To effectively conserve the fragile biodiversity hotspots, it is crucial to monitor the status of fruit eaters. To aid in this effort, scientists and students at Michigan State University (MSU) have developed an expanded database to track these animals and birds.
In the latest issue of the open-access journal Global Ecology and Biogeography, the researchers have introduced a comprehensive list of over 45,000 traits for fruit-consuming creatures. Named Frugivoria, this remarkable database enhances existing resources by providing researchers and conservationists with a comprehensive inventory of animals and birds in the forests of Central and South America. The open accessibility of Frugivoria’s data and workflow aims to contribute to addressing the ongoing biodiversity crisis.
Given the rapid pace of climate change, it is vital to understand the specific conditions affecting fruit eaters.
“Seed dispersion is crucial in the face of climate change,” explains Beth Gerstner, a Ph.D. candidate in the MSU Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and the leader of this database development project. “Fruit eaters play a vital role in maintaining forest composition and health through the distribution of seeds. Frugivoria’s importance lies in its ability to facilitate researchers’ understanding of the diversity and significance of these creatures in the ecosystem.”
Comprehending the identities of fruit-eating and seed-dispersing creatures, along with the knowledge of their distribution and life traits such as life expectancies, breeding habits, and habitat preferences, is critical for tracking changes induced by climate change. However, existing databases are often fragmented or incomplete.
Starting in 2018 at MSU, 12 undergraduate students diligently sifted through numerous scientific publications to enrich existing records of fruit eaters, including birds, to obtain a more holistic understanding of forest dynamics. The addition of 44 new species, such as the olinguito, a member of the raccoon family residing in the cloud forests of the northern Andes, added excitement to their work. The olinguito was initially mistaken for the larger olingo but was later confirmed to be a genetically distinct species.
“The age of big data has also come to natural history,” proclaims Phoebe Zarnetske, associate professor in integrative biology and director of the Institute for Biodiversity, Ecology, Evolution, and Macrosystems (IBEEM). “Frugivoria contributes to enhancing the accessibility of natural history information that was traditionally confined to museums and collections. This project provided a unique opportunity to engage multiple undergraduate students in research encompassing data science and functional ecology.”
Zarnetske highlights that Frugivoria can address both fundamental and practical questions regarding species’ roles within their environments. It can serve as a valuable resource for community scientists seeking to deepen their understanding of species’ natural history and can assist in species conservation assessments.
“As a result,” she concludes, “Frugivoria is part of a broader endeavor to leverage the power of big data in addressing the biodiversity crises.”
Gerstner aims to widely disseminate Frugivoria to relevant stakeholders. “My hope is for the database to be utilized by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and individuals involved in on-the-ground conservation efforts.”
Both Gerstner and Zarnetske are members of MSU’s Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Program and the Spatial and Community Ecology (SpaCE) Lab.
In addition to the open-access paper in Global Ecology and Biogeography, the database itself is published open access with the Environmental Data Initiative.
More information:
Beth E. Gerstner et al, Frugivoria: A trait database for birds and mammals exhibiting frugivory across contiguous Neotropical moist forests, Global Ecology and Biogeography (2023). DOI: 10.1111/geb.13716
Citation:
Supersized fruit eater database on climate change frontline (2023, June 21)
retrieved 21 June 2023
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