Artificial roosts as seed dispersal nuclei in a cerrado area in Triângulo Mineiro, Brazil

Giancarlo Ângelo Ferreira,Celine De Melo

doi:10.14393/bj-v32n2a2016-30051

Abstract

Vertical artificial structures can serve as artificial roosts attracting birds and increase the seed rain. The purpose of this work was to study the efficiency of different types of artificial roosts as seed dispersal nuclei in a cerrado (Neotropical savannah) area under natural regeneration. Three types of artificial roosts were installed (“X”, “3X” and “wire”) and the species of birds using them and plant species in the seed rain were monitored for a year. The efficiency of the roosts was measured by comparing the seed rain with natural roosts (control). We recorded 760 individuals of 24 species of birds on the artificial roosts. There were more dispersed seeds under artificial roosts than under natural roosts .We collected 607 samples of feces, 569 under artificial roosts (containing 5252 seeds) and 38 under natural roosts (containing 228 seeds). The seeds were of 21 species/morphospecies. The 3X roost was the most used by birds, but the seed rain was similar between 3X and X roosts. We also recorded more seeds under artificial roosts than under natural roosts. Cyanocorax cristatellus (curl-crested jay) , an omnivorous bird, was the most frequent bird recorded at the artificial roosts and seeds of Miconia species were dominant in the seed rain. Artificial roosts were efficient as seed dispersal nuclei and can be adopted as a method to accelerate the regeneration of degraded areas. Research that focuses on artificial roost structure and the factors that influence the seed rain is useful to define targeted and more efficient strategies to habitat restoration.

Highlights

Fragmentation of large natural areas has become an important contributor to increase in degraded areas (BOCCHESE et al, 2008)
The 3X roost was the most used by birds, but the seed rain was similar between 3X and X roosts
Artificial roosts The 3X roost was the most used by birds as a landing point compared to the other artificial roosts (X and Wire)

Summary

Introduction

Fragmentation of large natural areas has become an important contributor to increase in degraded areas (BOCCHESE et al, 2008). Flora and fauna are exposed to biotic and abiotic environmental changes (GASCON et al, 1999), such as increased distance between forest fragments and reduction of connectivity between areas Events such as pollination, seed dispersal, reproduction and plant succession, that depend on animals can be affected (GASCON et al, 1999). Ecological succession may be impaired by the lack of seeds, but seed deposition can be increased with the use of structures that attract birds (MCCLANAHAN; WOLF, 1987, 1993) Such structures can be natural, such as isolated trees (GUEVARA et al, 1986), artificial trees, wooden posts or dry trees (MCCLANAHAN; WOLF, 1993; GUEDES et al, 1997) distributed in a planned manner in degraded areas. Artificial structures can start a succession process because they increase the local and adjacent floristic composition (MCCLANAHAN; WOLFE, 1987; MELO, 1997; REIS et al, 2010), in turn increasing the structural complexity, and benefiting the interaction between plants and animals (GUEDES et al, 1997)

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