Frugivory and potential of birds as dispersers of Siparuna guianensis.

Vf Gonçalves,Am Silva,C Melo,Cq Baesse

doi:10.1590/1519-6984.11413

Vf Gonçalves, Am Silva + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.11413

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Abstract

Siparuna guianensis is a neotropical tree species, found both on edge and interior of forest fragments, mainly on understory and regeneration areas. The fruit are zoochorous with a sweet aril. This work aims to determine the bird species that eat the fruits of S. guianensis in a semi deciduous forest fragment in Brazilian Cerrado and measure which species have the highest potential as seed dispersers. Seven individuals of S. guianensis were sampled, totaling 69 hours. A hundred and fifty four visits were registered by seven species of birds. Antilophia galeata had the biggest potential as seed dispersal agent. Antilophia galeata, Lanio penicillatus and Dacnis cayana can be important seed dispersers, since they have a high consumption and visitation rate. The consumption of S. guianensis by species of different feeding guilds can be an important strategy for dispersal of plant species in regeneration habitats, raising the chances of an effective dispersal.

Highlights

Seed dispersal is a process that exerts control over the density and distribution of plants in a range of environments (Fuentes, 2000), influencing colonization and maintenance of species diversity (Wang and Smith, 2002)
In tropical environments up to 90% of plant species have fruit dispersed by animals (Howe and Smallwood, 1982), Birds are important seed dispersal agents, mainly in understory (Gentry, 1982), where they have an important role in forest regeneration (Jordano et al, 2006)
Among the neotropical frugivorous Passeriformes, Pipridae and Contigidae are the most specialized (Fleming and Kress, 2011). Species of these families are rare in most parts of the Brazilian Cerrado (Bagno and Marinho-Filho, 2001; Marçal-Júnior et al, 2009), where the seed dispersal is done mainly by generalists and opportunist species (Gottsberger and Silberbauer-Gottsberger, 2006)

Summary

Introduction

Seed dispersal is a process that exerts control over the density and distribution of plants in a range of environments (Fuentes, 2000), influencing colonization and maintenance of species diversity (Wang and Smith, 2002). Birds are among the main dispersers of tree pioneers species, being important in the early establishment of communities (Duncan and Chapman, 1999). They contribute to the deposition of seeds in disturbed habitats (Wunderle, 1997) and initiation of secondary succession (Charles-Dominique, 1986). Among the neotropical frugivorous Passeriformes, Pipridae and Contigidae are the most specialized (Fleming and Kress, 2011) Species of these families are rare in most parts of the Brazilian Cerrado (Bagno and Marinho-Filho, 2001; Marçal-Júnior et al, 2009), where the seed dispersal is done mainly by generalists and opportunist species (Gottsberger and Silberbauer-Gottsberger, 2006)

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