Corridor Project Data, Bird Dispersed Seed Movement in Corridors, Savannah River Site, SC USA, 2000-2001

The objective of this experiment was to look at bird dispersed seed movement in fragmented habitats and those connected by corridors. It was conducted in experimental landscapes that consist of five open habitat patches surrounded by a mature pine plantation matrix. There is one central patch surrounded by four peripheral patches. One peripheral patch is connected to the central patch by a corridor; the unconnected peripheral patches have either a rectangular or winged shape. Transplants and cuttings from bird dispersed species, Ilex vomitoria and Myrica cerifera, were placed in the central patches. Sixteen artificial perches with seed traps were placed in each peripheral patch. Fecal samples were collected from the traps weekly and analyzed for the presence of seeds from the central patch.