Bicolored display of<i>Miconia albicans</i>fruits: Evaluating visual and physiological functions of fruit colors

Camargo, Maria Gabriela Gutierrez; Schaefer, H. Martin; Habermann, Gustavo; Cazetta, Eliana; Soares, Natalia Costa; Morellato, Leonor Patrícia Cerdeira

doi:10.3732/ajb.1500138

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 66 publications

(94 reference statements)

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“…Despite its high achromatic contrast, yellow fruits were not consumed preferentially over red and/or dark-blue fruits at forest edges. Although conspicuousness increases the probability of consumption because it allows for easier detection of fruits , colour preferences are much more complex because they also depend on innate and learned behaviours (Burns & Dalen, 2002;Camargo et al, 2015;Honkavaara, Siitari, & Viitala, 2004;Paluh, Kenison, & Saporito, 2015;Schaefer et al, 2007). For instance, some studies show that omnivorous birds have an unlearned preference for red or reddish fruits Willson & Comet, 1993) and that fruit preferences match the frequency of natural colours in the community (Duan et al, 2014).…”

Section: Coloursmentioning

confidence: 99%

<b>Fruit colour and edge effects poorly explains frugivorous bird-plant interactions in disturbed semideciduous forests

Pires

Gonçalves

Ferreira

et al. 2018

Acta Sci. Biol. Sci.

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Fruit colour is considered an important feature mediating interactions between plants and frugivorous birds. Despite that, colour mediated interactions are context-dependent, and habitat disturbances may affect how frugivorous birds perceive fruit colours. This study assessed the influence of fruit colour and edge effect on the consumption of artificial fruits by frugivorous birds in three disturbed semideciduous forests in southeastern Brazil. In each of those areas, we performed a field experiment in which we placed artificial fruits of three different colours on plants and recorded their consumption by birds. Red-coloured fruits were ingested more often than yellow, but neither of them was consumed differently from dark-blue. Edge effect only affected consumption of yellow fruits. Our data neither support the hypothesis of preferential consumption of the highest contrasting colours nor of increased fruit consumption in the forest interior. These findings indicate that colour and edge effects, as well as the interaction between them, may not be strong predictors of fruit choice by birds in disturbed environments, especially because generalist species, which are less sensitive to the physical alterations in forests, are favoured in these areas.

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Section: Coloursmentioning

confidence: 99%

<b>Fruit colour and edge effects poorly explains frugivorous bird-plant interactions in disturbed semideciduous forests

Pires

Gonçalves

Ferreira

et al. 2018

Acta Sci. Biol. Sci.

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show abstract

“…In fact, most plant species in tropical forests produce fleshy and colorful fruits to be consumed by animals (Ridley , van der Pijl , de Camargo et al. ). Traditionally, fruit coloration has been explained as an adaptation to facilitate the detection of fruits by dispersers (i.e., Snow , Schaefer et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some plant species produce immature fruits with bright colors and ripe green fruits, to diversify seed dispersal vectors instead of restricting dispersal to birds (de Camargo et al. ). Foster () found the long‐tailed manakin ( Chiroxiphia linearis , Pipridae) feeds on ripe fruits of Ardisia revoluta (Primulaceae), but changes its diet for green fruits in periods of food scarcity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fruit color in fleshy-fruited plants may be used as a signal to which seed dispersers can be attracted (Schaefer and Schmidt 2004). In fact, most plant species in tropical forests produce fleshy and colorful fruits to be consumed by animals (Ridley 1930, van der Pijl 1982, de Camargo et al 2015. Traditionally, fruit coloration has been explained as an adaptation to facilitate the detection of fruits by dispersers (i.e., Snow 1970, Schaefer et al 2008, Cazetta et al 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some frugivores (i.e., birds Psittacidae) are considered seed predators due to their mainly feeding on immature fruits regardless of the availability of mature fruits (Delgadillo and P aez 2011). Some plant species produce immature fruits with bright colors and ripe green fruits, to diversify seed dispersal vectors instead of restricting dispersal to birds (de Camargo et al 2015). Foster (1977) found the long-tailed manakin (Chiroxiphia linearis, Pipridae) feeds on ripe fruits of Ardisia revoluta (Primulaceae), but changes its diet for green fruits in periods of food scarcity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Are seeds able to germinate before fruit color ripening? Evidence from six Neotropical bird‐dispersed plant species

2018

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Many plants attract seed dispersers and indicate the presence of ripe, fleshy fruits with coloration changes. If seed maturation is simultaneous with visual signs for frugivorous, a portion of seeds can be removed before being ready for dispersal. In this study, we tested the delay visual signal hypothesis (DVSH), which implies high reproductive success when seed maturation precedes the visual signal of the fruit ripening, limiting the dispersal of unviable seeds. We evaluated this hypothesis with six tropical species that have fruits with discrete coloration for the immature, intermediate, and mature stages, testing the prediction that the development of mature and intermediate seeds is similar. First, we verified that the coloration of three categories was differentiable with color analysis. Next, we carried out germination and viability tests (i.e., electrical conductivity [EC] and tetrazolium) as an approach to evaluate the germination potential along development. We found that the EC of three species decreased constantly during fruit ripening, suggesting that the seed maturation is a gradual process, with a substantial germination of intermediate seeds. In the other species, the conductivity of seeds of fruits with intermediate coloration was lower than that of mature fruit, because mature seeds are more affected by predators and pathogens. The tetrazolium tests indicated that the viability of seeds of three species increased with maturity and smaller differences between intermediate and mature stages were observed, supporting the DVSH. Only two species achieved high percentages of germination, and for Myrcia splendens, the pattern was very consistent with the hypothesis. We concluded that the germination and viability rates of the seeds of each plant species depend on many factors (e.g., dormancy and time of exposure to predators); however, for all the species studied, there is some evidence that seeds can germinate before they reach maturity by color.

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Is aluminum (Al) eliminated by senescent structures of Miconia albicans, an Al-accumulating species from Brazilian savanna?

Timpone

Habermann

2022

Flora

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Bicolored display ofMiconia albicansfruits: Evaluating visual and physiological functions of fruit colors

Cited by 9 publications

References 66 publications

<b>Fruit colour and edge effects poorly explains frugivorous bird-plant interactions in disturbed semideciduous forests

<b>Fruit colour and edge effects poorly explains frugivorous bird-plant interactions in disturbed semideciduous forests

Are seeds able to germinate before fruit color ripening? Evidence from six Neotropical bird‐dispersed plant species

Is aluminum (Al) eliminated by senescent structures of Miconia albicans, an Al-accumulating species from Brazilian savanna?

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