Two thrush species as dispersers of Miconia prasina (Sw.) DC. (Melastomataceae): an experimental approach

Alves, Maria Alice S.; Ritter, Paula; Antonini, Rafaela Dias; Almeida, Elisângela Medeiros de

doi:10.1590/s1519-69842008000200023

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…The fleshy fruits of the members of this family are an important food resource for frugivores in tropical environments, since species of the family produce fruits with small seeds that are consumed by taxonomic-wide communities of birds, especially when food is scarce (Silveira et al , 2013). For Melastomataceae, the effects of the passage through the digestive tract of birds are quite complex, and can be negative (Alves et al , 2008), null (Gomes et al , 2008; Silveira et al , 2012) or positive (Ellison et al , 1993; Silveira et al , 2012). However, the causes for interspecific variation in seed responses to gut passage are unclear.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does seed coat structure modulate gut-passage effects on seed germination? Examples from Miconieae DC. (Melastomataceae)

et al. 2016

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Fruits of Melastomataceae constitute a key resource for Neotropical frugivores. However, the mechanisms determining gut-passage effects on seed germination are poorly known. Here, we determine how bird gut-passage affects seed germination in three species of Miconieae by running germination experiments, examining changes in seed coat structure and determining germination inhibition by fruit extracts. Mature fruits of Clidemia urceolata, Leandra aurea and Miconia rubiginosa were sampled in south-eastern Brazil and seeds were submitted to treatments evaluating gut-passage effects and different concentrations of fruit extracts. Light and scanning electron microscopy were used to compare seed coat structure and thickness of control and gut-passed seeds. We found minor effects of gut passage on seed germination. However, changes in seed coat structure of gut-passed seeds of L. aurea may have been related to a decrease in germination. Our data also support the idea that germination inhibitors in fruit pulp may contribute to the inhibition effect. Our study corroborates the idea that changes in the seed coat following gut passage modulate the complex fruit–frugivore interactions, especially between plants and generalist dispersers, and that seed cleaning is a key factor determining seedling establishment in Neotropical Melastomataceae.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does seed coat structure modulate gut-passage effects on seed germination? Examples from Miconieae DC. (Melastomataceae)

et al. 2016

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“…In this period, in addition to having the increase of resources exploitation due to greater availability of fruits and reproductive activity in birds, there is also the arrival of migratory birds, many of which participate actively of seed dispersal (Pizo, 1997;Alves et al, 2008;Zahawi et al, 2012). Zanini and Ganade (2005) obtained similar results in a study about efficiency of perches in restoring Araucaria Forests in Brazil.…”

Section: Bird Visitation To Perchesmentioning

confidence: 76%

Use of perches and seed dispersal by birds in an abandoned pasture in the Porto Ferreira state park, southeastern Brazil

Athiê

Dias

2016

Braz. J. Biol.

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We investigated the efficiency of different kinds of perches in attracting seed disperser-birds and increasing the seed rain in a degraded area located in the northeast region of São Paulo State. We installed seed traps under natural perches (NPs, living trees); simple artificial perches (SAPs) of 3m tall and a crossbar; elaborate artificial perches (EAPs) of 7m tall and three crossbars, and in a control area. Results showed the number of bird-dispersed seeds deposited was proportional to the number of structures for perching. The NPs also have provided other resources for birds such as food and shelter. Comparing visitation between artificial perches, there was greater use of EAPs also for having more perching structures and for being taller, providing better airspace visibility for predatory birds and tyrant-flycatchers, important seed dispersers. Thus, natural and artificial perches with similar characteristics to the EAPs are the most recommended as a base or complementary method for the restoration of degraded areas near to propagules source, also contributing to the maintenance of local fauna.Keywords: birds, seed dispersal, frugivory, perches, forest restoration.Uso de poleiros e dispersão de sementes por aves em um pasto abandonado no Parque Estadual de Porto Ferreira, sudeste do Brasil ResumoInvestigamos a eficiência de diferentes modelos de poleiros na atração de aves dispersoras e no incremento da chuva de sementes em uma área degradada localizada na região nordeste do Estado de São Paulo. Instalamos coletores de sementes sob poleiros naturais (PNs, árvores vivas); poleiros artificiais simples (PASs), com 3m de altura e um ponto de pouso; poleiros artificiais elaborados (PAEs), com 7m de altura e três pontos de pouso e coletores em área aberta (testemunha). Verificamos que o número de sementes ornitocóricas depositadas nos coletores aumentou proporcionalmente à quantidade de estruturas de pouso dos poleiros. Os PNs também disponibilizaram outros recursos para a avifauna, como alimento e abrigo. Comparando-se a visitação entre os poleiros artificiais, houve maior utilização dos PAEs que, além de apresentarem mais pontos de pouso, são mais altos, fornecendo melhor visibilidade do espaço aéreo para aves predadoras e que apanham insetos em vôo, como os tiranídeos, importantes dispersores de sementes. Neste sentido, poleiros naturais e artificiais com características similares aos PAEs são os mais recomendados como método base ou complementar na restauração de áreas degradadas próximas a fontes de propágulos, contribuindo também para a manutenção da fauna local.Palavras-chave: aves, dispersão de sementes, frugivoria, poleiros, restauração florestal.

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“…The C. pareola has populations in MC (PEREIRA et al, 2011). In a fragment of lowland Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil, two species of thrush (Turdus albicollis Vieillot, 1816 and Turdus amaurochalinus Cabanis, 1850) were found ingesting fruits and dispersing seeds of M. prasina (ALVES et al, 2008). Turdus amaurochalinus Cabanis, 1850 has been identified as one of the omnivorous avifauna species in forests adjacent to the regenerating area (PEREIRA et al, 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Floristic composition of Melastomataceae between reforested and natural areas in the Recife Atlantic Forest, Pernambuco, Brazil

Maciel¹,

Couceiro

2021

Biotemas

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Local extinction of native Atlantic Forest flora species occurs mainly due to habitat fragmentation. Reforestation and natural regeneration can mitigate these factors. The present study attempts to understand whether floristic composition and dispersal processes are being reestablished in an area of lowland Atlantic Forest, eight years after its reforestation. The study area was an old pasture set between two urban fragments in the city of Recife that was reforested in 2011. Melastomataceae species were collected in this area and the morphology of their fruits was compared with the species of the family recorded in the adjacent fragments. Miconia prasina, M. albicans, M. affinis, Clidemia hirta, and C. capitellata have been found in the reforested area. Although there are species with larger fruits in the adjacent fragments, there was no statistically significant difference between the means of the two areas. The fruit morphology indicates that the species found in the area are dispersed by birds and small mammals. It is possible to conclude that the reforested area already presents the expected ecological processes for a corridor between two fragments. Thus, the two adjacent areas serve as vectors for the colonization of native Atlantic Forest species in the reforested area.

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Two thrush species as dispersers of Miconia prasina (Sw.) DC. (Melastomataceae): an experimental approach

Cited by 8 publications

References 24 publications

Does seed coat structure modulate gut-passage effects on seed germination? Examples from Miconieae DC. (Melastomataceae)

Does seed coat structure modulate gut-passage effects on seed germination? Examples from Miconieae DC. (Melastomataceae)

Use of perches and seed dispersal by birds in an abandoned pasture in the Porto Ferreira state park, southeastern Brazil

Floristic composition of Melastomataceae between reforested and natural areas in the Recife Atlantic Forest, Pernambuco, Brazil

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