Facilitated Forest Restoration Using Pioneer Seed Dispersers in Madagascar: The Example of Microcebus spp

Jörg U. Ganzhorn (), Jean-Basile Andriambeloson, Sylvia Atsalis, Lis M. Behrendt, Marina B. Blanco, An Bollen, Stéphanie M. Carrière, Lounès Chikhi, Melanie Dammhahn, Giuseppe Donati, Timothy M. Eppley, Refaly Ernest, Peggy Giertz, Steven M. Goodman, Daniel Hending, Friederike Holst, Sam Hyde Roberts, Mitchell T. Irwin, Petra Lahann, Edward E. Louis, Ute Radespiel, S. Jacques Rakotondranary, Jean-Baptiste Ramanamanjato, Veronarindra Ramananjato, Faly Randriatafika, Yedidya R. Ratovonamana, Onja H. Razafindratsima, Jordi Salmona, Dorothea Schwab and Cedric Tsagnangara
Additional contact information
Jörg U. Ganzhorn: Department of Biology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
Jean-Basile Andriambeloson: Mention Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Université d’Antananarivo, BP 906, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
Sylvia Atsalis: 9271 Woodland Drive, Bridgman, MI 49106, USA
Lis M. Behrendt: Department of Biology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
Marina B. Blanco: Biological Sciences, Science Drive, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
An Bollen: Rue Fond de Bousalle 8, 5300 Andenne, Belgium
Stéphanie M. Carrière: UMR SENS (Savoirs, ENvironnement, Sociétés), IRD, CIRAD, Université Paul Valery Montpellier 3, Université de Montpellier, 34199 Montpellier, Cedex 5, France
Lounès Chikhi: Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, P-2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal
Melanie Dammhahn: Behavioural Biology, Münster University, Badestrasse 9, 48149 Münster, Germany
Giuseppe Donati: School of Law and Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
Timothy M. Eppley: Wildlife Madagascar, 2907 Shelter Island Drive, Ste 105–1024, San Diego, CA 92106-2797, USA
Refaly Ernest: Tropical Biology and Social Enterprise, Fort Dauphin 614, Madagascar
Peggy Giertz: Department of Biology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
Steven M. Goodman: Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL 60605, USA
Daniel Hending: Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
Friederike Holst: Department of Biology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
Sam Hyde Roberts: Biological Sciences, Science Drive, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
Mitchell T. Irwin: Department of Anthropology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA
Petra Lahann: Department of Biology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
Edward E. Louis: Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership, NGO, VO 12 Bis A, Manakambahiny, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
Ute Radespiel: Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
S. Jacques Rakotondranary: Department of Biology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
Jean-Baptiste Ramanamanjato: Tropical Biology and Social Enterprise, Fort Dauphin 614, Madagascar
Veronarindra Ramananjato: Department of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, Valley Life Science Building, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Faly Randriatafika: QIT Madagascar Minerals, Fort-Dauphin 614, Madagascar
Yedidya R. Ratovonamana: Department of Biology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
Onja H. Razafindratsima: Department of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, Valley Life Science Building, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Jordi Salmona: Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l’Environnement (CRBE), UMR5300 Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP, Université Toulouse 3—Paul Sabatier (UT3), 31062 Toulouse, France
Dorothea Schwab: Department of Biology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
Cedric Tsagnangara: Tropical Biology and Social Enterprise, Fort Dauphin 614, Madagascar

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-23

Abstract: The concept of “facilitated restoration” aims at native biodiversity reinstatement with the help of animal seed dispersers attracted by fruiting trees. Yet, large-crowned trees will have to develop in the early stages of restoration; therefore, seed dispersal provided by small generalist mammals and birds that use rapidly growing herbs, shrubs, and small trees at early stages of forest succession would accelerate biodiversity restoration. Due to the elusive lifestyle of these small animals, it is unclear what species can contribute to the early stages of this process. Using the primate genus Microcebus (adult body mass about 60 g) as an example, we illustrate that these small generalists are possible seed dispersers in the early stages of forest restoration, not yet used by larger frugivores. We show that Microcebus spp. dispersed more seeds from herbs, shrubs, and small trees than large frugivorous primate species. These plants tend to have smaller seeds than large tree species and are often pioneer species not considered in forest restoration projects. Facilitating the colonization of restoration plots by generalist small seed dispersers that use shrubby habitats may improve plant diversity by adding a more natural sequence of successional stages towards mature forests in Madagascar and elsewhere in the tropics.

Keywords: reforestation; forest succession; fallow land; seed dispersal; lemurs; frugivores (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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