Effects of rainforest deforestation, fragmentation and regeneration on bird community and seed dispersal

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
File version
Primary Supervisor

Zalucki, Jacinta M

Other Supervisors

Catterall, Carla P

Editor(s)
Date
2022-12-20
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
Abstract

Seed dispersal plays an important role in shaping future tree communities in both intact and human-modified landscapes. Most rainforest tree species produce fleshy fruits, and birds are their main seed dispersers. When rainforests are cleared for pasture and agriculture, many remaining forest areas become small fragments. If agriculture stops, some areas can regenerate to forest. All these processes (deforestation, fragmentation, and regeneration) can cause large changes in bird communities. Therefore, fruit removal and seed dispersal patterns are also likely to change. This thesis uses space-for-time substitution to investigate how these habitat transitions affect bird community composition and fruit removal rates across a 600 km2 pasture-dominated landscape mosaic - the Big Scrub region of north-east New South Wales, Australia. The region’s formerly extensive subtropical lowland rainforest is classified as a Critically Endangered Ecological Community, due to extensive historical deforestation. Data were collected at 42 sites across seven habitat types: continuous mature rainforest; rainforest fragments of two sizes – small (4-21 ha), and very small (1-3 ha); regrowth forest patches (2-20 ha); isolated large trees within pasture, of two types – native fig trees (Ficus spp), and non-native camphor laurel trees (Cinnamomum camphora); and treeless pasture. Each habitat type had six replicate sampling sites in which measurements were made in a single 0.6 ha plot, which was revisited six times, twice in each of late summer, winter, and early summer. Measurements and analyses are focused on how the habitat transitions of rainforest-to-pasture conversion, consequent habitat fragmentation, and post-agricultural regeneration affect: (1) overall bird communities; (2) communities of avian frugivores, both seed dispersers and seed predators; and (3) rates of fruit removal.

Journal Title
Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume
Issue
Thesis Type

Thesis (PhD Doctorate)

Degree Program

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

School

School of Environment and Sc

Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement

The author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise.

Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject

seed dispersal

bird communities

rainforest deforestation

forest fragmentation

Persistent link to this record
Citation