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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Jelaine Gan, Professor Marion PfeiferORCiD, Dr Mark ShirleyORCiD
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© 2026 Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies. Birds are one of the most important seed dispersers of trees in tropical forests. However, forest loss and fragmentation due to anthropogenic land-use changes are affecting bird communities and movement, which can alter their seed dispersal services. To estimate the importance of birds in forest regeneration, we created a spatially explicit individual-based model (IBM) that simulates bird-mediated seed dispersal, specifically in the context of a fragmented forest landscape. We used movement data of a Spotted Imperial Pigeon (Ducula carola), one of the largest frugivore in our study site in Northeast Luzon, Philippines, and captive feeding experiments to inform our movement model and seed retention times, respectively. Our seed dispersal IBM predicted that the pigeons contribute to frequent short distance and occasional long distance seed dispersal, able to move between forest patches. We also simulated the removal of fruiting trees in the agricultural matrix, and it led to decreased number of seeds dispersed, less trees visited, less feeding events by birds, and a smaller area covered by seed dispersal. Hence, remnant trees should be preserved as they have the potential to promote natural forest regeneration. This IBM serves as a versatile tool for researchers and decision-makers, contributing evidence for scaling decision-making on the wider adoption of trees in rural landscapes.
Author(s): Gan JL, Meyer KM, Pfeifer M, Sorono TC, Torio ES, van Weerd M, Gatan-Balbas M, Shirley MDF
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Ecological Modelling
Year: 2026
Volume: 520
Print publication date: 01/10/2026
Online publication date: 20/06/2026
Acceptance date: 08/06/2026
ISSN (print): 0304-3800
ISSN (electronic): 1872-7026
Publisher: Elsevier BV
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2026.111701
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2026.111701
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