Lutra 48(2)_Mouissie_book review_2005

Book review: Seed dispersal (2)

Ungulate seed dispersal. Aspects of endozoochory in a semi- natural landscape. E. Cosyns 2004. PhD thesis. Ghent University, Ghent / Institute of Nature Conservation, Brussels, Belgium. 178 pp. ISBN 90-403-0211-1. Available online at http://www.instnat.be/content/page. asp?pid=PUB_Doctoraten.

Although the study of seed dispersal by animals already started in the age of Darwin, it is again a topical issue. Current levels of habitat fragmentation in northwest Europe limits colonization rates of ecological restoration sites and may also frustrate the ability of plant species to survive climate change. Furthermore, the use of domesticated cattle (Bos taurus), sheep (Ovis aries) and horses (Equus caballus) has become increasingly popular in northwest European nature management of semi-natural landscapes. The aim of this thesis was to get insight in the ecological significance of endozoochory (internal seed dispersal by animals) in grazed ecosystems....