Movement patterns and seed dispersal by Trumpeter Hornbills in a fragmented landscape

鸟类的长距离迁徙是在孤立的森林和森林碎片中传播树木种子所必需的。虽然我们对鸟类的运动模式和由此产生的森林内的种子阴影有了初步的了解，但对森林碎片之间的运动和种子传播却知之甚少。本研究的目的是量化的运动模式和种子传播的喇叭犀鸟（Ceratogymna bucinator）在南非的碎片化景观。为了解决这个问题，我们使用了一种创新的遥测设备，该设备将鸟的位置数据存储在鸟身上;这些数据稍后可以通过无线电链路下载到“基站”。这种技术允许收集数据的运动模式的大型鸟类在景观尺度与迄今为止未达到的质量。我们使用这些数据与栖息地分布，水果的可用性和肠道通过时间的数据来计算种子传播内核和空间上明确的种子雨在景观尺度。据我所知，这是第一项能够量化破碎景观中大型食果鸟类产生的种子雨空间模式的研究。这些数据对于评估热带树木在支离破碎的景观中分散的能力至关重要，特别是在气候变化的情况下。

Long-distance movements of birds are necessary to disperse seeds of trees among isolated forests and forest fragments. Whereas we have a first understanding of move-ment patterns of birds and resulting seed shadows within forests, little is known about movement and seed dispersal among forest fragments. The aim of this study is to quantify movement patterns and seed dispersal of Trumpeter Hornbills (Ceratogymna bucinator) in a fragmented landscape in South Africa. To pursue this question we use an innovative telemetry device that stores data on the location of the bird on the bird; the data can later be downloaded via radiolink to a “BaseStation”. This technique allows to collect data on movement patterns of large birds at the landscape scale with hitherto unreached quality. We use these data together with data on habitat distribution, fruit availability and gut passage times to calculate seed dispersal kernels and spatially explicit seed rain at the landscape scale. To my knowledge, this is the first study that is able to quantify the spatial pattern of seed rain generated by a large-bodied frugivorous bird in a fragmented landscape. These data are essential to evaluate the ability of tropical trees to disperse in fragmented landscapes, especially under climate change.