Enhanced seed dispersal of Prunus africana in fragmented and disturbed forests?
Enhanced seed dispersal of Prunus africana in fragmented and disturbed forests?
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DOI：
10.1007/s00442-005-0288-9
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发表时间：
2006-03-01
期刊：
影响因子：
2.7
通讯作者：
Bleher, B
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Farwig, N;Böhning-Gaese, K;Bleher, B
森林的破坏和干扰会对物种多样性和种子传播等生态系统进程产生长期影响。了解这些后果是保护脆弱生态系统的一个关键组成部分。在肯尼亚西部严重破碎和干扰的卡卡梅加森林中，我们研究了非洲李（蔷薇科）的种子传播。在主要的森林，五个森林片段，和不同的干扰网站，我们量化的整体食果动物群落作为物种多样性的指标。此外，我们还确定了28个结果的果树上的食果动物，估计种子传播，作物大小和周围树木的一般水果可用性。在整个食果动物普查期间，我们记录了49种食果动物，其中36种被观察到访问P. africana树并以其果实为食。虽然整体frugivore物种丰富度是1.1倍，低于主要的森林网站和1.02倍，在高度干扰比在干扰较少的网站，P. africana经历了1.1倍的frugivores在片段比在主要的森林网站和1.5倍的frugivores在高度干扰比在干扰较少的网站。相应地，种子传播是1.5倍，在碎片比在主要的森林网站和1.5倍，更高的干扰比干扰少的网站。周围树木的果实可获得性和作物大小在一定程度上影响游客数量。因此，分散的种子的数量似乎略高，在破碎和高度干扰的网站。这表明，单一物种的损失并不一定导致生态系统服务的减少。然而，从长远来看，多样性的丧失可能是一个问题，因为众多物种可能会成为未来环境变化的缓冲区。
Forest destruction and disturbance can have long-term consequences for species diversity and ecosystem processes such as seed dispersal. Understanding these consequences is a crucial component of conserving vulnerable ecosystems. In the heavily fragmented and disturbed Kakamega Forest, western Kenya, we studied seed dispersal of Prunus africana (Rosaceae). In the main forest, five forest fragments, and differently disturbed sites, we quantified the overall frugivore community as an indicator for species diversity. Furthermore, we determined the frugivores on 28 fruiting P. africana trees, estimated seed dispersal, crop size and the general fruit availability of surrounding trees. During the overall frugivore census we recorded 49 frugivorous species; 36 of them were observed visiting P. africana trees and feeding on their fruits. Although overall frugivore species richness was 1.1 times lower in fragments than in main forest sites and 1.02 times higher in highly disturbed than in less disturbed sites, P. africana experienced 1.1 times higher numbers of frugivores in fragments than in main forest sites and 1.5 times higher numbers of frugivores in highly disturbed than in less disturbed sites. Correspondingly, seed dispersal was 1.5 times higher in fragments than in main forest sites and 1.5 times higher in more disturbed than less disturbed sites. Fruit availability of surrounding trees and crop size influenced the number of visitors to some degree. Thus, the number of dispersed seeds seemed to be slightly higher in fragmented and highly disturbed sites. This indicates that loss of single species does not necessarily lead to a decrease of ecosystem services. However, loss of diversity could be a problem in the long term, as a multitude of species might act as buffer against future environmental change.