Facilitated Forest Restoration Using Pioneer Seed Dispersers in Madagascar: The Example of <i>Microcebus</i> spp.
Abstrak
The concept of “facilitated restoration” aims at native biodiversity reinstatement with the help of animal seed dispersers attracted by fruiting trees. Yet, large-crowned trees will have to develop in the early stages of restoration; therefore, seed dispersal provided by small generalist mammals and birds that use rapidly growing herbs, shrubs, and small trees at early stages of forest succession would accelerate biodiversity restoration. Due to the elusive lifestyle of these small animals, it is unclear what species can contribute to the early stages of this process. Using the primate genus <i>Microcebus</i> (adult body mass about 60 g) as an example, we illustrate that these small generalists are possible seed dispersers in the early stages of forest restoration, not yet used by larger frugivores. We show that <i>Microcebus</i> spp. dispersed more seeds from herbs, shrubs, and small trees than large frugivorous primate species. These plants tend to have smaller seeds than large tree species and are often pioneer species not considered in forest restoration projects. Facilitating the colonization of restoration plots by generalist small seed dispersers that use shrubby habitats may improve plant diversity by adding a more natural sequence of successional stages towards mature forests in Madagascar and elsewhere in the tropics.
Topik & Kata Kunci
Penulis (30)
Jörg U. Ganzhorn
Jean-Basile Andriambeloson
Sylvia Atsalis
Lis M. Behrendt
Marina B. Blanco
An Bollen
Stéphanie M. Carrière
Lounès Chikhi
Melanie Dammhahn
Giuseppe Donati
Timothy M. Eppley
Refaly Ernest
Peggy Giertz
Steven M. Goodman
Daniel Hending
Friederike Holst
Sam Hyde Roberts
Mitchell T. Irwin
Petra Lahann
Edward E. Louis
Ute Radespiel
S. Jacques Rakotondranary
Jean-Baptiste Ramanamanjato
Veronarindra Ramananjato
Faly Randriatafika
Yedidya R. Ratovonamana
Onja H. Razafindratsima
Jordi Salmona
Dorothea Schwab
Cedric Tsagnangara
Akses Cepat
- Tahun Terbit
- 2024
- Sumber Database
- DOAJ
- DOI
- 10.3390/land13121971
- Akses
- Open Access ✓