Habitat use and resource tracking by African Ceratogymna hornbills: implications for seed dispersal and forest conservation

dc.contributor.authorSmith, Thomas B.en_US
dc.contributor.authorWhitney, Kenneth D.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2008-09-11T14:51:09Zen_US
dc.date.available2008-09-11T14:51:09Zen_US
dc.date.issued1998en_US
dc.description.abstractConservation of tropical forests requires an understanding of the seasonal patterns of abundance and distribution of important seed dispersers. In the forests of Central Africa, three species of hornbills in the genus Ceratogymna (Aves: Bucerotidae) provide dispersal for over 50 species of trees and lianas, yet their ecology is poorly known. We present the first empirical evidence for resource tracking and large-scale movements by two of these species, which were previously considered resident. Hornbill numbers and fruit production were estimated over a one-year period in the Dja Reserve, Cameroon. Monthly abundances of C. atrata and C. cylindricus varied four- and 12-fold, respectively, and were predicted by community fruit availability as measured by fruitfall on a 4ยท3 km trail. In contrast, C. fistulator abundances varied little and were not related to fruit availability. Synchronous population fluctuations in sites 22 km distant were observed for atrata and cylindricus, but not for fistulator. Together, these results indicate that atrata and cylindricus populations track fruit resources via seasonal emigrations, while the fistulator population appears to be relatively sedentary. Comparisons of hornbill densities in primary and secondary forests suggest that they are important dispersers in both habitats, and will likely play larger roles in central African forest regeneration as more vulnerable seed dispersers are removed by hunting. If large seasonal movements of hornbills turn out to be a general phenomenon, effective management of central African forest reserves will require greater emphasis on reserve connectivity and on seasonal and spatial patterns of fruit production.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipNYZS/The Wildlife Conservation Society, the National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship Program, San Francisco State University, and ECOFAC Camerounen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/21688en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherBlackwell Publishingen_US
dc.subjectforest conservationen_US
dc.subjectseed dispersalen_US
dc.subjectCeratogymnaen_US
dc.subjectrain foresten_US
dc.titleHabitat use and resource tracking by African Ceratogymna hornbills: implications for seed dispersal and forest conservationen_US
dc.typeJournal articleen_US
dc.type.dcmiTexten_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Whitney_AnCon1998.pdf
Size:
147.88 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
journal article
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.69 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description: