Impacts of hunting on seed dispersal dynamics in a Central African tropical forest
I am studying the ecological response of hornbills, (large, frugivorous birds) to the local extirpation of seed-dispersing mammals (elephant, gorilla, chimpanzee, monkeys, duiker, and bushpig), which are the primary targets of local hunters.
I am also using molecular genetic tools to assess the effect of this seed disperser loss on gene flow of Antrocaryon klaineanum (ANACARDIACEAE), a commercially important tree species that is dispersed almost exclusively by heavily hunted mammals. Using microsatellite markers, I am estimating pollen flow with the TwoGener technique and measuring seed dispersal with exact DNA matching of maternal seed coat tissue of dispersed seeds with DNA of potential mothers.