The kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn, Malvaceae) as a food source for native vertebrate species during times of resource scarcity and its potential for reforestation in Madagascar. (29th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hending, Daniel; Randrianarison, Heriniaina; Holderied, Marc; McCabe, Grainne; Cotton, Sam
• Is Part Of: Austral ecology. Volume 46:Number 8(2021)
• Page Start: 1440
• Page End: 1444
• Publication Date: 2021-06-29
• Subjects: connectivity -- food source -- neophyte -- pamba -- seed dispersers; Ecology -- Southern Hemisphere -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Australia -- Periodicals; 557
• DOI: 10.1111/aec.13076
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1442-9985

Abstract

Abstract: Reforestation in Madagascar often relies on a few tree species with known properties. Species selection may consider aspects like human use, growth characteristics and animal use. Here, we investigated the use of the kapok tree ( Ceiba pentandra ) as a food source for vertebrates during the dry season in North West Madagascar. We observed 21 native vertebrate species (five lemurs, five bats and 11 birds) feed on or within C. pentandra during this period of low food availability, 48% of which are known seed dispersers. As a fast‐growing species, C. pentandra may therefore be suitable for inclusion in reforestation and forest restoration efforts to facilitate seed dispersal, natural forest regeneration and animal movement between adjacent forest fragments. Abstract : We investigated the use of the kapok tree ( Ceiba pentandra ) as a food source by vertebrate species in North West Madagascar during the dry season. Ceiba pentandra appears to be an important food source for many threatened native animals during this period of low food availability, and many of the species that it attracts are known seed dispersers. As a fast‐growing species, C. pentandra may therefore be suitable for inclusion in reforestation and forest restoration efforts to facilitate seed dispersal, natural forest regeneration and animal movement between adjacent forest fragments.