Seed dispersal by frugivores is a fundamental function for plant community dynamics in fragmented landscapes, where forest remnants are typically embedded in a matrix of anthropogenic habitats. Frugivores can mediate both connectivity among forest remnants and plant colonization of the matrix. However, it remains poorly understood how frugivore communities change from forest to matrix due to the loss or replacement of species with traits that are less advantageous in open habitats and whether such changes ultimately influence the composition and traits of dispersed plants via species interactions. Here, we close this gap by using a unique dataset of seed-dispersal networks that were sampled in forest patches and adjacent matrix habitats of seven fragmented landscapes across Europe. We found a similar diversity of frugivores, plants, and interactions contributing to seed dispersal in forest and matrix, but a high turnover (replacement) in all these components. The turnover of dispersed seeds was smaller than that of frugivore communities because different frugivore species provided complementary seed dispersal in forest and matrix. Importantly, the turnover involved functional changes toward larger and more mobile frugivores in the matrix, which dispersed taller, larger-seeded plants with later fruiting periods. Our study provides a trait-based understanding of frugivore-mediated seed dispersal through fragmented landscapes, uncovering nonrandom shifts that can have cascading consequences for the composition of regenerating plant communities. Our findings also highlight the importance of forest remnants and frugivore faunas for ecosystem resilience, demonstrating a high potential for passive forest restoration of unmanaged lands in the matrix.

Dispersal distance and burial mode of acorns are two of the most important characteristics in renewal processes of oaks that result from the food hoarding ecology of the Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius. To obtain the dispersal distance and to locate precisely the caches with scattered acorns we used radio-tracked transmitters with flexible 13 cm long sticking out antennae injected into drilled acorns. From mid-September to mid-October acorns of Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur with transmitters were mixed with untagged acorns and exhibited on five feeders distributed from each other at a distance of at least 1.3 km (max. 3.8). We obtained information on 121 tagged acorns scattered by Jays in two consecutive years (2014 — 42 records, 2015 — 79 records). For both seasons, mean dispersal distance was 115.7 metres (SE = 9.2). The maximum detected distance was 456 m, the minimum was 3 m. Most of the acorns (52.6%) were deposited by Jays up to 100 m from the source. Dispersal distance differed significantly between the two years of research and between feeders. Mean dispersal distance was much higher in 2014 (166 m, N = 42) than in 2015 (86 m, N = 72) and differed between seasons while the seed crop was similar and low. Only four acorns (3.5%) were found on the litter with no signs of hiding, which suggests accidental loss during transport (dyszoochory). Most of the cached acorns (44.6%) were deposited in the Scots Pine Pinus silvestris litter or moss cushions no deeper than 0.5 cm. The additional covering of caches with pieces of bark or leaves were noted accidentally in nine cases (9.8%).

The European badger plays an important role as a natural factor shaping species diversity in forests. Its extensive setts can be used by many other animals as shelters. Soil perturbations in their setts support plant communities that differ from the matrix landscape. The badger is also an effective seed disperser. We investigated its role as an ecosystem engineer in preserving species diversity and discussed its legal status across Europe. In most European countries (69.3% of the continent), the badger is hunted, sometimes year-round. The hunting season lasting through winter until early spring may have a negative effect on badger populations, especially when cubs are born in February. Although this species is Red Listed in 19 European countries (with categories ranging from LC to EN), the badger is strictly protected by law in 30.7% of its European range. A reduction in badger populations may limit its ecosystem services (seed dispersal, topsoil disturbances, microhabitat creation). Much new data on the importance of badgers in ecosystem engineering has allowed us to reconsider how we manage badger populations.

Forest ecosystems contain many tree-related microhabitats (TreMs), which are used by various groups of organisms. Birds use TreMs for shelter, foraging and breeding. The abundance and variability of TreMs is related to tree stand composition and age. Over the last few centuries there has been a drastic decline in the structural and biological diversity of temperate forests over large areas of the Northern Hemisphere. These changes have reduced the diversity and quantity of TreMs. In this study we showed the relationships between stand composition, the abundance of TreMs, and the species richness of birds in a managed forest. We focused on TreMs that are important to birds: woodpecker breeding cavities, rot holes, dead branches, broken treetops, and perennial polypores. Our study was performed in a managed lowland temperate forest. In 94 plots (10 ha each) we made bird surveys and inventoried the stand composition and TreMs. Our results show that the tree stand composition of a managed forest affects the abundance of TreMs. The share of deciduous trees in the stand favors the occurrence of such TreMs as dead branches, rot holes and perennial polypores. The overall richness of bird species and the species richness of primary cavity nesters depended on the total basal area of oak, hornbeam and birch, whereas the species richness of secondary cavity nesters increased with the total basal area of birch and oak.

The badgers may affect soil chemical properties and plant species composition in two ways: by digging burrows (topsoil mixing) and by using latrines (fertilized soils). Here is reported which kind of badgers’ activity plays a major role.