@article{fdi:010091964,
  title = {{T}hree-dimensional vegetation structure drives patterns of seed dispersal by {A}frican hornbills},
  author = {{R}usso, {N}. {J}. and {N}shom, {D}. {L}. and {F}erraz, {A}. and {B}arbier, {N}icolas and {W}ikelski, {M}. and {N}oonan, {M}. {J}. and {O}rdway, {E}. {M}. and {S}aatchi, {S}. and {S}mith, {T}. {B}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}hree-dimensional (3{D}) vegetation structure influences animal movements and, consequently, ecosystem functions. {A}nimals disperse the seeds of 60%-90% of trees in tropical rainforests, which are among the most structurally complex ecosystems on {E}arth. {H}ere, we investigated how 3{D} rainforest structure influences the movements of large, frugivorous birds and resulting spatial patterns of seed dispersal. {W}e {GPS}-tracked white-thighed ({B}ycanistes albotibialis) and black-casqued hornbills ({C}eratogymna atrata) in a study area surveyed by light detection and ranging ({L}i{DAR}) in southern {C}ameroon. {W}e found that both species preferred areas of greater canopy height and white-thighed hornbill preferred areas of greater vertical complexity. {I}n addition, 33% of the hornbills preferred areas close to canopy gaps, while 16.7% and 27.8% avoided large and small gaps, respectively. {W}hite-thighed hornbills avoided swamp habitats, while black-casqued increased their preference for swamps during the hottest temperatures. {W}e mapped spatial probabilities of seed dispersal by hornbills, showing that 3{D} structural attributes shape this ecological process by influencing hornbill behaviour. {T}hese results provide evidence of a possible feedback loop between rainforest vegetation structure and seed dispersal by animals. {I}nteractions between seed dispersers and vegetation structure described here are essential for understanding ecosystem functions in tropical rainforests and critical for predicting how rainforests respond to anthropogenic impacts. {T}his study shows how 3{D} vegetation structure shapes spatial patterns of seed dispersal by influencing hornbill habitat selection. {T}he seed dispersal modelling framework can be applied to any system with available animal movement data, providing a method to quantify the spatial probability of events occurring due to animal habitat selection.image},
  keywords = {hornbill ; movement ecology ; seed dispersal ; step selection functions ; tropical forest ; {UAV}-{L}i{DAR} ; {CAMEROUN}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {A}nimal {E}cology},
  volume = {[{E}arly access]},
  numero = {},
  pages = {[12 ]},
  ISSN = {0021-8790},
  year = {2024},
  DOI = {10.1111/1365-2656.14202},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010091964},
}