Fruit Size and Structure of Zoochorous Trees: Identifying Drivers for the Foraging Preferences of Fruit-Eating Birds in a Mexican Successional Dry Forest.

Tropical dry forests (TDFs) are affected by land-use changes. These modifications impact their composition and arboreal structure, as well as the availability of food for several bird groups. In this study, we evaluated the foraging preferences in zoochorous trees of fruit-eating birds during the dry season of the year in three successional stages (early, intermediate, and mature) of TDFs in southern Mexico. The fruits of these trees are important in the diet of several birds during the dry season, a period during which food resources are significantly reduced in TDFs. We estimated foliar cover (FC) and foliage height diversity (FHD) of zoochorous trees in 123 circular plots. These variables were recognized as proxies of food availability and tree productivity. Foraging preferences were evaluated at the community level, by frugivore type, and by bird species. We evaluated the effect of the structural variables and the fruit size of zoochorous plants on fruit removal by birds and related the bird body mass and fruit size removed in the successional gradient. A total of 14 zoochorous tree species and 23 fruit-eating bird species were recorded along the successional gradient. Intermediate and mature stages showed greater fruit removal. The birds removed mainly B. longipes fruits across the three successional stages. The FHD and fruit size were important drivers in the selection of zoochorous trees and fruit removal by fruit-eating birds. Fruit size and bird body mass were positively related along the successional gradient. The results suggest that fruit removal by fruit-eating birds in the successional gradient can promote the demographic dynamics of several zoochorous tree species, especially of Bursera spp. along the TDFs.

Aliens will provide: avian responses to a new temporal resource offered by ornithocorous exotic shrubs.

Frugivorous birds are able to track spatiotemporal changes in fruit availability. Food resource fluctuations, characteristic of seasonal environments, can be affected by the naturalization of exotic ornithocorous plants. In the mountain forest of central Argentina, invasive shrubs of the genus Pyracantha provide a new temporal resource that modifies fluctuations of natural resource availability because the invasives fructify in autumn-winter (largely uncoupled with the fruiting of native species). The contrasting patterns of resource fluctuation between non-invaded and invaded areas throughout the year provide a good study system to test predictions of the fruit-tracking hypothesis, and to understand the relationship between food resources offered by fleshy fruited invasives and abundances of avian trophic guilds. By means of point counts conducted during five time periods at invaded and non-invaded sites we found that the presence of Pyracantha, and time periods, significantly affected frugivorous bird abundance, which in autumn-winter was greater in invaded sites and in spring-summer similar between invaded and non-invaded sites. On the other hand, granivores and insectivores did not show a significant relationship with the presence of Pyracantha. Abundances of the most common seed disperser were significantly affected by the interaction between time period and presence of Pyracantha. These results indicate that the abundances of birds that legitimately disperse Pyracantha seeds are temporally and spatially associated with fruit abundance provided by this exotic plant. This underscores fruit availability as an important ecological factor affecting frugivorous bird abundance, and suggests that Pyracantha seed dispersers are capable of detecting changes in the availability of its fruit, likely contributing to the effectiveness of its dispersal.

Negative density dependence of seed dispersal and seedling recruitment in a neotropical palm.

Negative density dependence (NDD) of recruitment is pervasive in tropical tree species. We tested the hypotheses that seed dispersal is NDD, due to intraspecific competition for dispersers, and that this contributes to NDD of recruitment. We compared dispersal in the palm Attalea butyracea across a wide range of population density on Barro Colorado Island in Panama and assessed its consequences for seed distributions. We found that frugivore visitation, seed removal and dispersal distance all declined with population density of A. butyracea, demonstrating NDD of seed dispersal due to competition for dispersers. Furthermore, as population density increased, the distances of seeds from the nearest adult decreased, conspecific seed crowding increased and seedling recruitment success decreased, all patterns expected under poorer dispersal. Unexpectedly, however, our analyses showed that NDD of dispersal did not contribute substantially to these changes in the quality of the seed distribution; patterns with population density were dominated by effects due solely to increasing adult and seed density.

Dispersão e predação de sementes de araticum no Cerrado de Mato Grosso, Brasil

This study aimed to characterize araticum (Annona crassiflora) plants and fruits, and evaluate the frequency of consumption, predation and dispersal of the seeds by animals and its effect on germination, in Cerrado vegetation area, between February 2007 and June 2008. Using track traps installed on araticum plants, the frequency of visitation (FV) and the fruit consumption by the animals was assessed, as well as, the action of insects in fallen fruits under the trees was registered. Sample of tapirs excrement Tapirus terrestris were analyzed to verify the occurrence frequency (FO) and the damage caused on the seeds by tapirs and insects. To analyze the dispersal by tapirs, colored beads were inserted in fallen mature fruits under the parent trees. Then, the distance between the location of the excrements with beads to the parent tree in the specific color of the bead was measured. Germination test was performed with excrement samples and unbroken fruit seeds. Among the animals that fed on fruits, tapirs contributed with the largest frequency of visitation and consumption of araticum fruits, representing 54% of the frequency occurrence in excrement samples, and the seeds were not damaged significantly. Dung beetles (Scarabaeidae) fed the pulp of the fruit and buried araticum seeds next to the parent tree. Curculionid and eurytomid insects predated the araticum seeds on the fruits. The damage caused by these insects in the seeds was significantly higher than those caused by tapirs. Two excrements with beads were found at 1,7 and 1,8km distant from the parent trees, respectively. The seeds had low germinability in this period of study, however the tapirs can protect the seeds of predator insects, defecating the intact seeds for long distances. Thus, T. terrestris is a possible disperser of seeds, whereas curculionids and eurytomids can be considered predators of araticum seeds. These relations probably contribute with the control of araticum population in the Brazilian Cerrado.

