African hornbill movement behavior and spatial patterns of seed dispersal

AOS Research Grant Seminar

Presenter: Nicholas Russo, Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University; 2020 Werner and Hildegard Hesse Research Grant winner

Movements of tropical frugivores are crucial for seed dispersal in rainforests, where up to 90% of trees rely on animals to disperse their seeds. Since 2021, my research team and I have GPS-tracked the movements of Black-casqued (Ceratogymna atrata) and White-thighed Hornbills (Bycanistes albotibialis) in southern Cameroon, where they disperse the seeds of at least 50 tree species. This research involves collaborations with local students and indigenous forest guides, showing how integrating different knowledge systems can lead to a stronger understanding of tropical birds.