Feeding ecology of the Green-cheeked parakeet (Pyrrhura molinae) in dry forests in western Brazil

Abstract

The genus Pyrrhura includes small to medium-sized parakeets, which inhabit both low and dry alongside tall rainforests, mainly in South America. Pyrrhura molinae is still common, year round, in the markedly seasonal forests of western Brazil. This parakeet, as well as most Neotropical parrots, continues to be poorly understood. Hence, in the present study I examined their foraging ecology both in a highly deciduous and in a semi-deciduous forest in western Brazil. In addition, I assessed the relationship between food resource production (flowers and fruits), and the diet of this parakeet. Pyrrhura molinae exhibited a flexible diet consisting of 16 tree species, from which it consumed flowers (three species), seeds (three species), fruit pulp or aril (four species), and both pulp and seeds (six species). Parakeets consumed a wide array of fleshy fruits in the semi-deciduous forest, especially Cecropia pachystachya catkins. Conversely, in the highly deciduous forest they extensively foraged for figs (70% of the diet), in addition to nectar and seeds from dry fruits. Ficus calyptroceras, besides being abundant, bore fruits year round, and was substantially used by parakeets every month. Potentially, by exploiting a diverse set of plant food resources, and particularly due to the substantial use of figs, asynchronously produced, Pyrrhura molinae persists during the long dry season in the markedly seasonal forests of western Brazil.Keywords: Pyrrhura molinae, Psittacidae, parrots, dry forests, canopy phenology.Ecologia alimentar da Tiriba-de-cara-suja (Pyrrhura molinae) em matas secas do oeste brasileiro ResumoO gênero Pyrrhura é constituido de pequenos periquitos comuns tanto em matas secas quanto úmidas, sobretudo da América do Sul. Pyrrhura molinae ocorre durante o ano todo em florestas altamente sazonais do oeste brasileiro. Essa espécie, bem como a maioria dos psitacídeo, permanece pouco conhecida. Portanto, nesse estudo, foi examinada a ecologia alimentar de P. molinae em dois tipos de florestas secas (altamente decídua e semidecídua), do oeste brasileiro, bem como as relações entre a produção de flores frutos e a utilização desses recursos. Pyrrhura molinae exibiu uma dieta flexível em que utilizou recursos de 16 espécies arbóreas, sendo flores de três, sementes de outras três, a polpa dos frutos ou arilo de quatro espécies e, simultaneamente, a polpa e semente de seis espécies. Os periquitos consumiram principalmente frutos carnosos na floresta semidecídua, especialmente as infrutescências de Cecropia pachystachya. Por outro lado, na floresta altamente decídua, figos predominaram na dieta (70% dos registros de alimentação), somados ao néctar e sementes de frutos secos. Ficus calyptroceras, além de abundante produziu frutos o ano todo, que foram consumidos substancialmente pelos periquitos mês a mês. Presumivelmente, por explorar uma ampla variedade de recursos vegetais e subsistir, em grande parte, a base de figos produzidos assincronicamente, Pyrrhura molinae persiste à severa estação seca nas matas ...

Phenology of two Ficus species in seasonal semi-deciduous forest in Southern Brazil

“…Among them, we highlight the fig tree (Ficus spp. ), that are a remarkable food resource for frugivores, mainly in periods of fruit scarcity, as has been highlighted in several studies in various parts of the world (Terborgh, 1986;Lambert and Marshall, 1991;Shanahan et al, 2001;Ragusa-Netto, 2002, 2007Tello, 2003). However, another authors found different results in their studies and not confirmed the key role of these species (Gautier-Hion and Michaloud, 1989;Kattan and Valenzuela, 2013).…”

“…Species that produce leaves, flowers or fruits during periods of low resource availability may be considered important food producers for fauna (Terborgh, 1986;Shanahan et al, 2001;Ragusa-Netto, 2006;2007). Among them, we highlight the fig tree (Ficus spp.…”

“…Although the leaf change can occur seasonally (Spencer et al, 1996;Zhang et al, 2006;Pereira et al, 2007), the reproductive phenology has been registered as asynchronous at the population level (Eshiamwata et al, 2006;Zhang et al, 2006;Pereira et al, 2007;Ragusa-Netto, 2007), probably due to constraints imposed by the obligate mutualism with pollinating wasps.…”

Crop damage of Eriotheca gracilipes (Bombacaceae) by the Blue-Fronted Amazon (Amazona aestiva, Psittacidae), in the Brazilian Cerrado

“…These birds are well known by tracking the erratic pattern of fruit availability (Renton, 2001, Moegenburg andLevey, 2003;Ragusa-Netto, 2007a, b, 2008; consequently, the proportional crop loss to them may vary according to food resources availability (Schupp, 1988(Schupp, , 1990Peres, 1991). In fact, parrots are assumed as important seed predators due to their large and mobile populations (Terborgh et al, 1990).…”

Chemical and Ecological Aspects of Male and Female Specimens ofCecropiaLoefl. (Urticaceae)

“…Dentre os consumidores de embaúbas encontram-se mamíferos, aves, peixes e insetos, sendo os relatos mais recorrentes para o primeiro grupo. 2,[34][35][36][37][38][39] No Brasil, os mamíferos frugívoros estão entre os principais consumidores de embaúbas. Entre os primatas, as espécies dos gêneros Alouatta (bugio) e Cebus (macacoprego), assim como entre os Chiroptera as espécies do gênero Artibeus, possuem o maior número de consumidores.…”