tree.