Frugivorous flies (diptera: Tephritidae and lonchaeidae) and native parasitoids (hymenoptera) associated with pouteria caimito (sapotaceae) in Brazil

This study presents new reports on frugivorous flies and their parasitoids associated with the fruits of Pouteria caimito Radlk. (Sapotaceae), a plant native to the Amazon region. In addition to the new reports, this study also presents the infestation and parasitism rates, for dipterous and hymenopteran parasitoids, respectively.

Specialized Seed Dispersal in Epiphytic Cacti and Convergence with Mistletoes

Mistletoes represent the best example of specialization in seed dispersal, with a reduced assemblage of dispersal agents. Specific dispersal requirements mediated by the specificity of seed deposition site have apparently led to the evolution of such close relationships between mistletoes and certain frugivores. Here, we provide evidences for another case of specialization involving epiphytic cacti in the genus Rhipsalis, and small Neotropical passerines Euphonia spp., which also act as the main seed dispersers of mistletoes in the family Viscaceae. With field observations, literature search, and observations on captive birds, we demonstrated that Rhipsalis have specific establishment requirements, and euphonias are the most effective dispersers of Rhipsalis seeds in both quantitative and qualitative aspects, potentially depositing seeds onto branches of host plants. We interpret the similar dispersal systems of Rhipsalis and Viscaceae mistletoes, which involve the same dispersal agents, similar fruit morphologies, and fruit chemistry as convergent adaptive strategies that enable seeds of both groups to reach adequate microsites for establishment in host branches. © 2013 by The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation.

Seed dispersal by the lek-forming white-bearded manakin (Manacus manacus, Pipridae) in the Brazilian Atlantic forest

The movement patterns of males, females and juveniles of lekking species often differ due to differences in the commitment to lek activities, which may lead to differences in the spatial distribution and dispersal distances of seeds they eat. By sampling seeds in three lek and non-lek areas of the white-bearded manakin (Manacus manacus), we tested whether this lekking species increased the abundance and species richness of seeds in lek areas and, at a finer scale, in 21 displaying courts within lek areas. Combining data on seed defecation or regurgitation rates by free-ranging individuals, the number of seeds in droppings or regurgitations of mist-netted birds, and the distances travelled by birds equipped with radio-transmitters, we estimated the potential spatial distribution of seeds generated by six resident males and six females or juveniles during the morning peak of lek activity and when lek activity decreased in the afternoon. There was no difference in the species richness (46 and 44 morphospecies, respectively) and abundance of seeds (15.4 ± 7.3 seeds and 14.0 ± 1.1 seeds, respectively) between lek and non-lek areas. Within leks both parameters increased in courts (45 spp., 17.6 ± 14 seeds) compared with non-court sites (22 spp., 1.9 ± 1.8 seeds), likely as a consequence of the longer time spent by resident males in perches in or near display courts. Distances moved by juveniles and females per 60-min period (183 ± 272 m) were greater than resident males (42.6 ± 22.0 m) in the mornings, while the opposite happened in the afternoons (55.2 ± 40.7 m and 157 ± 105 m, respectively). We conclude that the spatial aggregation of seeds in lek areas of M. manacus occurs at the court level, and the spatial distribution of deposited seeds varies with manakin lekking status and the daily period of foraging. © Cambridge University Press 2013.

Variação espacial nas interações entre o palmito Euterpe edulis e as aves frugívoras: implicações para a dispersão de sementes

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Componentes quantitativos e qualitativos da dispersão de sementes de Struthanthus flexicaulis (Loranthaceae) em uma área de campo rupestre do sudeste brasileiro

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Limitações bióticas afetando o recrutamento da palmeira Euterpe edulis em uma ilha continental da Mata Atlântica

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Variação espaço-temporal na fenologia e frugivoria do palmito juçara Euterpe edulis Martius (Arecaceae) em três tipos de floresta atlântica

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Fenologia reprodutiva, distribuição espacial e frugivoria em Rhipsalis (Cactaceae)

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Biologia Vegetal) - IBRC

Composição da avifauna e frugivoria por ave em um mosaico sucessional na Mata Atlântica

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia) - IBRC

Fenologia reprodutiva da palmito Euterpe edulis (Arecaceae) e sua influência na abundância de aves frugívoras na floresta Atlântica

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Dispersão de sementes e processos de limitação demográfica de plantas em ambientes com e sem bambus na Floresta Pluvial Atlântica

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Biologia Vegetal) - IBRC

Comportamento de lek, frugivora e dispersão de sementes por Manacus Manacus (Linnaeus 1766, Pipridae) em áres de restinga no sudeste do Brasil

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia) - IBRC

Interindividual variations in fruit preferences of the yellow-shouldered bat Sturnira lilium (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in a cafeteria experiment

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Intraspecific, interspecific, and seasonal differences in the diet of three mid-sized carnivores in a large neotropical wetland

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Reconstructing past ecological networks: the reconfiguration of seed-dispersal interactions after megafaunal extinction

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)