Seed dispersal in Hong Kong, China: past, present and possible futures.

摘要: In the present article, published and unpublished information regarding seed dispersal in degraded landscape of Hong Kong, China, is reviewed. Information was available for 1681 native plant species, which 1165 were assigned to probable modes. Endozoochory accounted one-third (34.4%) all species evaluated, half (54.4%) those from forests, more than two-thirds (69.2%) trees tall shrubs. Wind (25.9%) by an unknown agent (30.7%) most rest, with mostly small-seeded herbs. Although frugivore fauna Kong region has been truncated since late Pleistocene, there are few clear examples failed mutualisms. The striking absence scatter-hoarding rodents despite presence forest that appear require them effective dispersal. There also some large Lauraceae fruits be targeted at larger-gaped birds currently present. Most endozoochorous dispersed 3 small passerine (Pycnonotus jocosus, P. sinensis, Zosterops japonicus), larger birds, fruit bats (Cynopterus sphinx, Rousettus leschenaulti), rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), civets (Paguma larvata, Viverricula indica), muntjacs (Muntiacus muntjac) accounting remainder. low diversity droppings, traps, secondary vegetation suggests succession may limited, although this not investigated experimentally. Planting underdispersed simplest solution but, longer term, (re)introduction a rodent should considered as well other locally regionally extinct frugivores.