Refaunation and the reinstatement of the seed-dispersal function in Gorongosa National Park.

摘要: Large animals are important seed dispersers; however, they tend to be under a high extinction risk worldwide. There is compelling evidence that the global biodiversity crisis leading deterioration of several ecosystem functions, but there virtually no information on how large-scale refaunation efforts can reinstate dispersal. We evaluated effectiveness 62-km2 wildlife sanctuary, which was established recover populations large mammals in Gorongosa National Park (Mozambique), restoring collected animal scats during dry season 2014 (June-August) along 5 transects inside and outside sanctuary fence (50 km total) with same type plant community, identified species transects, quantified number seeds each scat. Based these data, we built bipartite networks calculated network species-level descriptor values, compared data sanctuary. were more (268 vs. 207) containing (132 94) than The mammal dispersers also higher (17) (11). Similarly, (2413 2124) (33 26) dispersed Overall, seed-dispersal less specialized (0.38 0.44) greater overlap (0.16 0.07) Both significantly modular antinested. richness explained mostly by abundance rather disperser identity. Our results suggest conservation aimed at recovering helping reestablish not only target their functional roles as ecosystem.