Syagrus flexuosa (Mart.) Becc. (Arecaceae) seedling recruitment at the edge and interior of Cerrado remnants

Abstract

The edge effect has impacts on seed and seedling survival due to modifications in biotic and abiotic factors. Often, large-seeded tree species lost seed vectors in the forest edge due to the rarity or absence of large frugivores at this habitat type. In this study, I compared the seedling abundance and distribution of the palm Syagrus flexuosa between edges and interiors of three large Cerrado remnants. In every remnant, the number of seedlings around parent palms in the edge was smaller than around palm individuals located in the Cerrado interior. Moreover, the distribution of seedlings around parent palms differed between edges and interiors. In the edges, most seedlings were found under parent crowns, while in the interiors, the contrary occurred. The high concentration of seedlings under parent palms suggests a decrease of seed dispersal at the edges. Because S. flexuosa is a widely distributed palm that serves as an important resource for several animals along Cerrado habitats, changes on the regeneration process of this palm due to edge effects can further impact frugivore populations. Therefore, the decline of seedling establishment along forest edges implies changes in the Cerrado regeneration dynamics, which may compromise the persistence of ecological processes and animal communities.

Elucidating dietary secrets of the Blue‐headed Macaw, Primolius couloni (Sclater, 1876), through citizen‐sourced photographs

“…Now, we know 27 new food plant species, covering multiple botanical families, mainly Fabaceae, but also Moraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Humiriaceae, and Urticaceae, including a non-native plant (Table 1). Based on Levin's Index, these findings highlight the Blue-headed Macaw's broad dietary niche and generalist feeding flexibility, traits common among macaw species (e.g., Matuzak et al, 2008;Ragusa-Netto, 2006, 2024Santos & Ragusa-Netto, 2014;Silva et al, 2024).…”