Aves frugívoras y su papel en la regeneración de arbustos mediterráneos productores de frutos carnosos

Currently, Mediterranean forest systems face problems of deforestation and habitat fragmentation that directly affect the distribution of species of forest flora and fauna. The process of climate change in which these systems are immersed, is going to accentuate the adverse conditions to which forest species are exposed. The cost of reforestation and maintenance of forested areas makes the study of tools that promote the natural regeneration of vegetation become very significant. Especially in places which can be a source of natural risks like abandoned crops. In this study, we investigate the effectiveness of birds as dispersers of two typical shrub species of Mediterranean forest environments (Rhamnus Lycioides L. and Pistacia lentiscus L.), and the distribution of dispersal in a highly disturbed forest patch located in the Southeast of Spain. The results obtained allow us to discuss about the importance of fruit consumption and the directionality of dispersal. Their interpretation suggest the existence of specialization in the consumption within the forest fragment, which would facilitate intra-habitat regeneration, but not the colonization of nearby places (non forested zones). The colonization of such new areas should be assisted by active seeding or plantations, or by installing perches to encourage bird-mediated seed deposition, etc., techniques that should be evaluated in future studies.