Sustainability of tropical forest biodiversity and services under climate and human pressure (BIOSERF): tracking the regeneration of human-used plants through dispersal by the animal community

Conference (2011, June)

The objective of the BIOSERF project is to assess the sustainability of a tropical humid forest ecosystem and the local human communities in southern Congo under future climate, demographic and societal ... [more ▼]

The objective of the BIOSERF project is to assess the sustainability of a tropical humid forest ecosystem and the local human communities in southern Congo under future climate, demographic and societal changes. The project focuses on the interactions between flora, fauna and local human population to understand the processes affecting biodiversity and ecosystem services in tropical humid areas, with the objective of setting up mechanisms to preserve local biodiversity. In close collaboration with a local NGO, it will use a dynamic vegetation model (CARAIB) which will be integrated within an agent-based model, to analyze the impacts of different ecosystem services in a tropical humid area, e.g. the production of medicinal plants, of wood and other forest products, or the services provided by the building of natural reserves. The vegetation model will be upgraded to take into account the process of regeneration of several plant species, selected for their use by local human populations, through a quantitative and qualitative description of plant dispersal by the animal community. To do so, a selection of five tree species frequently or traditionally used will be made based on the results of a sociological survey. Observations (direct or through camera trapping) of a sample of the selected species will allow identifying the main dispersers and the pattern of seed shadow they generate. Integrated into the CARAIB model, these results will allow figuring how the evolution of the dispersal community under pressures of climate change, habitat loss and hunting, but also potentially placed under managed protection could affect the services available to the human community. [less ▲]

Tamarins and dung beetles: an efficient diplochorous dispersal system in the Peruvian Amazonia

in Biotropica (2011), 43(1), 84-92

Dung beetles fulfil several key ecosystem functions but their role as secondary seed dispersers is probably one of the most complexes because several factors can diversely affect the seed / beetle ... [more ▼]

Dung beetles fulfil several key ecosystem functions but their role as secondary seed dispersers is probably one of the most complexes because several factors can diversely affect the seed / beetle interaction. Little is known about the dung beetle communities and their influence on occurrence and depth of burial of seeds dispersed in small faeces. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of various factors (type of faeces, defecation pattern, season, habitat, seed characteristics) on dung beetle community (composition, number and size of individuals and species) and its consequences on occurrence and depth of burial of seeds primarily dispersed by two tamarin species. We captured dung beetles in a Peruvian rainforest with 299 dung-baited pitfall traps to characterize the dung beetle community. Seed burial occurrence and depth were assessed by marking, in situ, 551 dispersed seeds in faeces placed in a cage. We observed a significant effect of the amount of dung, season, time of defecation, and habitat on the number of individuals and species of dung beetles, as well as on seed burial occurrence and depth, while the type of faeces only significantly influenced the number and the size of dung beetles. Surprisingly, there was no significant effect of seed length, shape, and mass neither on seed burial occurrence, nor on burial depth. We highlighted that dung beetles compete for the first access to the resource on small faeces rather than for space for the building of their nest as observed on large faeces. [less ▲]

Linking tamarins’ behavior with spatiotemporal pattern of seed dispersal and seedling recruitment

Conference (2010, June 16)

Dispersión de semillas por coleópteros coprófagos

Scientific conference (2010, March 09)

Seasonal variation in seed dispersal by tamarins alters seed rain in a secondary rainforest

in International Journal of Primatology (2010), 31

From tamarins to seedlings : seed survival and seedling recruitment in a gradient of forest disturbance

Conference (2009, July 29)

Short-term post-dispersal fate of seeds primarily dispersed by tamarins

Conference (2009, February 25)

Short-term post-dispersal fate of seeds defecated by two small primate species (Saguinus mystax and Saguinus fuscicollis) in the Amazonian forest of Peru

in Journal of Tropical Ecology (2009), 25

Post-dispersal fate of seeds dispersed by large primates is well studied but little is known about this process in small frugivores like tamarins. This study in the Amazonian forest of Peru aimed at ... [more ▼]

Post-dispersal fate of seeds dispersed by large primates is well studied but little is known about this process in small frugivores like tamarins. This study in the Amazonian forest of Peru aimed at investigating if characteristics related to the defecation patterns of tamarins (Saguinus mystax and Saguinus fuscicollis) affected short-term post-dispersal seed fate, through secondary seed dispersal by dung beetles and removal by seed predators. Data on dung beetle activity were based on direct observations of 49 defecations while seed fate was studied using semi-controlled experiments (N = 458 for secondary dispersal and N = 398 for predation). Tamarins produce small defecations with a low number of seeds. Thirty-five per cent of defecations were visited by an average of 1.5 dung beetles that usually transport the faeces as pellets. Twenty-four per cent of seeds were buried by beetles at a mean depth of 3.5 cm. With increasing quantities of faecal matter, the probability of secondary seed dispersal increased but not the depth of burial. Seed predation pressure was low (17.6%) after 4 d and higher in faeces of S. mystax than in faeces of S. fuscicollis. Despite their small size, tamarins could be considered as high-quality seed dispersers, with a potential role for forest regeneration. [less ▲]

Diplocoria: el viaje de una semilla

Scientific conference (2008, June 04)

Temporal variation in primary seed dispersal by tamarins: what’s the impact on regeneration?

Conference (2007, November 06)