References
[1] Chanthorn, W., Hartig, F., Brockelman, W. Y., Srisang, W., Nathalang, A., & Santon, J. (2019). Defaunation of large-bodied frugivores reduces carbon storage in a tropical forest of Southeast Asia. Scientific Reports, 9, 10015. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-46399-y
[2] Bello, C., Crowther, T. W., Ramos, D. L., Morán-López, T., Pizo, M. A., & Dent, D. H. (2024). Frugivores enhance potential carbon recovery in fragmented landscapes. Nature Climate Change, 14, 636–643. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-01989-1
Hornbill
By dispersing the seeds of large tropical trees, hornbills help maintain the forest communities that support biodiversity, regeneration and long-term carbon storage.
Hornbills are among the great avian seed carriers of tropical forests. With large bills and fruit-rich diets, they can swallow and transport seeds that many smaller birds cannot. In doing so, they help move tree species across the forest, supporting regeneration and maintaining the plant communities on which many other species depend ¹.
This role is especially important in tropical forests, where many tree species rely specifically on animals to move their seeds away from parent trees and into places where seedlings may survive. When large, fruit-eating (frugivore) birds decline, the effects can ripple through the forest. Tree species that depend on these animals may become less able to regenerate, gradually changing forest composition over time ¹.
A study in the tropical forests of Thailand examined the relationship between large-bodied frugivores (including hornbills but also gibbons, macaques, deer and bears) and above-ground forest carbon. The authors found that tree species dependent on these animals accounted for nearly one-third of the total above-ground carbon in the plot. Tree species dispersed by terrestrial mammals and large-bodied birds together accounted for about 21% of total above-ground carbon¹.
More recent research found that frugivorous birds can enhance the potential carbon recovery of regenerating tropical forests in South America because similarly, they disperse seeds of tree species with traits associated with higher future carbon storage, including larger seed size, taller adult height and higher wood density. The study also found that forest recovery also depends on landscape connectivity, and where forest cover fell below 40%, restricted bird movement reduced potential carbon recovery by up to 38%.³
Hornbills are therefore not just colourful forest birds. They are part of the living infrastructure of tropical forests. Protecting them helps protect seed dispersal, forest regeneration and the ecological relationships that allow forests to remain diverse, resilient and carbon-rich.
Hornbill
By dispersing the seeds of large tropical trees, hornbills help maintain the forest communities that support biodiversity, regeneration and long-term carbon storage.
Hornbills are among the great avian seed carriers of tropical forests. With large bills and fruit-rich diets, they can swallow and transport seeds that many smaller birds cannot. In doing so, they help move tree species across the forest, supporting regeneration and maintaining the plant communities on which many other species depend ¹.
This role is especially important in tropical forests, where many tree species rely specifically on animals to move their seeds away from parent trees and into places where seedlings may survive. When large, fruit-eating (frugivore) birds decline, the effects can ripple through the forest. Tree species that depend on these animals may become less able to regenerate, gradually changing forest composition over time ¹.
A study in the tropical forests of Thailand examined the relationship between large-bodied frugivores (including hornbills but also gibbons, macaques, deer and bears) and above-ground forest carbon. The authors found that tree species dependent on these animals accounted for nearly one-third of the total above-ground carbon in the plot. Tree species dispersed by terrestrial mammals and large-bodied birds together accounted for about 21% of total above-ground carbon¹.
More recent research found that frugivorous birds can enhance the potential carbon recovery of regenerating tropical forests in South America because similarly, they disperse seeds of tree species with traits associated with higher future carbon storage, including larger seed size, taller adult height and higher wood density. The study also found that forest recovery also depends on landscape connectivity, and where forest cover fell below 40%, restricted bird movement reduced potential carbon recovery by up to 38%.³
Hornbills are therefore not just colourful forest birds. They are part of the living infrastructure of tropical forests. Protecting them helps protect seed dispersal, forest regeneration and the ecological relationships that allow forests to remain diverse, resilient and carbon-rich.