Este estudo objetivou caracterizar plantas e frutos de araticum (Annona crassiflora), avaliar a frequência de consumo, predação e dispersão de suas sementes por animais e seus efeitos na germinação, em área de Cerrado, entre fevereiro de 2007 a junho de 2008. Baseado em armadilhas de pegadas, registrou-se a frequência de visitação (FV) e o consumo de frutos por animais, além da ação de insetos em frutos caídos no solo, sob as plantas. Estrumes de antas, Tapirus terrestris, foram amostrados para verificar a frequência de ocorrência (FO) e os danos causados por elas e por insetos. Para analisar a dispersão por antas, foram inseridas miçangas coloridas em frutos maduros caídos sob plantas-mãe. Posteriormente, foi medida a distância entre o local das fezes com miçanga até a planta-mãe da cor específica da miçanga. Realizou-se teste de germinação com sementes de amostras fecais e de frutos intactos. Dentre os animais que se alimentaram dos frutos, antas contribuíram com maior frequência de visitação e consumo de frutos de araticum, o qual representou 54% de frequência de ocorrência nas amostras fecais e as sementes não foram significativamente danificadas. Besouros (Scarabaeidae) se alimentaram da polpa de frutos e enterraram sementes de araticum próximo da planta-mãe. Insetos curculionídeos e euritomídeos predaram as sementes de araticum nos frutos. Os danos causados nas sementes por esses insetos foram significativamente maiores que aqueles provocados pelas antas. Foram encontradas duas fezes com miçangas distantes 1,7km e 1,8km das plantas-mãe, respectivamente. A germinação das sementes foi baixa neste período de estudo, no entanto, as antas podem proteger as sementes de insetos predadores, defecando-as intactas para longas distâncias. Assim, T. terrestris é um possível dispersor, enquanto que curculionídeos e euritomídeos são possíveis predadores de sementes de araticum. Essas relações provavelmente contribuem para o controle da população de araticum no Cerrado brasileiro.

Dispersão e predação de sementes de araticum no Cerrado de Mato Grosso, Brasil

This study aimed to characterize araticum (Annona crassiflora) plants and fruits, and evaluate the frequency of consumption, predation and dispersal of the seeds by animals and its effect on germination, in Cerrado vegetation area, between February 2007 and June 2008. Using track traps installed on araticum plants, the frequency of visitation (FV) and the fruit consumption by the animals was assessed, as well as, the action of insects in fallen fruits under the trees was registered. Sample of tapirs excrement Tapirus terrestris were analyzed to verify the occurrence frequency (FO) and the damage caused on the seeds by tapirs and insects. To analyze the dispersal by tapirs, colored beads were inserted in fallen mature fruits under the parent trees. Then, the distance between the location of the excrements with beads to the parent tree in the specific color of the bead was measured. Germination test was performed with excrement samples and unbroken fruit seeds. Among the animals that fed on fruits, tapirs contributed with the largest frequency of visitation and consumption of araticum fruits, representing 54% of the frequency occurrence in excrement samples, and the seeds were not damaged significantly. Dung beetles (Scarabaeidae) fed the pulp of the fruit and buried araticum seeds next to the parent tree. Curculionid and eurytomid insects predated the araticum seeds on the fruits. The damage caused by these insects in the seeds was significantly higher than those caused by tapirs. Two excrements with beads were found at 1,7 and 1,8km distant from the parent trees, respectively. The seeds had low germinability in this period of study, however the tapirs can protect the seeds of predator insects, defecating the intact seeds for long distances. Thus, T. terrestris is a possible disperser of seeds, whereas curculionids and eurytomids can be considered predators of araticum seeds. These relations probably contribute with the control of araticum population in the Brazilian Cerrado.

