Restoring biodiversity using mammal-free sanctuaries: implications for birds and seed dispersal
Date
2017
Authors
Bombaci, Sara, author
Pejchar, Liba, author
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
Many birds on islands are threatened by invasive mammal predators. In New Zealand, conservation organizations have constructed a network of ‘mammal-free sanctuaries,’ which exclude invasive mammals with predator-proof fencing and provide opportunities to conserve native birds. We assessed the effectiveness of these sanctuaries for restoring bird communities and bird-mediated seed dispersal. We compared the density and diversity of birds, foraging rates, and the densities of bird-dispersed seeds between mammal-free sanctuaries and paired unprotected sites. We found 0.5-4.0 times higher densities of native bird species, higher bird diversity, higher foraging rates, and higher densities of bird-dispersed seeds in sanctuaries compared to unprotected sites.
Description
Rights Access
Subject
conservation
invasive species
birds
seed dispersal
restoration