Avian Mediated Seed Dispersal of Two Hemi-parasitic Mistletoe Species Agelanthus Brunneus (engl.) Balle & Hallé and Globimetula Braunii (engl.) Danser - Interaction Between Host-parasite Pair and Disperser Abundance at Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve

Montane habitats are generally rare and disproportionately distributed around the world; and are rich in biodiversity with a high concentration of endemic species of conservative interest. These rare forests are highly threatened and their remnants are often surrounded by deforested landscapes typically dominated by high human population. These high concentrations of humans within and around these unique landscapes often exert undue pressures on the fragile ecosystem leading to habitat degradation and species loss. Restoration through dispersal actions by some vertebrates is therefore crucial to the survival of these threatened landscapes. Individuals each of Agelanthus brunneus and Globimetula braunii were monitored on different host tree species at both forest edge and fragments to record various avian dispersers. A total of 13 bird species, from 11 genera and 10 families were recorded, with only four species (African thrush, African green pigeon, Yellow rumped tinker bird, and Western green tinker bird) identified as mistletoe dispersers. Yellow rumped tinker bird was the most dominant disperser and moved the highest number (70) of seeds. Avian species abundance in concert with host-mistletoe pair combinations partially predicted species’ relative contributions to fruit dispersal of the two mistletoe species.