New research from the Crowther Lab at ETH Zurich showed that when wild tropical birds are allowed to move freely across forest landscape, they can increase the carbon storage of regenerating tropical forest by up to 38%.
Tropical forests, teeming with life, rely significantly on birds for natural regeneration. This is particularly true for fruit-eating species, which play a crucial role in fostering the growth of diverse young forests by dispersing seeds from a variety of tree species. This insight comes from new research conducted by Crowther Lab at ETH Zurich.
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How Fruit-Eating Birds Could Help Regrow Tropical Forests
The study highlights a critical barrier to the natural regeneration of tropical forests. Utilizing models developed from field data collected in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, researchers found that free-roaming tropical birds can increase carbon storage from forest regeneration by up to 38%.
Fruit-eating birds, such as the Red-Legged Honeycreeper, Palm Tanager, and Rufous-Bellied Thrush, are vital to forest ecosystems. They consume fruit, excrete seeds, and disperse them as they move across the forest landscape, facilitating the spread of numerous tree species.
New research from the Crowther Lab at ETH Zurich showed that when wild tropical birds are allowed to move freely across forest landscape, they can increase the carbon storage of regenerating tropical forest by up to 38%. They also found a minimum of 40% forest cover is necessary to maintain across the Atlantic Forest region, with a distance of less than 133m between forested areas to ensure birds can move throughout the landscape and aid ecological recovery. The findings are detailed in a study published April 15 in the journal Nature Climate Change.
Between 70% to 90% of tree species in tropical forests depend on these animals for seed dispersal. This initial process is crucial for the growth and functionality of the forests. Although previous studies have underscored the importance of birds to biodiversity, researchers at Crowther Lab now quantitatively understand their contribution to forest restoration.
This groundbreaking research underscores the interconnectedness of wildlife and ecosystem health, highlighting how avian populations contribute not just to the ecological diversity of tropical forests but also significantly enhance their ability to act as carbon sinks. This dual role is critical as global efforts to combat climate change increasingly rely on natural solutions for carbon sequestration.
Lead image courtesy of ETH Zurich.
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