U.S.-Ecuador Dissertation Enhancement: Seed Dispersal by Toucans in Amazonia Ecuador: Toucan-Generated Seed Shadows and Genetic-based Models of Virola flexuosa, a Neotropical

在这项由国际科学与工程办公室美洲项目支持的美国-厄瓜多尔论文强化项目中，圣路易斯密苏里大学的Bette A. Loiselle和Kimberly M Holbrook将进行论文强化研究，以调查种子传播对热带森林多样性和结构的贡献。本研究解决了巨嘴鸟种子传播行为影响新热带肉豆蔻种群结构的假设。该项目包括与厄瓜多尔基多旧金山大学（USFQ）和厄瓜多尔天主教大学（PUCE）的科学家和学生生物学家的工作和合作。该项目的重点是对生物多样性的长期保护和恢复具有相当重要的意义，特别是在热带地区。该项目将为一名美国女学生提供国际研究经验，并将加强与拉丁美洲科学家的合作。

In this U.S.-Ecuador dissertation enhancement project supported by the Americas Program of the Office of International Science and Engineering, Bette A. Loiselle and Kimberly M Holbrook of the University of Missouri, Saint Louis, will conduct dissertation enhancement research to investigate the contribution of seed dispersal to tropical forest diversity and structure. This research addresses hypotheses that toucan seed dispersal behavior influences the population structure of a neotropical nutmeg, Virola flexuosa. This project includes work and collaboration with scientists and student biologists from the Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador (USFQ) and Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador (PUCE).The project focuses on a topic of considerable importance to long-term conservation and restoration of biodiversity, particularly in the tropics. The project will provide international research experience for a female US student and will strengthen collaborations with Latin American scientists.