Seed dispersal pattens of large-seeded trees in the forests of Singapore

Seed dispersal is integral for the continued persistence of trees, as successful dispersal reduces competition for seedlings and allows for greater access to resources like space, light, and nutrients. However, for large-seeded animal-dispersed trees in environments that have lost their large...

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Main Author: See, James Zhe Yuan
Other Authors: Lum Shawn Kaihekulani Yamauchi
Format: Final Year Project
Language:English
Published: Nanyang Technological University 2024
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Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10356/174820
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Institution: Nanyang Technological University
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spelling sg-ntu-dr.10356-1748202024-04-15T15:31:52Z Seed dispersal pattens of large-seeded trees in the forests of Singapore See, James Zhe Yuan Lum Shawn Kaihekulani Yamauchi Asian School of the Environment shawn.lum@ntu.edu.sg Earth and Environmental Sciences Large seeds Secondary seed dispersal Recruitment Spatial distribution CTFS ForestGEO Ripley’s L function Bluetooth tags Seed dispersal is integral for the continued persistence of trees, as successful dispersal reduces competition for seedlings and allows for greater access to resources like space, light, and nutrients. However, for large-seeded animal-dispersed trees in environments that have lost their large animal dispersers (megafauna), their underlying dispersal mechanisms and the extent of their dispersal are not entirely clear. A possible explanation is that these large seeds are dispersed through secondary dispersal, where smaller animals move these seeds after they have fallen to the ground. To test if large-seeded trees are being dispersed in Singapore, which has no megafauna left, recruitment rates and spatial distribution of selected tree species in two forest plots in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve were calculated. The viability of secondary seed dispersal by smaller animals was then tested with a field experiment where large seeds were deployed in two forest locations. The results suggest that common large-seeded trees are successfully recruiting (producing offspring) but they and smaller-seeded trees are not dispersed well, although smaller animals can be seen to be moving placed seeds. The results could provide insights on how similarly defaunated tropical forests are adapting to these changes. Bachelor's degree 2024-04-12T04:12:12Z 2024-04-12T04:12:12Z 2024 Final Year Project (FYP) See, J. Z. Y. (2024). Seed dispersal pattens of large-seeded trees in the forests of Singapore. Final Year Project (FYP), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. https://hdl.handle.net/10356/174820 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/174820 en application/pdf Nanyang Technological University
institution Nanyang Technological University
building NTU Library
continent Asia
country Singapore
Singapore
content_provider NTU Library
collection DR-NTU
language English
topic Earth and Environmental Sciences
Large seeds
Secondary seed dispersal
Recruitment
Spatial distribution
CTFS
ForestGEO
Ripley’s L function
Bluetooth tags
spellingShingle Earth and Environmental Sciences
Large seeds
Secondary seed dispersal
Recruitment
Spatial distribution
CTFS
ForestGEO
Ripley’s L function
Bluetooth tags
See, James Zhe Yuan
Seed dispersal pattens of large-seeded trees in the forests of Singapore
description Seed dispersal is integral for the continued persistence of trees, as successful dispersal reduces competition for seedlings and allows for greater access to resources like space, light, and nutrients. However, for large-seeded animal-dispersed trees in environments that have lost their large animal dispersers (megafauna), their underlying dispersal mechanisms and the extent of their dispersal are not entirely clear. A possible explanation is that these large seeds are dispersed through secondary dispersal, where smaller animals move these seeds after they have fallen to the ground. To test if large-seeded trees are being dispersed in Singapore, which has no megafauna left, recruitment rates and spatial distribution of selected tree species in two forest plots in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve were calculated. The viability of secondary seed dispersal by smaller animals was then tested with a field experiment where large seeds were deployed in two forest locations. The results suggest that common large-seeded trees are successfully recruiting (producing offspring) but they and smaller-seeded trees are not dispersed well, although smaller animals can be seen to be moving placed seeds. The results could provide insights on how similarly defaunated tropical forests are adapting to these changes.
author2 Lum Shawn Kaihekulani Yamauchi
author_facet Lum Shawn Kaihekulani Yamauchi
See, James Zhe Yuan
format Final Year Project
author See, James Zhe Yuan
author_sort See, James Zhe Yuan
title Seed dispersal pattens of large-seeded trees in the forests of Singapore
title_short Seed dispersal pattens of large-seeded trees in the forests of Singapore
title_full Seed dispersal pattens of large-seeded trees in the forests of Singapore
title_fullStr Seed dispersal pattens of large-seeded trees in the forests of Singapore
title_full_unstemmed Seed dispersal pattens of large-seeded trees in the forests of Singapore
title_sort seed dispersal pattens of large-seeded trees in the forests of singapore
publisher Nanyang Technological University
publishDate 2024
url https://hdl.handle.net/10356/174820
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