Frugivore - Conservation

Conservation

Because seed dispersal allows plant species to disperse to other areas the loss of frugivores could change plant communities and lead to the local loss of particular plant species. Since frugivore seed dispersal is so important in the tropics, many researchers have studied the loss of frugivores and related it to changed plant population dynamics. Several studies have noted that even the loss of only large frugivores (i.e. monkeys) could have a negative effect since monkeys are responsible for certain types of long-distance seed dispersal that is not seen with other frugivore types like birds. However, plant species whose seeds are dispersed by animals may be less vulnerable to fragmentation than other plant species. Frugivores can also benefit from the invasion of exotic fruit-producing species and can be vectors of exotic invasion by dispersing non-native seeds. In short, while anthropogenic habitat loss and change may negatively affect some frugivore species it may positively affect others.