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(Reference retrieved automatically from SciELO through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Potential bird dispersers of Psychotria in a area of Atlantic forest on Ilha Grande, RJ, Southeastern Brazil: a biochemical analysis of the fruits

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Author(s):
E. M. Almeida [1] ; P. F. Costa [2] ; M. S. Buckeridge [3] ; M. A. S. Alves [4]
Total Authors: 4
Affiliation:
[1] Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
[2] IBUSP. Departamento de Botânica - Brasil
[3] IBUSP. Departamento de Botânica - Brasil
[4] Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. IBRAG. Departamento de Ecologia - Brasil
Total Affiliations: 4
Document type: Journal article
Source: Brazilian Journal of Biology; v. 66, p. 01-08, 2006-02-00.
Abstract

The present study assessed the fruiting pattern, bird foraging behavior, and sugar content of ripe fruits of two sympatric species of Rubiaceae (Psychotria brasiliensis and P. nuda). This study was carried out in an Atlantic forest area on Ilha Grande, RJ, between August 1998 and July 1999. Fruit production occurred year round, with a peak of mature P. brasiliensis fruits in December 1998 and another of P. nuda in February of 1999. Lipaugus lanioides (Cotingidae), Baryphtengus ruficapillus (Momotidae) and Saltator similis (Emberizidae) made the most frequent foraging visits to fruiting P. brasiliensis, so that L. lanioides and B. ruficapillus removed the fruits with sallying maneuvers while S. similis gleaned the fruits. Lipaugus lanioides was by far the most important consumer, and potentially the main disperser of P. brasiliensis. Birds of this genus are heavy frugivores in the tropical forests and are widely assumed to be important seed dispersers. The fruits were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively in relation to the amounts of sucrose and starch. Psychotria brasiliensis (the visited species) showed the smallest quantity of sucrose and the highest amount of starch. These findings suggest that what may influence the birds' choice of fruit is the proportion of starch in the Psychotria species studied here rather than the carbohydrate composition. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 98/05124-8 - Conservation and sustainable use of the plant biodiversity from the cerrado and Atlantic Forest: the storage of carbohydrates and their role on the adaptation and maintainance of plants in their natural environment
Grantee:Marcos Silveira Buckeridge
Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants