Fruit Abundance Research Articles

Influence of Environmental Parameters on the Breeding of an Endemic Malagasy Fruit Bat, Rousettus madagascariensis (Pteropodidae)

The breeding biology of bats is in part regulated by environmental parameters, which in certain cases result in considerable intraspecific variation in reproduction periods. Few details are available on the reproductive behavior of Malagasy bats and this study focuses on parameters related to the mating and parturition periods in the endemic frugivorous and cave-roosting Rousettus madagascariensis (Pteropodidae). The birth period was estimated based on observations of mating behavior and presence of neonates in video recordings made at Ankarana (northern Madagascar) during different seasonal periods in 2017 and 2018. Based on animals captured in the same cave between 2014 and 2022, we also estimated the age of neonates in order to evaluate annual variation in parturition periodicity. Based on video recordings, mating was mainly observed (ordered based on highest frequency) in September, July, and January. This behavior, which generally took place during the dry season, was negatively correlated with temperature and rainfall, and had a low positive correlation with cave relative humidity. With most mating taking place between July and September, one parturition period occurs just before or during the wet season (between December and February), the period of highest fruit abundance in Ankarana. For cases of mating in January, excluding the possibility of sperm storage or delayed implantation, another parturition would occur in mid-April, a time of low fruit availability; however, no neonate was filmed or trapped in April and video recording data indicated that neonates were present between July and September, suggesting a parturition taking place from July to September. Parturition periods show some annual variation and appear to be mainly regulated by climatic aspects including rainfall and principally temperature; however, this variation was less pronounced as compared to other non-Malagasy pteropodid species. Further research on Malagasy fruit bats should focus on possible sperm storage or delayed embryonic development and, if found, associated correlations with environmental parameters.

Analisis Kualitas Selai Organik Dari Buah Mengkudu Sebagai Produk Bisnis Skala Rumahan

Abstract
 Noni is one of the most abundant fruits in Indonesia. Noni trees that bear fruit every season need to be further processed to reduce the amount of fruit wasted. In addition, the fruit contains many health benefits so it would be very good if used as food. One of the efforts to use noni can be done by creating a product in the form of organic jam. This study aims to determine the quality of noni fruit jam using the same level of maturity in terms of taste, color, texture and aroma. The data collection method used in this research is the organoleptic test method, documentation and questionnaires. This quantitative and qualitative research was also obtained from the power of the assessment test instrument. The respondents in this study amounted to 70 people consisting of the community around the research site (North Bogor) including IPB students, school students, motorcycle drivers and housewives. The results of the research based on organoleptic tests showed that organic noni jam products were acceptable in the market with a taste score of 275 (tasty), texture 240 (chewy), aroma 195 (quite delicious), and color 188 (quite attractive)
 Keywords: business product, noni fruit, organic jam

Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus diet in a nutshell: use of indigenous and exotic plants in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa

The success of conservation action for a threatened species can be improved by knowledge of its feeding and breeding requirements. The Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus is a threatened endemic restricted to patches of mistbelt forest in South Africa. Cape Parrots are considered dietary specialists, preferring the kernels of yellowwood Podocarpus/Afrocarpus species, and consuming other species when these are not available. We investigated the diet composition of Cape Parrots in the Amathole region of the Eastern Cape province through targeted and opportunistic observations from 2016 to 2021. We monitored the availability of indigenous and exotic forest fruit over this timeframe and determined whether between-season and within-season differences were significant. We also monitored Cape Parrot presence and diet, weekly, at a pecan tree orchard and collected pecan nuts for compositional analysis. Additionally, we investigated whether Cape Parrots tracked this exotic feeding resource relative to local indigenous fruit abundance and changes in pecan nut composition. Cape Parrots were observed feeding on 36 tree species during this study, of which 61% were exotic. We recorded 24 new tree species (mostly exotics) not previously recorded as eaten by this parrot species. However, most feeding records were of parrots eating indigenous rather than exotic species, excluding the targeted observations of them eating at pecan orchards. Cape Parrots fed on pecans in each season despite the relatively high availability of indigenous forest fruits. Although not significant, Cape Parrots appeared to track changes in pecan nut composition during each season, gathering in the largest numbers when fat levels in the pecans were highest. Cape Parrots appear to be adapting to human-modified habitat based on the observations of annual visits to exotic pecan orchards and the high number of exotic species in their diet. The impact of exotic feeding resources on their health remains to be determined.

