Stem breaks as an indirect measure of megafaunal herbivory in tropical forests: An experimental study

Abstract

To simulate megafaunal (pig, tapir, and elephant) foraging, we cut 1228 saplings in a Sundaic rainforest. In total, 89%–94% of cut stems survived after 13.5 months. About 90% of naturally occurring break scars were at heights ≤1 m, implicating pigs, not elephants or tapirs, as the main source of stem damage in this forest. Abstract in Malay is available with online material.