Abstract
Active restoration is one strategy to reverse tropical forest loss. Given the dynamic nature of climates, human populations, and other ecosystem components, the past practice of using historical reference sites as restoration targets is unlikely to result in self-sustaining ecosystems. Restoring sustainable ecological processes like pollination is a more feasible goal. We investigated how flower cover, planting design, and landscape forest cover influenced bird pollinator visits to Inga edulis trees in young restoration sites in Costa Rica. I. edulis trees were located in island plantings, where seedlings had been planted in patches, or in plantation plantings, where seedlings were planted to cover the restoration area. Sites were located in landscapes with scant (10–21%) or moderate (35–76%) forest cover. Trees with greater flower cover received more visits from pollinating birds; neither planting design nor landscape forest cover influenced the number of pollinator visits. Resident hummingbirds and a migratory bird species were the most frequent bird pollinators. Pollination in the early years following planting may not be as affected by details of restoration design as other ecological processes like seed dispersal. Future work to assess the quality of various pollinator species will be important in assessing this idea.
Highlights
During the last ten years, global primary forest extent has declined by approximately 0.4 percent annually in large part because of conversion to agriculture [1]
Our previous work in southern Costa Rica has shown that plantation-style plantings are used more extensively by both insectivorous and frugivorous birds than island plantings, with potential consequences for the ecological processes of arthropod reduction and seed dispersal [10,11]
We considered all hummingbird species and the three non-hummingbird species that were observed at I. edulis flowers as potential pollinators
Summary
During the last ten years, global primary forest extent has declined by approximately 0.4 percent annually in large part because of conversion to agriculture [1]. Anthropogenic restoration is one strategy to reverse tropical forest loss [6] and will more profitably focus on the restoration of ecosystem processes rather than the restoration of particular assemblages of plants and animals. Plantation-style plantings result in an area covered with seedlings. If island planting facilitates restoration as well as plantation-style planting, it would be preferred because of lower costs [9]. Our previous work in southern Costa Rica has shown that plantation-style plantings are used more extensively by both insectivorous and frugivorous birds than island plantings, with potential consequences for the ecological processes of arthropod reduction and seed dispersal [10,11]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