Феномены цвета и звука в осенней лирике Георга Тракля

The autumn poems of the Austrian poet Georg Trakl (1887–1914), making up a significant part of his lyrical heritage, may be examined through the prism of color and acoustic imagery. The article shows that in his earlier lyric poems (1909–1912) color and sound serve primarily to distinguish between the two spaces, the first of which associates with the reality (natural life, autumn landscape), while the second corresponds to the places of “otherness” (sleep, death). The first space is characterized by a rich palette and sound diversity; the “other” space is depicted mostly in black and white, full of disturbing silence or sharp mechanical sounds. Later verses from 1913–1914 demonstrate less clear distinction of the two spaces, both flow into each other and even merge into one. Color and sound, as it were, “stitch” them through, connecting one with the other. Duality leaves the space and is now concentrated in the very image of autumn, which combines the generosity (abundance of fruits) of the life lived and dying, “black decay.” At the same time, color and sound markers of life and death remain the same, though their use changes slightly: color often acts now as a part of a complex image (“blue wings of the evening”), “dark” tends to become “black”; sounds subside, replaced by a meaningful silence.

Diverse fruits and seeds of the mid-Eocene Kishenehn Formation, northwestern Montana, USA, and their implications for biogeography

Lacustrine shales of the Kishenehn Formation of northwestern Montana provide an important window to the local mid-Eocene (Lutetian) ecosystem including evidence from insects, molluscs, vertebrates and plants. However, little has been published on the macrofossils flora, which includes abundant compressed fruits and seeds as well as foliage. Here we provide a preliminary survey, with particular attention to reproductive remains from the Middle Fork Region. Identified families include Equisetaceae, Cupressaceae, Pinaceae, Betulaceae, Brassicaceae, Cercidiphyllaceae, Eucommiaceae, Juglandaceae, Oleaceae, Platanaceae, Rutaceae, Salicaceae, Sapindaceae, Simaroubaceae and Ulmaceae. With at least 107 entities, this is among the most diverse lacustrine megafossil floras in North America. This flora shares elements with the early to mid-Eocene Green River Parachute Creek Member flora of Colorado and Utah, the Thunder Mountain flora of Idaho and the Okanogan Highland floras of British Columbia and Republic, Washington, as well as some with the late Eocene Ruby flora of Montana. We estimate the mean annual temperature to have been between 8.91 and 12.10 °C and mean annual precipitation to have been between 945 and 1,204 mm using the Bioclimatic Analysis/Mutual Climate Range Technique. This summary of floral elements complements the faunal record of the Kishenehn Formation and fills a gap in prior knowledge of the paleofloristic distributions.

Potential seed dispersal agents of Monoon liukiuense on Iriomote Island, Japan

Abstract Monoon liukiuense (Annonaceae) is an endangered tree species distributed in Iriomote Island and Hateruma Island in the Ryukyu (Nansei) Islands, Japan, and in Orchid Island (Lanyu) in Taiwan. While its habitat is confined to small areas surrounded by human-altered landscapes, the matured trees bear abundant fruits, and many offspring grow under the mother trees. M. liukiuense is hypothesised to have lost effective seed dispersers. To test this hypothesis, fate of its seeds and the behaviour of frugivores were observed using time-lapse photography during three fruiting seasons from June 2015 to August 2016 in Iriomote Island, Japan. Although several animal taxa were observed to consume the fruit pulp, only two volant animals, namely the Yaeyama flying fox and large-billed crow, were proposed as seed dispersal agents for M. liukiuense. The present study shows that an average of 82% of the fruits in the canopies fell directly beneath the fruiting trees and an average of 90% of the seeds on the forest floor remained in their original positions. These results suggest that M. liukiuense has lost most of its seed dispersal agents and the chance to expand its distribution.

Socialization and Assistance in the Processing of Organic Waste Into Eco-Enzyme in 16 Ulu Village, Seberang Ulu II Sub-District, Palembang City

Organic waste is waste that contains elements of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen and is easily degraded by microorganisms. The existence of abundant fruit and vegetable waste is rarely used by the community, even though this organic waste can still be reused as material for making eco-enzymes. Eco-enzyme is a liquid extract produced from the fermentation of leftover vegetables and fruits with brown sugar or molasses as a substrate. The process for making eco-enzymes is in principle similar to how compost is made, but water is added as a growth medium so that the final product is a liquid that is easy to use and has many benefits. This activity aims to provide knowledge and skills to the community about reusing household organic waste by processing it into eco-enzymes. The location of the community service was carried out in one of the houses of the residents of RT.071 RW.016, 16 Ulu Village, Seberang Ulu II District, Palembang City, on September 4 2021. The method used was counseling and training for the community about processing organic waste into eco-enzymes. This activity was attended by 15 participants who actively conducted discussions. The results of this community service show that the method of service in the form of counseling, training and question and answer is very appropriate in providing motivation to the community in processing household organic waste into eco-enzymes.

Flavonoids Are Intra- and Inter-Kingdom Modulator Signals.

Flavonoids are a broad class of secondary metabolites with multifaceted functionalities for plant homeostasis and are involved in facing both biotic and abiotic stresses to sustain plant growth and health. Furthermore, they were discovered as mediators of plant networking with the surrounding environment, showing a surprising ability to perform as signaling compounds for a multitrophic inter-kingdom level of communication that influences the plant host at the phytobiome scale. Flavonoids orchestrate plant-neighboring plant allelopathic interactions, recruit beneficial bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi, counteract pathogen outbreak, influence soil microbiome and affect plant physiology to improve its resilience to fluctuating environmental conditions. This review focuses on the diversified spectrum of flavonoid functions in plants under a variety of stresses in the modulation of plant morphogenesis in response to environmental clues, as well as their role as inter-kingdom signaling molecules with micro- and macroorganisms. Regarding the latter, the review addresses flavonoids as key phytochemicals in the human diet, considering their abundance in fruits and edible plants. Recent evidence highlights their role as nutraceuticals, probiotics and as promising new drugs for the treatment of several pathologies.

Quercetin enhances survival and axonal regeneration of motoneurons after spinal root avulsion and reimplantation: experiments in a rat model of brachial plexus avulsion

BackgroundBrachial plexus avulsion (BPA) physically involves the detachment of spinal nerve roots themselves and the associated spinal cord segment, leading to permanent paralysis of motor function of the upper limb. Root avulsion induces severe pathological changes, including inflammatory reaction, oxidative damage, and finally massive motoneuron apoptosis. Quercetin (QCN), a polyphenolic flavonoid found in abundance in fruit and vegetables, has been reported to possess anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects in many experimental models of both central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) disorders. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether QCN could improve motor function recovery after C5–7 ventral root avulsion and C6 reimplantation in a rat model of BPA.MethodsThe right fifth cervical (C5) to C7 ventral roots were avulsed followed by re-implantation of only C6 to establish the spinal root avulsion plus re-implantation model in rats. After surgery, rats were treated with QCN (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) by gavage for 2 or 8 consecutive weeks. The effects of QCN were assessed using behavior test (Terzis grooming test, TGT) and histological evaluation. The molecular mechanisms were determined by immunohistochemistry analysis and western blotting.ResultsOur results demonstrated that QCN significantly expedited motor function recovery in the forelimb as shown by the increased Terzis grooming test score, and accelerated motor axon regeneration as evidenced by the ascending number of Fluoro-Ruby-labeled and P75-positive regenerative motoneurons. The raised ChAT-immunopositive and cresyl violet-stained neurons indicated the enhanced survival of motoneurons by QCN administration. Furthermore, QCN treatment markedly alleviated muscle atrophy, restored functional motor endplates in biceps and inhibited the microglial and astroglia activation via modulating Nrf2/HO-1 and neurotrophin/Akt/MAPK signaling pathway.ConclusionsTaken together, these findings have for the first time unequivocally indicated that QCN has promising potential for further development into a novel therapeutic in conjunction with reimplantation surgery for the treatment of BPA.

Pest and disease risk and management in high-density perennial crops: Current knowledge and areas of future research

High-density production has been increasing for numerous perennial crops in different parts of the world. Recent work suggests that high-density systems improve yields, fruit quality, and harvest efficiency. Yet, despite the increasing amount of acreage in high-density production, there has been surprisingly little comparative research on pest and disease patterns in such systems compared to conventional systems. Given the significantly different structure of high-density plantings compared to conventional orchards, pest abundance, disease prevalence, and appropriate management strategies are likely to differ. Here we describe the characteristics of high-density plantings and how their management and infrastructure are likely to have direct and indirect effects on pest abundance and disease prevalence. We also describe how high-density structure, management, infrastructure, fruit abundance, and microclimate present challenges and opportunities for pest and disease management strategies. For example, the compact structure of high-density plantings may mean smaller quantities of inputs are required while, at the same time, the high foliage density may reduce penetration of pesticide sprays and other inputs. Finally, we propose critical areas for future research including 1) patterns of pest and disease prevalence among rootstocks and varieties, 2) how infrastructure and timing of high-density management affect pest and disease prevalence, 3) how microclimate and fruit abundance vary across canopy levels, with associated impacts on pest and disease prevalence, and 4) types of pest and disease management that are likely to be effective in high-density systems.

Bonobo social organization at the seasonal forest-savanna ecotone of the Lomami national park.

Examining the relationship between food and primate social organization helps us understand how the environment shaped hominin social evolution. However, there is debate as to whether the social differences between our two closest relatives, bonobos (Pan paniscus) and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), are due to differences in food availability between their respective habitats or to nonenvironmental factors. The most prominent theory is that bonobo communities have more socially cohesive, stable parties, centered on gregarious females because they evolved in food-rich habitat where individuals, especially females, are less burdened by competition with groupmates. However, more research on bonobos in habitats with seasonal variation in food is needed. This study measured food availability and bonobo social organization at Luzaka, a new site in a seasonal forest fragment. Fruit abundance and dispersion were recorded for a year at Luzaka with the same methods used at Wamba, a bonobo site in more seasonally stable habitat and terrestrial herbaceous vegetationdensity was measured. At Luzaka, bonobo parties were also recorded for a year using camera traps. Fruit was more seasonal and dispersed at Luzaka than at Wamba. However, the social organization of Luzaka bonobos resembled social organization of bonobos at less seasonal sites. There were minor effects of fruit clumping on party size without effects on the proportion of females in parties suggesting that at Luzaka, the clumping of fruit slightly affected social cohesiveness but does not disproportionately affect females. Bonobo social cohesiveness and female gregariousness appears consistent and compatible with seasonal habitat.

PATHMAP (Pathogen And Tree fruit Health MAP): A Smartphone App and Interactive Dashboard to Record and Map Tree Fruit Diseases, Disorders, and Insect Pests

PATHMAP (Pathogen And Tree fruit Health MAP) is a smartphone application (app) and interactive dashboard developed specifically for support specialists, extension personnel, and university scientists supporting the tree fruit industry. The PATHMAP app collects detailed information about observed diseases, insect pests, and disorders and provides the option to attach photos. The data are then visualized using a graphical interface dashboard displaying an interactive color-coded map. Prior to the development of PATHMAP, abundant tree fruit disorder data were collected each year, but a central interactive repository for archiving data and facilitating communication of field observations did not exist. PATHMAP has been beta tested by university extension personnel, private consultants, and university scientists to ensure usability and functionality. PATHMAP will be used within the tree fruit industry for monitoring known pest patterns, occurrences, and outbreaks of emerging pathogens. It will augment existing extension diagnosis listservs that have value in visual diagnosis but are cumbersome and have no archiving capabilities. Data obtained through the tool can be used in epidemiological meta-analyses and to develop new predictive models, and can serve as a platform to track emerging pathogens, insects, and disorders for a variety of cropping systems. [Formula: see text] The author(s) have dedicated the work to the public domain under the Creative Commons CC0 “No Rights Reserved” license by waiving all of his or her rights to the work worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law, 2022.

Frugivorous bird foraging is related to pericarp color and ultraviolet reflectance in fruiting shrub species

ABSTRACT Seed dispersal by birds is critical for regeneration and maintenance of plant populations. Birds likely rely on both visible light of human’s eyes and ultraviolet (UV) reflectance when foraging for fruit. Fruit color is suggested to be an honest signal that allows birds to assess nutrient status. We assessed UV reflectance and pericarp color as honest indicators of fruit maturity in three fruiting shrubs in Osaka, Japan. We measured sugar content and light spectra in the fruits of Eurya japonica, Ligustrum obtusifolium and Ligustrum japonicum and observed birds foraging on target individuals. We found that a model including fruit color and UV reflection as explanatory variables best explained variation in fruit sugar content in E. japonica and L. obtusifolium, whereas UV reflection alone best explained variation in L. japonicum. Next, we assessed relationships between fruit color and bird foraging behavior and found strong temporal correlation between active foraging and peak sugar content. Bird foraging behavior differed among the three shrub species. This is probably because fruit consumption by birds is not entirely dependent on fruit color or sugar content of the fruits. It must depend on various factors such as the presence of fruiting neighbors of conspecific or heterospecific plants and seasonal variation of population-level or community-level fruit abundance.

