Caughlin, Timothy T. and T, Ganesh and Lowman, Margaret D. (2012) Sacred fig trees promote frugivore visitation and tree seedling abundance in South India. Current Science, 102 (6). pp. 918-922.

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Abstract

While sacred groves (forest fragments protected for religious reasons) are widely acknowledged to have a beneficial effect on biodiversity conservation, the ecological benefits of individual sacred trees remain unknown. Fig trees are present as sacred trees in human dominated landscapes across South Asia and are considered keystone species for wildlife in tropical forests. If frugivores continue to visit fig trees in disturbed landscapes, they may deposit seeds of other tree species beneath fig canopies, ultimately facilitating forest regeneration. We studied whether sacred fig trees in Tamil Nadu, India can facilitate seed dispersal in human-dominated landscapes. We quantified abundance of sacred fig trees at the study site, assessed whether seed-dispersing frugivore visitation to fig trees is affected by human disturbance, and compared tree seedling density beneath fig trees and open areas. We found that some species of frugivorous birds and bats will visit large fig trees in conditions of high human disturbance and that tree seedling density is significantly higher under sacred trees compared to open areas. By promoting frugivore activity, sacred fig trees may have a beneficial effect on biodiversity conservation in human-dominated landscapes.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Copyright of this article belongs to authors
Uncontrolled Keywords: Ficus sp., frugivory, human disturbance, Pteropus sp., seed dispersal, urban ecology
Subjects: A ATREE Publications > G Journal Papers
Divisions: SM Sehgal Foundation Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation > Biodiversity Monitoring and Conservation Planning
Depositing User: ATREE Bangalore
Date Deposited: 16 Sep 2024 07:04
Last Modified: 16 Sep 2024 07:04
URI: http://archives.atree.org/id/eprint/148

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