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Spreading seeds: How can a better understanding of seed dispersal improve tropical forest restoration?
Author(s): Christina N. Blebea, Francis H. Joyce
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Summary:
Learn about seed dispersal by animals and how this ecological process can be harnessed to facilitate forest recovery through a forest restoration experiment in Costa Rica. Apply what you learn to a restoration scenario at the tropical site of your…
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overview_page_photo_Joyce_F.jpg(JPG)
overview_page_photo_Joyce_F.jpg(JPG | 1 MB)
Teaching Guide for Spreading Seeds_ How can a better understanding of seed dispersal improve tropical forest restoration_ 3.pdf(PDF | 735 KB)
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Description
Overview of Module:
- Students will learn about seed dispersal as a mutualism in neotropical forest restoration. Students will explore primary and secondary seed dispersal, focusing on dispersal by birds, bats, rodents, and ants. To engage with the content, students will read, discuss, interpret data, and implement their knowledge through a cumulative activity. This module will aid students to understand important ecological concepts in an interactive, scaffolded, and dynamic way.
- Who brings seeds to restoration plots in the tropics to create a new forest? Tropical forests are vital to our world's biodiversity and ecosystem processes, but these forests are threatened by disturbance. Many international initiatives are therefore calling for tropical forest restoration. Successful restoration begins with getting seeds in the ground followed by seed establishment. Animals can improve the efficacy of restoration by aiding in seed arrival and establishment. This module explores both primary and secondary seed dispersal in the context of neotropical forest restoration.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe how seed dispersal by animals is a type of mutualism with costs and benefits to both the plant and dispersal agent(s)
- Identify the main biological actors in neotropical forest seed dispersal and their role in primary and secondary dispersal
- Recognize how seed dispersal is affected by anthropogenic impacts and shapes ecosystems recovery in secondary forests
- Apply knowledge of seed dispersal agents and their effectiveness to a restoration scenario
Support was provided by: Grants from the United States National Science Foundation (DBI-RCN-UBE 2120141) and (DEB 20-16623).
Cite this work
Researchers should cite this work as follows:
- Blebea, C. N., Joyce, F. H. (2024). Spreading seeds: How can a better understanding of seed dispersal improve tropical forest restoration?. OCELOTS, QUBES Educational Resources. doi:10.25334/PDR9-A717