Facilitated Forest Restoration Using Pioneer Seed Dispersers in Madagascar: The Example of <i>Microcebus</i> spp.

The concept of “facilitated restoration” aims at native biodiversity reinstatement with the help of animal seed dispersers attracted by fruiting trees. Yet, large-crowned trees will have to develop in the early stages of restoration; therefore, seed dispersal provided by small generalist mammals and...

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Main Authors: Jörg U. Ganzhorn, Jean-Basile Andriambeloson, Sylvia Atsalis, Lis M. Behrendt, Marina B. Blanco, An Bollen, Stéphanie M. Carrière, Lounès Chikhi, Melanie Dammhahn, Giuseppe Donati, Timothy M. Eppley, Refaly Ernest, Peggy Giertz, Steven M. Goodman, Daniel Hending, Friederike Holst, Sam Hyde Roberts, Mitchell T. Irwin, Petra Lahann, Edward E. Louis, Ute Radespiel, S. Jacques Rakotondranary, Jean-Baptiste Ramanamanjato, Veronarindra Ramananjato, Faly Randriatafika, Yedidya R. Ratovonamana, Onja H. Razafindratsima, Jordi Salmona, Dorothea Schwab, Cedric Tsagnangara
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/12/1971
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author Jörg U. Ganzhorn
Jean-Basile Andriambeloson
Sylvia Atsalis
Lis M. Behrendt
Marina B. Blanco
An Bollen
Stéphanie M. Carrière
Lounès Chikhi
Melanie Dammhahn
Giuseppe Donati
Timothy M. Eppley
Refaly Ernest
Peggy Giertz
Steven M. Goodman
Daniel Hending
Friederike Holst
Sam Hyde Roberts
Mitchell T. Irwin
Petra Lahann
Edward E. Louis
Ute Radespiel
S. Jacques Rakotondranary
Jean-Baptiste Ramanamanjato
Veronarindra Ramananjato
Faly Randriatafika
Yedidya R. Ratovonamana
Onja H. Razafindratsima
Jordi Salmona
Dorothea Schwab
Cedric Tsagnangara
author_facet Jörg U. Ganzhorn
Jean-Basile Andriambeloson
Sylvia Atsalis
Lis M. Behrendt
Marina B. Blanco
An Bollen
Stéphanie M. Carrière
Lounès Chikhi
Melanie Dammhahn
Giuseppe Donati
Timothy M. Eppley
Refaly Ernest
Peggy Giertz
Steven M. Goodman
Daniel Hending
Friederike Holst
Sam Hyde Roberts
Mitchell T. Irwin
Petra Lahann
Edward E. Louis
Ute Radespiel
S. Jacques Rakotondranary
Jean-Baptiste Ramanamanjato
Veronarindra Ramananjato
Faly Randriatafika
Yedidya R. Ratovonamana
Onja H. Razafindratsima
Jordi Salmona
Dorothea Schwab
Cedric Tsagnangara
author_sort Jörg U. Ganzhorn
collection DOAJ
description The concept of “facilitated restoration” aims at native biodiversity reinstatement with the help of animal seed dispersers attracted by fruiting trees. Yet, large-crowned trees will have to develop in the early stages of restoration; therefore, seed dispersal provided by small generalist mammals and birds that use rapidly growing herbs, shrubs, and small trees at early stages of forest succession would accelerate biodiversity restoration. Due to the elusive lifestyle of these small animals, it is unclear what species can contribute to the early stages of this process. Using the primate genus <i>Microcebus</i> (adult body mass about 60 g) as an example, we illustrate that these small generalists are possible seed dispersers in the early stages of forest restoration, not yet used by larger frugivores. We show that <i>Microcebus</i> spp. dispersed more seeds from herbs, shrubs, and small trees than large frugivorous primate species. These plants tend to have smaller seeds than large tree species and are often pioneer species not considered in forest restoration projects. Facilitating the colonization of restoration plots by generalist small seed dispersers that use shrubby habitats may improve plant diversity by adding a more natural sequence of successional stages towards mature forests in Madagascar and elsewhere in the tropics.
