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Bird assemblages in isolated Ficus trees in Kenyan farmland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 October 2006

G. W. Eshiamwata
Affiliation:
DST/NRF Centre of Excellence at the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa Dept. of Ornithology, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya Current address: BirdLife International African Partnership Secretariat, P.O. Box 3502, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya.
D. G. Berens
Affiliation:
Dept. of Ornithology, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya Institut für Zoologie, Abt. V – Ökologie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Becherweg 13, 55009 Mainz, Germany
B. Bleher
Affiliation:
Dept. of Ornithology, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya Institut für Zoologie, Abt. V – Ökologie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Becherweg 13, 55009 Mainz, Germany
W. R. J. Dean
Affiliation:
DST/NRF Centre of Excellence at the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
K. Böhning-Gaese
Affiliation:
Dept. of Ornithology, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya Institut für Zoologie, Abt. V – Ökologie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Becherweg 13, 55009 Mainz, Germany

Abstract

Over the last few decades a rapid and extensive conversion of tropical forests to agricultural land has taken place resulting in mosaics of fragmented forest patches, pastures and farmland. While the effects of forest fragmentation on biodiversity have been intensively studied within the remaining forests, relatively little is known about the biodiversity in tropical farmland (Daily et al. 2001, Pimentel et al. 1992). Frugivorous birds are an important group of species in tropical farmland ecosystems. Frugivorous birds are significant seed dispersers and can play a prominent role in transporting seeds into disturbed areas and setting the stage for the regeneration of these systems. Isolated fleshy-fruited trees in agricultural landscapes have been shown to attract birds, leading to an increased seed rain and seedling establishment under their canopies (Carrière et al. 2002, Duncan & Chapman 1999, Guevara et al. 1986, 2004; Slocum & Horvitz 2000).

Type
Brief Report
Copyright
2006 Cambridge University Press

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