Microbial enzyme activities related to litter decomposition near a highway in a sub-tropical forest of North East India

1993 ◽  
Vol 25 (12) ◽  
pp. 1763-1770 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.R. Joshi ◽  
G.D. Sharma ◽  
R.R. Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Enzyme Activities ◽  
North East India ◽  
North East ◽  
Microbial Enzyme

Effect of rodents on seed fate of five hornbill-dispersed tree species in a tropical forest in north-east India

2009 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 507-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nandini Velho ◽  
Aparajita Datta ◽  
Kavita Isvaran
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Seed Fate ◽  
Seed Survival ◽  
North East India ◽  
North East ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Dysoxylum Binectariferum ◽  
Seed Fates

Abstract:Hornbills are important dispersers of a wide range of tree species. Many of these species bear fruits with large, lipid-rich seeds that could attract terrestrial rodents. Rodents have multiple effects on seed fates, many of which remain poorly understood in the Palaeotropics. The role of terrestrial rodents was investigated by tracking seed fate of five hornbill-dispersed tree species in a tropical forest in north-east India. Seeds were marked inside and outside of exclosures below 6–12 parent fruiting trees (undispersed seed rain) and six hornbill nest trees (a post-dispersal site). Rodent visitors and seed removal were monitored using camera traps. Our findings suggest that several rodent species, especially two species of porcupine were major on-site seed predators. Scatter-hoarding was rare (1.4%). Seeds at hornbill nest trees had lower survival compared with parent fruiting trees, indicating that clumped dispersal by hornbills may not necessarily improve seed survival. Seed survival in the presence and absence of rodents varied with tree species. Some species (e.g. Polyalthia simiarum) showed no difference, others (e.g. Dysoxylum binectariferum) experienced up to a 64% decrease in survival in the presence of rodents. The differing magnitude of seed predation by rodents can have significant consequences at the seed establishment stage.

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