Tropical fruit-eating birds are more than just eye candy. These wild colored birds also play an important role in the regeneration of tropical forests.Data collected on the ground brazil atlantic forest This shows that carbon stocks could increase by up to 38% if birds such as red-footed honeyeaters, palm tanagers and toucans were allowed to move around more freely. For more information on the survey results, please visit The study was published April 15 in the journal nature climate change.
An important but fragmented landscape
Brazil’s Atlantic Forest is one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world.it’s almost home 7% of the world’s plant species and 5 percent of all vertebrates. The region is also one of the most fragmented tropical forests on Earth due to deforestation, agriculture, and other human activities. Approximately 88 percent of its vegetation is lost in the last 500 years, only 12 percent of the original forest remains in a patchwork of microforests. Many of these widely scattered forests are too far apart from each other to support bird migration.
Wild birds that eat a variety of fruits, or frugivore– They can play an important role in forest ecosystems by eating, defecating, and dispersing seeds while on the move. 70-90% of tree species in tropical forests dependent on seed dispersal from animalsBecause forests can grow and function.
To combat this, 12 million hectares of land are targeted for restoration and rewilding. Atlantic Forest Restoration Agreement. New data from this study will help determine how to proceed.
[Related: Three nations pledge to reverse decades of destruction in the rainforest.]
“This critical information allows us to pinpoint active restoration efforts, such as tree planting, in landscapes below this forest cover threshold, where assisted restoration is most urgent and effective.” said study co-author Daisy Dent, a naturalist at ETH Zurich. Swiss public research university; stated in a statement.
Bigger birds, bigger seeds
inside studyThe researchers compared the carbon storage potential for capture in landscapes with limited forest fragmentation and landscapes with more fragmentation. They found that a more fragmented landscape restricts bird movement and requires more tree cover.
According to the research team, a minimum forest cover of 40 percent across the Atlantic Forest region is important to maintain and restore ecosystem services needed to ensure species diversity and maximize forest restoration efforts. is. These ecosystem services include carbon storage and seed dispersal.
Different species of birds have different effects on seed dispersal.
Small birds can scatter more seeds around, but they can only carry smaller seeds with less carbon storage potential.
A large bird like toucan or curled jay Seeds from larger trees with higher carbon storage capacity can be dispersed. However, larger birds are less likely to navigate more highly fragmented landscapes.
“Allowing larger frugivores to move freely through forest landscapes is critical for the healthy recovery of tropical forests,” said study co-author Carolina Ecologist and Biologist at ETH Zurich. Bello said. stated in a statement. “This study shows that bird-mediated seed dispersal plays a fundamental role in determining which species can reproduce, especially in tropical ecosystems.”
what can be done
prevent poaching of tropical birds This is one strategy because more birds flying around can lead to more trees.
“We’ve always known that birds are essential, but discovering the scale of their impact is remarkable,” said study co-author Thomas Krauser, an ecologist at ETH Zurich. he said. stated in a statement. “If we can restore the complexity of life within these forests, the potential for carbon storage will increase significantly.”
[Related: Songbirds near the equator really are hotter, color-wise.]
Previous research suggests that restoring these forests could: Capture over 2.3 billion tons of carbon. Natural regeneration can also be more cost-effective than planting more trees, but you need to do both. This enhances the animal’s movement in areas that are more likely to recover passively. Highly fragmented landscapes require active restoration, such as planting more trees. For these planting methods to be ecologically effective, it is important to ensure that the trees actually belong to the area and are not planted in grassland.
[Related: When planting trees is bad for the planet]
“By identifying the boundaries of forest cover in the surrounding landscape that allow for seed dispersal, we can identify areas where natural regeneration is possible and areas that need to be aggressively reforested, making forest restoration cost effective. ” Daniel Ramos, co-author of the study and nature-based solutions project manager. stated in a statement. Ramos is affiliated with the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom and the University of Paulista in Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil.