Making dispersal syndromes and networks useful in tropical conservation and restoration

摘要: Abstract Dispersal syndromes and networks must be used cautiously in conserving restoring seed-dispersal processes. In many tropical forests most tree shrub species require dispersal by animals for local persistence migration response to environmental change. The important errors avoid practical use of both (suites fruit seed characteristics that attract different agents) network modules (groups interacting agents plants bearing fruits or seeds they eat) are: (1) assuming resources fruit-eating implies effective dispersal; (2) superficially similar imply equally animals, (3) at issue support animal populations. This essay explores strengths weaknesses uses disperser conservation restoration. Examples include some are consistent with expectations from syndrome categorization not. An unappreciated weakness using either is contingent foraging highly disturbed habitats, now comprising 60%–70% land biomes, may not resemble choices consequences protected closed forests, where research on done. General prescriptions the future maintaining creating habitat heterogeneity largely deforested landscapes remnant still exist, active restoration little remains. cases, adaptations multiple frame-work approaches have best chance preserving enhancing populations animal-dispersed trees their vectors, opening paths climate