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spelling doaj-art-25b3acea4e8447fda8cbd2da6511dac42024-12-27T14:34:44ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2024-11-011312197110.3390/land13121971Facilitated Forest Restoration Using Pioneer Seed Dispersers in Madagascar: The Example of <i>Microcebus</i> spp.Jörg U. Ganzhorn0Jean-Basile Andriambeloson1Sylvia Atsalis2Lis M. Behrendt3Marina B. Blanco4An Bollen5Stéphanie M. Carrière6Lounès Chikhi7Melanie Dammhahn8Giuseppe Donati9Timothy M. Eppley10Refaly Ernest11Peggy Giertz12Steven M. Goodman13Daniel Hending14Friederike Holst15Sam Hyde Roberts16Mitchell T. Irwin17Petra Lahann18Edward E. Louis19Ute Radespiel20S. Jacques Rakotondranary21Jean-Baptiste Ramanamanjato22Veronarindra Ramananjato23Faly Randriatafika24Yedidya R. Ratovonamana25Onja H. Razafindratsima26Jordi Salmona27Dorothea Schwab28Cedric Tsagnangara29Department of Biology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, GermanyMention Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Université d’Antananarivo, BP 906, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar9271 Woodland Drive, Bridgman, MI 49106, USADepartment of Biology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, GermanyBiological Sciences, Science Drive, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USARue Fond de Bousalle 8, 5300 Andenne, BelgiumUMR SENS (Savoirs, ENvironnement, Sociétés), IRD, CIRAD, Université Paul Valery Montpellier 3, Université de Montpellier, 34199 Montpellier, Cedex 5, FranceInstituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, P-2780-156 Oeiras, PortugalBehavioural Biology, Münster University, Badestrasse 9, 48149 Münster, GermanySchool of Law and Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UKWildlife Madagascar, 2907 Shelter Island Drive, Ste 105–1024, San Diego, CA 92106-2797, USATropical Biology and Social Enterprise, Fort Dauphin 614, MadagascarDepartment of Biology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, GermanyField Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL 60605, USADepartment of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UKDepartment of Biology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, GermanyBiological Sciences, Science Drive, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USADepartment of Anthropology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USADepartment of Biology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, GermanyMadagascar Biodiversity Partnership, NGO, VO 12 Bis A, Manakambahiny, Antananarivo 101, MadagascarInstitute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, GermanyDepartment of Biology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, GermanyTropical Biology and Social Enterprise, Fort Dauphin 614, MadagascarDepartment of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, Valley Life Science Building, Berkeley, CA 94720, USAQIT Madagascar Minerals, Fort-Dauphin 614, MadagascarDepartment of Biology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, GermanyDepartment of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, Valley Life Science Building, Berkeley, CA 94720, USACentre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l’Environnement (CRBE), UMR5300 Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP, Université Toulouse 3—Paul Sabatier (UT3), 31062 Toulouse, FranceDepartment of Biology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, GermanyTropical Biology and Social Enterprise, Fort Dauphin 614, MadagascarThe concept of “facilitated restoration” aims at native biodiversity reinstatement with the help of animal seed dispersers attracted by fruiting trees. Yet, large-crowned trees will have to develop in the early stages of restoration; therefore, seed dispersal provided by small generalist mammals and birds that use rapidly growing herbs, shrubs, and small trees at early stages of forest succession would accelerate biodiversity restoration. Due to the elusive lifestyle of these small animals, it is unclear what species can contribute to the early stages of this process. Using the primate genus <i>Microcebus</i> (adult body mass about 60 g) as an example, we illustrate that these small generalists are possible seed dispersers in the early stages of forest restoration, not yet used by larger frugivores. We show that <i>Microcebus</i> spp. dispersed more seeds from herbs, shrubs, and small trees than large frugivorous primate species. These plants tend to have smaller seeds than large tree species and are often pioneer species not considered in forest restoration projects. Facilitating the colonization of restoration plots by generalist small seed dispersers that use shrubby habitats may improve plant diversity by adding a more natural sequence of successional stages towards mature forests in Madagascar and elsewhere in the tropics.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/12/1971reforestationforest successionfallow landseed dispersallemursfrugivores
spellingShingle Jörg U. Ganzhorn
Jean-Basile Andriambeloson
Sylvia Atsalis
Lis M. Behrendt
Marina B. Blanco
An Bollen
Stéphanie M. Carrière
Lounès Chikhi
Melanie Dammhahn
Giuseppe Donati
Timothy M. Eppley
Refaly Ernest
Peggy Giertz
Steven M. Goodman
Daniel Hending
Friederike Holst
Sam Hyde Roberts
Mitchell T. Irwin
Petra Lahann
Edward E. Louis
Ute Radespiel
S. Jacques Rakotondranary
Jean-Baptiste Ramanamanjato
Veronarindra Ramananjato
Faly Randriatafika
Yedidya R. Ratovonamana
Onja H. Razafindratsima
Jordi Salmona
Dorothea Schwab
Cedric Tsagnangara
Facilitated Forest Restoration Using Pioneer Seed Dispersers in Madagascar: The Example of <i>Microcebus</i> spp.
Land
reforestation
forest succession
fallow land
seed dispersal
lemurs
frugivores
title Facilitated Forest Restoration Using Pioneer Seed Dispersers in Madagascar: The Example of <i>Microcebus</i> spp.
title_full Facilitated Forest Restoration Using Pioneer Seed Dispersers in Madagascar: The Example of <i>Microcebus</i> spp.
title_fullStr Facilitated Forest Restoration Using Pioneer Seed Dispersers in Madagascar: The Example of <i>Microcebus</i> spp.
title_full_unstemmed Facilitated Forest Restoration Using Pioneer Seed Dispersers in Madagascar: The Example of <i>Microcebus</i> spp.
title_short Facilitated Forest Restoration Using Pioneer Seed Dispersers in Madagascar: The Example of <i>Microcebus</i> spp.
title_sort facilitated forest restoration using pioneer seed dispersers in madagascar the example of i microcebus i spp
topic reforestation
forest succession
fallow land
seed dispersal
lemurs
frugivores
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/12/1971
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