Seed Dispersal Project
We research how plants disperse their seeds in forests, villages and cities. We are trying to understand what how seed dispersal patterns change with landuse, and find out if civets, bulbuls, monkeys, bats and hornbills still function as seed dispersal agents when we move out of the forest. We are also trying to understand the role of forest-specialist frugivores such as deer in dispersal networks, and examine if other frugivores can provide complimentary services where deer are not found. We are trying to incorporate this understanding of how our forest ecosystems function into management of invasive plants which are spread by native frugivores and for identifying target species for restoration programs.