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Dryad

High importance of migratory birds for plant-frugivore interactions on reservoir islands

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Oct 02, 2024 version files 506.30 KB
Oct 02, 2024 version files 506.28 KB

Abstract

Seed dispersal by frugivorous birds is vital for forest regeneration and biodiversity. Migratory birds, with their long-distance dispersal capabilities, may play a key role in this process, yet their contribution to plant-frugivore interactions remains underexplored. Over three years, we recorded 11,635 interactions between fruiting plants and frugivorous birds using camera traps on 13 dam-induced forested islands. These interactions involved 48 bird species, including 15 migratory species. Migratory birds interacted with two-thirds of all plant species, and their species richness increased with island area. However, migratory frugivores constituted a higher proportion of the frugivorous bird community on smaller islands. Interactions involving migrants peaked consistently from October to January. These findings emphasize the importance of migratory frugivores in seed dispersal, particularly in fragmented habitats. Conservation efforts should focus on preserving migratory birds to sustain their critical ecological roles in maintaining plant-frugivore interactions and facilitating seed dispersal in fragmented landscapes.