Pollination and Seed Dispersal
Size-Related Differential Seed Predation in a Heavily Defaunated Neotropical Rain ForestBackgroundDefaunation, driven by hunting and habitat loss, disproportionately affects medium and large mammals, often leaving behind a residual community dominated by small rodents. This shift in mammal communities can alter seed predation dynamics and impact forest regeneration. In heavily defaunated areas like Los Tuxtlas, Mexico, small rodents have become the primary seed predators. This study investigates whether seed predation patterns differ based on seed size in a highly defaunated forest. Specifically, it examines whether small rodents preferentially consume small seeds while large-seeded species escape predation, potentially influencing seed germination and plant recruitment. Open access copy available |
Leveraging the blue economy to transform marine forest restorationBackgroundOpen access copy available |
Tree Communities in Three-Year-Old Post-Mining Sites Under Different Forest Restoration Techniques in the Brazilian AmazonBackground:Mining has been identified as a major contributor to forest loss, leading to the need for effective restoration techniques in post-mining sites. In this context, the knowledge of floristic composition is crucial for managing natural regeneration, selecting species for restoration plantings, and aiding conservation programs of threatened plant species. One well-known example of mining impacts on the Amazon rainforest vegetation is located in the Paragominas municipality, Pará, Brazil. Open access copy available |
Restoration of plant-animal interactions in terrestrial ecosystemsBackgroundPlant-animal interactions are understudied within ecosystem restoration contexts. They are crucial to restoration success, with valuable processes like pollination, seed dispersal, and herbivory. The potential of animal reintroductions in restoration practices is understudied as well. Understanding these interactions is an important piece for future restoration efforts. Available with subscription or purchase |
Optimal restoration for pollination services increases forest cover while doubling agricultural profitsBackgroundIn the midst of a global biodiversity crisis and a rapidly expanding food demand, improving agricultural techniques is a high priority. Pollinators are at the forefront of this restoration goal partially due to their rapid decline in population, and also their crucial role in food production. 75% of globally common food depends on pollinators. Though improving agriculture is important, it is also expensive and risky for land owners. A framework is needed to determine best arrangements and practices for sustainable agriculture. Open access copy available |
Bird Assemblages in Coffee Agroforestry Systems and Other Human Modified Habitats in IndonesiaBackgroundDeforestation in tropical regions such as Indonesia is mainly driven by need for agricultural expansion. Agroforestry systems for a major agricultural crop, coffee, are becoming increasingly popular as the need for forest restoration is more apparent. Coffee agroforestry provides benefits to biodiversity, though specific impacts of coffee shade trees on bird populations outside of the Neotropics and Africa are understudied. Birds are a highly important taxa and serve many vital ecological roles. Open access copy available |
The importance of insects on land and in water: a tropical viewBackgroundInsects provide a wide variety of ecosystem services such as pollination, nutrient cycling, and seed dispersal. The UN Sustainable Development Goals are thought to be supported by the conservation of diverse insect communities. The roles of tropical insects in ecosystem services and their contributions are summarized in this literature review. The authors identify research trends, knowledge gaps, and potential avenues for future investigations. Open access copy available |
Pollinator recognition by a keystone tropical plantBackgroundThe evolution of flowering plants is complex and has resulted in a great amount of diversity in species both genetically and structurally. Pollination is the key to providing this variability and is responsible for evolutionary patterns and trends in flowering plant species. Some flowering plants are generalists, allowing for many types of pollinators to visit, while others are highly specified. The mechanism for this specialization is not well understood. Open access copy available |
Latitudinal trends in plant-pollinator interactions: Are tropical plants more specialised?BackgroundTaxon diversity often correlates positively or negatively with latitude. Though much is known about species trends, species interaction trends have not been studied as much. Specifically, plant pollinator interactions in the tropics are a lesser known topic that must be explored. Goals and MethodsThe authors conduct a literature review searching for information on the latitude of study sites, pollinator species diversity and abundance, plant species, and interactions. Available with subscription or purchase |
Frugivory and seed dispersal in the Cerrado: Network structure and defaunation effectsBackgroundSeed dispersal is an important process for ecosystem functioning. The Brazilian Cerrado, the world’s largest and most biodiverse savanna, contains a plethora of animal dispersed plant woody plant species. The Cerrado region is understudied and identifying species roles in ecosystem networks needs to be better understood for evolutionary and conservation purposes. Goals and MethodsThe authors conduct a systematic literature review to form a seed dispersal network of the Cerrado. Plant-frugivore interactions, plant and animal species studies, and dispersal network papers are examined and included in a matrix for analysis. Open access copy available |
