Bird perches and artificial bat roosts increase seed rain and seedling establishment in tropical bracken‐dominated deforested areas

Author:

Mayta Cesar123ORCID,López Cecilia L.123ORCID,Villegas Mariana34ORCID,Aguirre Luis F.5,Hensen Isabell16ORCID,Gallegos Silvia C.123ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden Martin Luther University Halle‐Wittenberg Große Steinstraße 79/80 D‐06108 Halle Germany

2. Herbario Nacional de Bolivia, Instituto de Ecología Universidad Mayor de San Andrés Campus Universitario Cota‐Cota, Calle 27 La Paz Bolivia

3. Santiago de Chirca Biological Station La Paz Sud Yungas Bolivia

4. Instituto de Ecología Universidad Mayor de San Andrés Campus Universitario Cota‐Cota, Calle 27 La Paz Bolivia

5. Centro de Biodiversidad y Genética Universidad Mayor de San Simón Cochabamba Bolivia

6. German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐Leipzig Puschstraße 4 04103 Leipzig Germany

Abstract

Tropical forests are being reduced by human activities. The use of fire for agricultural expansion generates areas dominated by the bracken fern Pteridium, where forest regeneration is slow. This may be caused by seed limitation, especially of animal‐dispersed seeds, due to the absence of seed dispersers from the forest in deforested areas, calling for restoration strategies to assist forest regeneration. We installed bird perches and artificial bat roosts to evaluate their effect on the density, species richness, and composition of animal‐dispersed seeds and seedlings of tree and non‐tree species in bracken‐dominated areas in the tropical montane forest of Bolivia. We found that perches and bat roosts increased the density and species richness of animal‐dispersed seeds and established seedlings. The seeds and seedlings dispersed by birds were clumped under the perches, while the seeds and seedlings dispersed by bats were distributed around the roosts. Perches had a higher density and species richness of seeds and seedlings compared to bat roosts, suggesting that the use of perches could be a better option as a restoration tool in bracken‐dominated areas. The increase in seed rain and seedling establishment of animal‐dispersed species in perches and bat roosts supports seed limitation, hindering forest succession in bracken‐dominated areas. The use of bird perches accompanying other restoration techniques is a promising restoration strategy to accelerate forest regeneration in tropical areas dominated by Pteridium, which are widely distributed.

Funder

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Publisher

Wiley

Cited by 1 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3