FSD 2010 - Campo-Arceiz

5th International Symposium-Workshop on Frugivores and Seed Dispersal (1985-2010)

Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz (speaker)

Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543

Website

ahimsa(a)camposarceiz.com

Stephen Blake

Max Planck Institute for Ornithology

Charles Darwin Foundation

Website

stephen.blake(a)gianttortoise.org

Activities

Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz : I’m interested in the ecological role of Asian tropical megafauna and the long-term consequences of their decline. After a couple of years studying the human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka I realized how complex and important roles elephants play in their ecosystems. I became convinced that is not enough to conserve forest for the elephants - we also need to conserve elephants for the forests! Most of my recent work is related to seed dispersal. At present I’m working in Southeast Asia, trying to expand my seed dispersal studies to other endangered Asian megafauna such as rhinos and tapirs. (Photo : © A. Campos-Arceiz)

Stephen Blake : I worked for the Wildlife Conservation Society in the Congo Basin for over 15 years, focusing on the ecology and conservation of forest elephants. I am currently lives in Galapagos where is the Coordinator of the Galapagos Tortoise Programme. He is a Post Doctoral researcher affiliated with the Max Planck Institute of Ornithology, an International Volunteer with the Charles Darwin Foundation on Galapagos, and an adjunct Professor at the University of Missouri and the School of Environment and forestry, State University of New York.

Abstract

Mega-gardeners of the forest - the role of elephants in seed dispersal

As the largest frugivores on earth, elephants have unique ecological properties. Found in deserts, savannahs, and forests, they are the last remnants of a diverse lineage. Among the three currently recognized forms, African forest elephants are the most frugivorous, followed by Asian and then African savannah elephants, although their role as seed dispersers is very variable and context-dependent. Forest elephants may consume more seeds from more species than any other taxon, defecating them in viable conditions into nutrient-rich and protective dung over long distances, in a unique spatial pattern. In short, elephants are forest gardeners. The signature of elephant dispersal is evident in the spatial distribution of trees suggesting that elephants maintain tree diversity and retain low redundancy in seed dispersal systems. Large numbers of forest elephants ranging over large areas may be essential for ecosystem function. However, forest elephants, both in Africa and Asia, are rapidly declining due to hunting and other conflicts with people. The loss of elephants will have important negative consequences for the ecological trajectories of some plant species and whole ecological communities, yet the conservation status of forest elephants is catastrophic in Asia and rapidly becoming so in Africa. In this paper we review the current knowledge of elephants as seed dispersers, discuss the ecological consequences of their decline, and suggest priority areas for research and conservation action. (photos: Elephant © Mike Kork; Fresh Dung © Allen Wittaker)

Related references

Stephen Blake S, SL Deem, E Mossimbo, F Maisels, & P Walsh (2009) Forest Elephants: Tree Planters of the Congo. Biotropical 41, 459-468. Abstract

Campos-Arceiz, A. (2009) Shit happens (to be useful!). Use of elephant dung as habitat by amphibians. Biotropical 41, 406-407. Abstract

Blake, S, Deem, SL, Strindberg, S, Maisels, F, Momont, L. et al. (2008) Roadless wilderness area determines forest elephant movements in the Congo Basin. PLoS ONE 3: e3546. on line

Campos-Arceiz, A, AR Larrinaga, UR Weerasinghe, S Takatsuki, J Pastorini, P Leimgruber, P Fernando & L Santamaria (2008) Behavior rather than diet mediates differences in seed dispersal by Asian elephants. Ecology 89, 2684-2691. pdf

Campos-Arceiz, A, TZ Lin, W Htun, S Takatsuki & P Leimgruber (2008) Working with mahouts to explore the diet of work elephants in Myanmar (Burma). Ecological Research 23, 1057-1064. Abstract

Blake S, S Strindberg, P Boudjan et al. (2007) Forest elephant crisis in the Congo Basin. PLOS BIOLOGY 5: 945-953. On line

Blake, S & C Inkamba-Nkulu (2004). Fruit, minerals, and forest elephant trails: do all roads lead to rome? Biotropica 36 : 392 – 401. Abtract

Recent publications on Asian elephants

FSD 2010 - Campo-Arceiz_Blake