Mycotoxin Production and the Relationship between Microbial Diversity and Mycotoxins in Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd cv. Huangguan Pear.

Mycotoxins are generated by a series of fungal pathogens in postharvest fruit, resulting in serious health threat to consumers and great economic loss to the fruit storage industry. The microbial differences between rotten and healthy fruit during storage and their relationship with mycotoxin production have not been fully studied. In this study, differences in microbial diversity between rotten and healthy fruit after 30 days of storage at ambient temperature were investigated using high-throughput sequencing technology in ‘Huangguan’ pear (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd cv. Huangguan) harvested from five different producing regions of Hebei province, China. The bacterial genus Gluconobacter was much more abundant in rotten fruit (76.24%) than that in healthy fruit (32.36%). In addition, Komagataeibacter and Acetobacter were also relatively higher in abundance in rotten fruit. In contrast, bacterial genera Pantoea, Alistipes, Muribaculaceae, Lactobacillus, and Ruminococcaceae_UCG were found to be more abundant in healthy fruit. Fungal genera including Botryosphaeria, Colletotrichum, Valsa, Alternaria, Rosellinia, Fusarium, and Trichothecium were found to be abundant in rotten fruit. The results of principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) showed that there were significant differences in the microbial diversity of different regions. PAT (patulin) was detected in all rotten fruit samples, while tenuazonic acid (TeA), alternariol (AOH), and alternariolmonomethyl ether (AME) were only detected in samples collected from one region (Weixian). Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) and Pearson correlation analysis showed that the abundance of Alistipes and Pantoea were negatively correlated with the contents of PAT, suggesting that bacterial genera Alistipes and Pantoea have potential in reducing mycotoxin production in ‘Huangguan’ pear.

Sustainable strategies for anaerobic digestion of oil palm empty fruit bunches in Indonesia: a review

ABSTRACT Indonesia has abundant oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFBs). However, high lignin content in OPEFBs may hinder their valorisation to bioenergy resources, as its degradation by microorganisms is rate-limiting. This paper aims to review OPEFB as feedstock in anaerobic digestion (AD) systems and sustainable strategies to enhance methane yield. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the availability of OPEFB, the prospective of AD technology, and compares various biological pre-treatment and co-digestion strategies for superior AD process. Improving the value-added benefits from OPEFBs and simultaneously making pre-treatment processes more sustainable is critical to wider application. Several scenarios were proposed by combining multi-stage pre-treatment of physical and mushroom cultivation pre-treatment prior to AD. This paper presents an original approach to establishing a commercially viable and sustainable AD of OPEFBs in Indonesia by integrating multi-product biorefinery and a circular economy. Further investigation is required to ensure cost-effective and eco-friendly configurations. Abbreviations: ABR: Anaerobic Baffled Reactor; AD: Anaerobic Digestion; AF: Anaerobic Filter; AFEX: Ammonia Fibre Expansion; AI: Artificial Intelligence; AnMBR: Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor; ANN: Artificial Neural Network; ASP: Activated Sludge Process; CMM: Cattle Manure and Maize Silage; COD: Chemical Oxygen Demand; CPO: Crude Palm Oil; CPW: Cocoa Pods Waste; CSTR: Continuous Stirred-Tank Reactor; DH: Dry Husk; DM: Dry Matter; DMF: 2,5-dimethylfuran; EM: Effective Microorganisms; EGSB: Expanded Granular Sludge Bed; FBR: Fluidised Bed Reactors; FFB: Fresh Fruit Bunch; FTIR: Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy; GHG: Greenhouse Gasses; HRT: Hydraulic Retention Time; IC: Internal Circulation Reactor; IoT: Internet of Things; Lac: Laccase Enzyme; L-AD: Liquid-AD; LiP: Lignin Peroxidase; LRAD: Low-Rate AD; MARS: Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines; MCC: Microcrystalline Cellulose; MDF: Medium-Density Fibreboard; MEMR: Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Republic of Indonesia; ML: Machine Learning; MnP: Manganese Peroxidase; MPA: Marine Predators Algorithm; MSW: Municipal Solid Waste; OFMSW: Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste; OLR: Organic Loading Rates; OPEFBs: Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches; OPF: Oil Palm Fibre; OPKS: Oil Palm Kernel Shell; OPMF: Oil Palm Mesocarp Fibre; OPT: Oil Palm Trunk; P(3HB): Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate); PHA: Polyhydroxyalkanoate; PLTBg: Biogas Power Plants; POM: Palm Oil Mill; POME: Palm Oil Mill Effluent; SCG: Spent Coffee Grounds; SRF: Solid Refused Fuel; SRT: Solids Retention Time; SS-AD: Solid-State AD; TS: Total Solid; TSI: Torrefaction Severity Index; UASB: Up-flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket; VFA: Volatile Fatty Acids; VP: Versatile Peroxide; VS: Volatile Solid; W2E: Waste-to-Energy.

