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Loss of frugivore seed dispersal services under climate change

Author

Listed:
  • Karel Mokany

    (CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Climate Adaptation Flagship)

  • Soumya Prasad

    (Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science)

  • David A. Westcott

    (CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Tropical Forest Research Centre)

Abstract

The capacity of species to track shifting climates into the future will strongly influence outcomes for biodiversity under a rapidly changing climate. However, we know remarkably little about the dispersal abilities of most species and how these may be influenced by climate change. Here we show that climate change is projected to substantially reduce the seed dispersal services provided by frugivorous vertebrates in rainforests across the Australian Wet Tropics. Our model projections show reductions in both median and long-distance seed dispersal, which may markedly reduce the capacity of many rainforest plant species to track shifts in suitable habitat under climate change. However, our analyses suggest that active management to maintain the abundances of a small set of important frugivores under climate change could markedly reduce the projected loss of seed dispersal services and facilitate shifting distributions of rainforest plant species.

Suggested Citation

  • Karel Mokany & Soumya Prasad & David A. Westcott, 2014. "Loss of frugivore seed dispersal services under climate change," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-7, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms4971
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4971
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