Ecological significance of bird perches on the restoration of forest vegetation
鸟类栖木在森林植被恢复中的生态意义

Avian seed dispersal is important for the natural regeneration of plant populations and the successional development of plant communities. Birds can enhance the seed rain beneath both natural and artificial perches. The addition of bird perches can therefore increase the input of bird-dispersed seeds and enrich the soil seed bank in mountain landslides, abandoned mines, and other disturbed areas. Frugivorous birds usually disperse seeds of mid- to late-successional trees and shrubs, so bird perches may accelerate the successional development of forest vegetation in disturbed areas. The earthquake centred on Wenchuan, Sichuan, on May 12, 2008, caused extensive mountain hazards, such as landslides and debris flows, and has resulted in severe damage to forests. It is suggested that bird perches may be integrated into the ecological restoration projects in the disaster areas, so as to take advantage of abundant seed sources and a diversity of frugivorous birds from the remnant forests around the landslides and thus promote natural recovery of the forest vegetation that was damaged by the earthquake.