Ecosystem services provided by a large endangered primate in a forest-savanna mosaic landscape

[en] Forested landscapes are increasingly affected by human activities, but little is known about the role of large endangered frugivores as seed dispersers in such ecosystems. We investigated the role played by the bonobo (Pan paniscus) in a human-altered forest-savannamosaic in Democratic Republic of the Congo. The studied groups are part of a community-based conservation programme but live at the interface with human activities. We identified dispersed species via faecal analysis, classified them into a regeneration guild and a seed size category, determined the effect of gut transit on seed germination, and the habitat use of bonobos. Bonobos dispersed intact seeds of 77 species, 80.8% of which were large-seeded (≥10mmlong), ofwhich fewcan be dispersed by sympatric frugivores. They dispersed a majority (49%) of shade-bearers that thrive in forest understory with limited amount of light, all of whichwere large-seeded. Transit had an overall positive effect on seed germination. Bonobos used various habitat types, showing preferences for understorywith intermediate light availability and dominated by woody or herbaceous vegetation. This dispersal pattern probably enhances recruitment of shadebearers, and we thus hypothesized that those species benefited from directed dispersal by bonobos. This threatened frugivore provides unique dispersal services and likely plays a paramount functional role in the regeneration of late successional forests in this mosaic landscape. Management plans should pay particular attention to the role of large and rare frugivores in human-dominated regions as their disappearance could disrupt forest succession to a climax state.

Disciplines :

Environmental sciences & ecology

Author, co-author :

Trolliet, Franck ; Université de Liège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Biologie du comportement - Ethologie et psychologie animale

Serckx, Adeline ; Université de Liège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Biologie du comportement - Ethologie et psychologie animale

Forget, Pierre-Michel

Beudels-Jamar, Roseline

Huynen, Marie-Claude ; Université de Liège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Biologie du comportement - Ethologie et psychologie animale

Hambuckers, Alain ; Université de Liège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Biologie du comportement - Ethologie et psychologie animale

Language :

English

Title :

Ecosystem services provided by a large endangered primate in a forest-savanna mosaic landscape

Publication date :

2016

Journal title :

Biological Conservation

ISSN :

0006-3207

Publisher :

Elsevier, Netherlands

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Funders :

FRIA, BELSPO

Available on ORBi :

since 11 September 2016

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