Abstract
This chapter addresses which mutualism conservationists should worry about most and where conservation efforts should be targeted. Emphasis is given on tropical forests since dependence on animals for both pollination and seed dispersal is particularly high in these forests and the threats from human activities are particularly severe. Many of the examples come from two recent reviews of respectively, flower visitors and pollination and frugivory and seed dispersal in the Oriental region (tropical and subtropical Asia), but some of the gaps in knowledge for this region are filled, where possible, by reference studies elsewhere. This review derives generalizations that can be applied in conservation planning and management where such detailed information is lacking.