Seed-dispersing animals are in decline, impacting forests and the climate: Study

A lot of attention has been paid to the decrease in bee populations and other pollinators, but a recent review article makes the case that we should be equally alarmed by the declining numbers of seed-dispersing animals, which are crucial for growing healthy forests. “Both are important and should be taken into account in restoration and conservation projects,” study co-author Mauro Galetti, director of São Paulo State University’s Center for Research on Biodiversity Dynamics and Climate Change, said in a press release. Pollinators receive more attention because of their known importance for food production and the economy. But roughly half of all plants, including 90% of trees in tropical rainforests, are dependent on seed-dispersing animals for their propagation. When frugivorous, or fru