Samenausbreitung durch einen Hornvogel und seine Rolle für die Wiederbewaldung im Osten der Côte d'Ivoire : 8. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Tropenökologie

1998

8 Lit. Ang.

Unselbständiges Werk

4370

200070693

In a semidecidous forest and its surroundings in the east of Côte d'Ivoire, a small hornbill species (Tockus semifasciatus, Bucerotidae, ca. 230 g life weight) could be proved to be a keystone mutualist for the seed transport especially of tree species of early succession stages. From June to September 1994 the species fed on about 20% of the fructifying tree species available in the forest each month and was found to regurgitate the seeds in a condition capable to germinate. During the digestion period, which in this species in most cases is more than an hour, the seeds can be transported over several kilometers. As the only large bird, which lives in both the forest and cultivated areas, it can help with the reforestation of fallow lands and provide a genetic exchange between the few remaining forest islands in the West African forest zone.