Proteomic and metabolomic studies on chilling injury in peach and nectarine.

Peaches and nectarines are temperate climate stone fruits, which should be stored at 0°C to prevent the ripening of these climacteric fruits. However, if stored for too long or if stored at a higher temperature (4 or 5°C), they develop chilling injury. Chilling injury damage includes (1) dry, mealy, wooly (lack of juice) fruits, (2) hard-textured fruits with no juice (leatheriness), (3) flesh browning, and (4) flesh bleeding or internal reddening. There are genetic components to these disorders in that early season fruits are generally more resistant than late season fruits, and white-fleshed fruits are more susceptible to internal browning than yellow-fleshed fruits. A recent review covered the recent research in genomic and transcriptomic studies, and this review examines findings from proteomic and metabolomics studies. Proteomic studies found that the ethylene synthesis proteins are decreased in cold compromised fruits, and this affects the processes initiated by ethylene including cell wall and volatile changes. Enzymes in metabolic pathways were both higher and lower in abundance in CI fruits, an indication of an imbalance in energy production. Stress proteins increased in both fruits with or without CI, but were higher in damaged fruits. Metabolomics showed the role of levels of sugars, sucrose, raffinose, galactinol, and glucose-6-phosphate in protection against chilling injury, along with other membrane stabilizers such as polyamines. Amino acid changes were inconsistent among the studies. Lipid species changes during storage could be correlated with sensitivity or resistance to CI, but more studies are needed.

Food plant diversity in different-altitude habitats of Hainan gibbons (Nomascus hainanus): Implications for conservation

Knowledge of habitats and food distribution patterns of Hainan gibbon (Nomascus hainanus) is essential for developing an effective conservation management for the threatened species. Despite having been rediscovered nearly a decade ago, very little is known about its food resources or habitats. In this study, we assessed differences in the food plant diversity as well as identifying the dominant species of food plants between the high- and low-altitude habitats of Hainan gibbons. We particularly focused on large trees (DBH ≥ 10 cm) because they are recognized to provide abundant fruit resources and good environments to gibbons. Results showed that food plants richness, and large food plants richness with abundance at high-altitude habitat were significantly higher than low-altitude ones.The species similarity between the two habitats was low, exhibiting rich berry food plants in the primary mountain rainforest and rich nut-type food plants in the secondary lowland rainforest, respectively. The findings suggest that the high-altitude forests are the current optimal habitat for gibbons which should be strictly protected for the survival of Hainan gibbons. The low diversity of large trees in the low-altitude secondary forests highlights the importance of large food plants for the development of secondary lowland rainforest as potential habitats for Hainan gibbons.

Metabarcoding of fecal DNA reveals the broad and flexible diet of a globally endangered bird.

Knowing the diet of endangered wild animals is a prerequisite for species-specific conservation and habitat management. The Sichuan partridge Arborophila rufipectus is a globally endangered Galliformes species endemic to the mountains of southwest China. Existing information on the diet of this species is biased and fragmented owing to traditional observation methods. Little is known about their dietary composition or how they respond to temporal variations in food resources throughout the year. In this study, a dietary analysis was performed on 60 fecal samples using DNA Metabarcoding of invertebrates and plants to determine the primary animal and plant components of the diet across 3 critical periods of adult life history (breeding, postbreeding wandering, and overwintering). Preys from the dipteran order, followed by the lepidopteran and araneaen spp., were the predominant, animal-derived foods. Symplocos, Rubus, Celastrus, Holboellia, and Actinidia spp. supply a large abundance of fruits and seeds for this omnivorous bird. Substantial temporal dietary changes among the 3 periods and a general shift toward lower dietary diversity during the breeding season were observed, suggesting that the Sichuan partridge can adjust their diet according to the availability of food resources and their own needs. Characterizing the composition and seasonal changes in Sichuan partridge diets informs the habitat management of native flora (the plant taxa that can generate berries and seeds, such as Symplocos, Rubus, Celastrus, and Holboellia, which are likely of conservation interest) to achieve full life-cycle conservation.

