Seed dispersal in changing landscapes.

摘要: A growing understanding of the ecology seed dispersal has so far had little influence on conservation practice, while needs practice have research. Yet interacts decisively with major drivers biodiversity change in 21st century: habitat fragmentation, overharvesting, biological invasions, and climate change. We synthesize current knowledge effects these to identify research gaps show how this information can be used improve management. The drivers, either individually, or combination, changed quantity, species composition, spatial pattern dispersed seeds majority ecosystems worldwide, inevitable consequences for survival a rapidly changing world. natural history is now well-understood range landscapes worldwide. Only few generalizations that emerged are directly applicable management, however, because they frequently confounded by site-specific species-specific variation. Potentially synergistic interactions between disturbances likely exacerbate negative impacts, but rarely investigated. recommend status functionally unique dispersers revised target key should population size maintains their ecological function, rather than merely minimum viable population. Based our analysis needs, carried out at larger scales heterogenous landscapes, examining simultaneous impacts multiple community-wide networks. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.