Clareen Mae T. Juanico, Pearl Joy C. Linas, Juan Miguel B. Manzanillo (March 2011)
Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus – Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PSHS WVC), Brgy. Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
ABSTRACT
Aceros waldeni (Visayan-writhed hornbills) are primarily frugivorous and they can travel wide distances making them good seed dispersers. Nowadays, this species of birds are endangered because of environmental destructions. This study aimed to determine the germination of Syzygium cumini (Lumboy), Syzygium polycephaloides (Lipote), Terminalia microcarpa (Kalumpit), and Antedesma bunius (Bugnay). These fruits represent the range of sizes of seeds that hornbills can consume. Fruit’s length and width were determined. These were fed to the hornbills early in the morning. Seeds that either regurgitated or defecated were collected. The seeds were characterized according to its length and width. The seeds were sown and the percent germination was determined 30 days after sowing. Seeds with pulp and manually depulped served as control. The percent germination of the four seeds was compared with the control. Hornbill processed and manually depulped seeds have significantly higher percent germination than those planted intact. A bunius did not germinate in any set-up. The type of seed processing affects the percent germination while the seed size did not.