학술논문

Frugivory and dispersal of Faramea cyanea (Rubiaceae) in Cerrado woody plant formations
Document Type
article
Source
Brazilian Journal of Biology. February 2003 63(1)
Subject
birds
fruit dispersal
gallery forest
cerradão
frugivory
Language
English
ISSN
1519-6984
Abstract
The objective of this study was to observe and compare the community of birds that utilize the tree species Faramea cyanea, in contiguous areas of cerradão and gallery forest, and also to characterize the behavioral patterns of the birds. The study was carried out in the Panga Ecological Station (Uberlândia, Minas Gerais State), in April and May 2001. Nine individuals of F. cyanea were observed in periods between 06:45-11:30 h for a total of 44.5 hours. There were 204 visits by 13 bird species. Tyrannidae was the most represented family (five species) and Turdidae, the most frequent (72.1% of visits). The number of consumed fruits was correlated with the permanence time on the plant. There was no significant difference between the two forests habitats, in terms of foraging tactics or fruit consumption strategies. In spite of the predominance of omnivorous birds (89.5%) in both habitats, the swallower strategy (84.2%) indicates high seed dispersal potential. Antilophia galeata, a frugivorous bird, presented the greatest rate of consumed fruits per minute in both gallery forest (2.15) and cerradão (1.06).