Publication: Characteristics of hornbill-dispersed fruits in a tropical seasonal forest in Thailand
Issued Date
2004-12-01
Resource Type
ISSN
09592709
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-23744440790
Rights
Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Bird Conservation International. Vol.14, No.SPEC. ISS. (2004)
Suggested Citation
Shumpei Kitamura, Takakazu Yumoto, Pilai Poonswad, Phitaya Chuailua, Kamol Plongmai Characteristics of hornbill-dispersed fruits in a tropical seasonal forest in Thailand. Bird Conservation International. Vol.14, No.SPEC. ISS. (2004). doi:10.1017/S0959270905000250 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/21054
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Title
Characteristics of hornbill-dispersed fruits in a tropical seasonal forest in Thailand
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Abstract
Asian hornbills are primarily frugivorous. We studied the characteristics of fruits consumed by four sympatric hornbill species in Thailand: Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis), Wreathed Hornbill (Aceros undulatus), Austin's Brown Hornbill (Anorrhinus austeni) and Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris). We compared the frequency of distribution of 11 variables for all fruit species collected in the study area (n = 259) and fruit species consumed by hornbills (n = 73). Our analysis revealed that fruits consumed by hornbills are: (1) large, (2) easily accessible within the canopy, (3) red, purple or black and (4) dehiscent or indehiscent with a thin husk. The range of fruit sizes eaten by hornbills in our study is comparable to that reported from other sites in Southeast Asia and Africa. The large gape width of hornbills enables them to consume large fruits that small frugivores would find difficult to consume. © BirdLife International 2004.