Back to the Forest: evaluating the ecological role of a reintroduced frugivore bird

Summary

Tropical forests are rich in life and vital for climate and people. Many have lost animals that move seeds, weakening forest recovery. My PhD asks whether bringing back a large fruit-eating bird can help restore these processes. I studied the red-billed curassow, reintroduced in the Brazilian Atlantic forest. Using maps, animal and plant surveys, diet records and seed-germination tests, I examined where the birds live, what they eat, and how far they disperse seeds. I found that the red-billed curassow use both forest and some human-modified areas, have a varied fruit diet, and can carry viable seeds hundreds of meters. Early signs suggest their presence may be starting to shape young plant communities, though effects are subtle and require time to detect. The work shows that reintroductions can support forest regeneration, while highlighting the need for long-term, landscape-scale management.