Seasonal variation in impact of non‐native species on tropical seed dispersal networks

Abstract Invasive non‐native species can alter animal‐mediated seed dispersal interactions and ultimately affect the stability of recipient communities. The degree of such disturbances, however, is highly variable and depends on several factors, two of which have received little attention: the relative timing of native and non‐native fruiting phenologies, and the associated variation in relative resource availability across the fruiting period. Both are likely to alter plant–seed disperser interactions threatened by biological invasions. Here we investigated the impact of plant invasions on the seasonal dynamics of frugivory and seed dispersal networks across a large‐scale experimental setup and a plant invasion gradient on a tropical island. We recorded fruit and frugivore abundances, and plant–frugivore interactions across eight inselbergs (i.e. rocky outcrops) with different levels of plant invasion during 10 months on the island of Mahé, Seychelles. By combining four sampling methods of plant–frugivore interactions we constructed quantitative seed dispersal networks at all sites across two 5‐month seasons: the on‐peak and off‐peak fruiting season. Our findings showed that, by fruiting mostly synchronously with natives, non‐native plants compete with natives for dispersal services, predominantly carried out by native frugivores. Variation in native seed dispersal was driven by plant invasion and seasonality. Specifically, native seed dispersal declined with the degree of invasion; dispersal frequency increased with fruit abundance more strongly during the off‐peak fruiting season; and networks became increasingly specialised during off‐peak. These results indicated that during the main fruiting peak seed dispersal services were saturated, which likely intensified the competition between native and non‐native fruits. When resources were scarce during off‐peak fruiting season, native and non‐native frugivores were more selective in their fruit choice at sites dominated by non‐native plants. We showed that native plant and frugivore populations and native seed dispersal interactions were more vulnerable in invaded plant communities, where non‐native plants compete with natives for dispersal services potentially reducing native recruitment. As invasive non‐native plants dominate many ecosystems world‐wide, particularly on islands, our findings showed that controlling plant invasions in vulnerable native communities can be critical to maintain native ecosystem functions and biodiversity. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Effects of canopy cover on fruiting intensity and fruit removal of a tropical invasive weed

Lantana camara (hereafter, Lantana) is among the worst invasive alien plants spread extensively across Africa, Australia and Asia at an alarming rate, posing significant challenges to conservation of native biodiversity. While, Lantana invasion is widely recognised to be more pronounced in open-canopy habitats (including deciduous forests, forest edges and gaps), the potential role of variation in seed dispersal across habitats varying in overstory canopy cover is poorly understood.Avian frugivores are among primary seed dispersers of the fleshy-fruited Lantana. We monitored 45 Lantana shrubs across a gradient of overstory canopy cover to determine the relationship between fruiting intensity and canopy cover. We watched 80 Lantana shrubs (240 h) across a canopy cover gradient to determine 1) differences in frugivore assemblage visiting Lantana across open- and closed-canopy habitats, 2) drivers of frugivore visitation on Lantana, and 3) relationship between seed disperser visitation rate and overstory canopy cover. We found that Lantana shrubs under low overstory canopy cover had higher fruit abundance than those in high canopy cover. Frugivore assemblage differed between Lantana shrubs in open- versus closed-canopy cover habitats. Drivers of frugivore visitation on Lantana varied across different frugivore species with a greater probability of occurrence of bulbuls (the primary seed dispersers of Lantana) on shrubs under low overstory canopy cover.Visitation rates of the effective seed dispersers were higher on shrubs under low overstory canopy cover. Thus, there was greater chances of dispersal of seeds in habitats with low overstory canopy cover.The study demonstrates variable fruiting intensity and fruit removal rate as a driver of differences in dispersal of seeds across habitats. It highlights greater vulnerability of open habitats to invasion and the need to prioritise Lantana management efforts in open habitats. Anthropogenic activities that lead to canopy openings (e.g. tree lopping and logging) likely facilitate Lantana invasion through greater fruit production and seed dispersal.