Este estudo objetivou caracterizar plantas e frutos de araticum (Annona crassiflora), avaliar a frequência de consumo, predação e dispersão de suas sementes por animais e seus efeitos na germinação, em área de Cerrado, entre fevereiro de 2007 a junho de 2008. Baseado em armadilhas de pegadas, registrou-se a frequência de visitação (FV) e o consumo de frutos por animais, além da ação de insetos em frutos caídos no solo, sob as plantas. Estrumes de antas, Tapirus terrestris, foram amostrados para verificar a frequência de ocorrência (FO) e os danos causados por elas e por insetos. Para analisar a dispersão por antas, foram inseridas miçangas coloridas em frutos maduros caídos sob plantas-mãe. Posteriormente, foi medida a distância entre o local das fezes com miçanga até a planta-mãe da cor específica da miçanga. Realizou-se teste de germinação com sementes de amostras fecais e de frutos intactos. Dentre os animais que se alimentaram dos frutos, antas contribuíram com maior frequência de visitação e consumo de frutos de araticum, o qual representou 54% de frequência de ocorrência nas amostras fecais e as sementes não foram significativamente danificadas. Besouros (Scarabaeidae) se alimentaram da polpa de frutos e enterraram sementes de araticum próximo da planta-mãe. Insetos curculionídeos e euritomídeos predaram as sementes de araticum nos frutos. Os danos causados nas sementes por esses insetos foram significativamente maiores que aqueles provocados pelas antas. Foram encontradas duas fezes com miçangas distantes 1,7km e 1,8km das plantas-mãe, respectivamente. A germinação das sementes foi baixa neste período de estudo, no entanto, as antas podem proteger as sementes de insetos predadores, defecando-as intactas para longas distâncias. Assim, T. terrestris é um possível dispersor, enquanto que curculionídeos e euritomídeos são possíveis predadores de sementes de araticum. Essas relações provavelmente contribuem para o controle da população de araticum no Cerrado brasileiro.

Dispersão e predação de sementes de araticum no Cerrado de Mato Grosso, Brasil / Dispersal and predation of araticum seeds in the Cerrado of Mato Grosso, Brazil

Este estudo objetivou caracterizar plantas e frutos de araticum (Annona crassiflora), avaliar a frequência de consumo, predação e dispersão de suas sementes por animais e seus efeitos na germinação, em área de Cerrado, entre fevereiro de 2007 a junho de 2008. Baseado em armadilhas de pegadas, registrou-se a frequência de visitação (FV) e o consumo de frutos por animais, além da ação de insetos em frutos caídos no solo, sob as plantas. Estrumes de antas, Tapirus terrestris, foram amostrados para verificar a frequência de ocorrência (FO) e os danos causados por elas e por insetos. Para analisar a dispersão por antas, foram inseridas miçangas coloridas em frutos maduros caídos sob plantas-mãe. Posteriormente, foi medida a distância entre o local das fezes com miçanga até a planta-mãe da cor específica da miçanga. Realizou-se teste de germinação com sementes de amostras fecais e de frutos intactos. Dentre os animais que se alimentaram dos frutos, antas contribuíram com maior frequência de visitação e consumo de frutos de araticum, o qual representou 54 por cento de frequência de ocorrência nas amostras fecais e as sementes não foram significativamente danificadas. Besouros (Scarabaeidae) se alimentaram da polpa de frutos e enterraram sementes de araticum próximo da planta-mãe. Insetos curculionídeos e euritomídeos predaram as sementes de araticum nos frutos. Os danos causados nas sementes por esses insetos foram significativamente maiores que aqueles provocados pelas antas. Foram encontradas duas fezes com miçangas distantes 1,7km e 1,8km das plantas-mãe, respectivamente. A germinação das sementes foi baixa neste período de estudo, no entanto, as antas podem proteger as sementes de insetos predadores, defecando-as intactas para longas distâncias. Assim, T. terrestris é um possível dispersor, enquanto que curculionídeos e euritomídeos são possíveis predadores de sementes de araticum. Essas relações provavelmente contribuem para o controle da população de araticum no Cerrado brasileiro.

This study aimed to characterize araticum (Annona crassiflora) plants and fruits, and evaluate the frequency of consumption, predation and dispersal of the seeds by animals and its effect on germination, in Cerrado vegetation area, between February 2007 and June 2008. Using track traps installed on araticum plants, the frequency of visitation (FV) and the fruit consumption by the animals was assessed, as well as, the action of insects in fallen fruits under the trees was registered. Sample of tapirs excrement Tapirus terrestris were analyzed to verify the occurrence frequency (FO) and the damage caused on the seeds by tapirs and insects. To analyze the dispersal by tapirs, colored beads were inserted in fallen mature fruits under the parent trees. Then, the distance between the location of the excrements with beads to the parent tree in the specific color of the bead was measured. Germination test was performed with excrement samples and unbroken fruit seeds. Among the animals that fed on fruits, tapirs contributed with the largest frequency of visitation and consumption of araticum fruits, representing 54 percent of the frequency occurrence in excrement samples, and the seeds were not damaged significantly. Dung beetles (Scarabaeidae) fed the pulp of the fruit and buried araticum seeds next to the parent tree. Curculionid and eurytomid insects predated the araticum seeds on the fruits. The damage caused by these insects in the seeds was significantly higher than those caused by tapirs. Two excrements with beads were found at 1,7 and 1,8km distant from the parent trees, respectively. The seeds had low germinability in this period of study, however the tapirs can protect the seeds of predator insects, defecating the intact seeds for long distances. Thus, T. terrestris is a possible disperser of seeds, whereas curculionids and eurytomids can be considered predators of araticum seeds. These relations probably contribute with the control of araticum population in the Brazilian Cerrado.