Authors
Douglas J Levey, Benjamin M Bolker, Joshua J Tewksbury, Sarah Sargent, Nick M Haddad
Publication date
2005/7/1
Journal
Science
Volume
309
Issue
5731
Pages
146-148
Publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Description
Habitat fragmentation threatens biodiversity by disrupting dispersal. The mechanisms and consequences of this disruption are controversial, primarily because most organisms are difficult to track. We examined the effect of habitat corridors on long-distance dispersal of seeds by birds, and tested whether small-scale (<20 meters) movements of birds could be scaled up to predict dispersal of seeds across hundreds of meters in eight experimentally fragmented landscapes. A simulation model accurately predicted the observed pattern of seed rain and revealed that corridors functioned through edge-following behavior of birds. Our study shows how models based on easily observed behaviors can be scaled up to predict landscape-level processes.
Total citations
2005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202431829242624193534252324342326181620166
Scholar articles
DJ Levey, BM Bolker, JJ Tewksbury, S Sargent… - Science, 2005