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Fig 1 Large fruit of Beilschmiedia sp. (5 cm in diameter and 7.5 cm length)
Photo by NG Sai Chit in Tongtieling, Hainan |
Slugwoods
Beilschmiedia spp.
Beilschmiedia is a large tree genus with more than 200
species in the family Lauraceae1. Up to 22 species have
been recorded in South China (35 species in China);
among them 14 species are endemic to the region,
including species that may reach 30m in height. The genus
is characterized by its relatively large single-seeded fruit up
to 7-8cm in length and 5 cm diameter.
Fig 2 Beilschmiedia appendiculata
has smaller fruit.
Photo by NG Sai Chit in Bawangling, Hainan |
More than one-third of the species recorded in China are
listed in the China Species Red List2, including 4 Critically
Endangered species, 6 Endangered species and 3 Vulnerable
species, with logging and farmland encroachment
considered the largest immediate threats to this group.
Although large-scale logging of natural forest has been
banned, merely protecting a number of individuals in a
protected area is not sufficient to ensure the recovery or
the long-term survival of Beilschmiedia, or other large-fruit
tree species, if their fruits are not being dispersed by
the appropriate dispersal agents. Although relatively little
is known about their reproductive ecology, the Lauraceae
family, which typically has lipid-rich fruits, is consistently
dependent on birds for fruit dispersal3. Their ovoid fruit
shape is also consistent with that of typical large fruits
eaten by large frugivorous birds such as imperial pigeons
and hornbills4. Some of them, such as the one shown in
Figure 1, can nowadays only be dispersed by Mountain
Imperial Pigeons (Ducula badia) in Hainan. Decline of
these dispersal agents in South China through hunting and
habitat destruction will eventually threaten the survival of
these trees.
(By Ng Sai Chit and Philip Lo)
References
- Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae editorial board, 1984. Flora
Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae 31 : 123-149. Science Press, Beijing.
- Wang S. and Xie Y., 2004 (eds.). China Species Red List Vol.I.
Higher Education Press, Beijing.
- Corlett, R.T. 1998. Frugivory and seed dispersal by vertebrates
in the Oriental (Indomalayan) Region. Biological Reviews 73:
413-448.
- Corlett, R.T., University of Hong Kong, personal communication.
Oriental Pied Hornbill
Anthracoceros albirostris (Shaw, 1808)
| Distribution: | Widely distributed from North India to
Southeast Asia and the Greater Sundas. In
China, now only in southeast Tibet, south
Yunnan and southwest Guangxi. |
| Identification: | Large forest bird, with total length up to 75
cm. Black head, back and breast; white belly;
black wings with broad white trailing edge
and black tail with white tip. White facial
markings. Large pale yellowish bill. |
| Ecology and behaviour : |
Found mostly in forest areas with
big trees. Usually in small flocks.
Mostly frugivorous, also taking small
vertebrates and insects-important
dispersers for large-fruited trees
such as slugwoods. Hornbills have a
unique breeding habit; after mating,
the female will enter the nest in a
tree hole, then the pair will proceed
to imprison the female inside with a
wall of mud and debris, leaving only
a narrow slit through which she can
poke her bill and get food from the
male. Inside the tree hole, the female
will lay the eggs, incubate them and
look after the chicks. The female
will break the wall when the chicks
are ready to fledge. |
| Status: |
Now extremely restricted and rare in South
China. Because of their large body-size and
unique nesting habits, habitat destruction, logging
and hunting are the main threats to hornbills. The
Oriental Pied Hornbill is not currently listed as
Threatened in the IUCN Red List because it has
a wide distribution and in some areas is still quite
common. In China, because of habitat destruction
and hunting, it has been listed as nationally Near-threatened1
and in the States Protected Species
List (Class II). In Guangxi it may be continued to a
single site. |
(By Lee Kwok Shing)
References
- Wang S and Xie Y (eds.), 2004. China Species Red List Vol.I. Higher
Education Press, Beijing.
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