Spatial and seasonal variation in niche partitioning between blue manakin (Chiroxiphia caudata) and greenish schiffornis (Schiffornis virescens) in southeastern Brazil

Author(s)

Hasui, Erica ^[1] ; da Mota Gomes, Veronica Souza ^[1] ; Kiefer, Mara Cintia ^[1] ; Tamashiro, Jorge ^[2] ; Silva, Wesley Rodrigues ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Dept Zool, Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Campinas, Dept Bot, Campinas, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment; v. 44, n. 3, p. 149-159, 2009.
• Web of Science Citations: 8

Abstract

The diet of Chiroxiphia caudata and Schiffornis virescens were studied over three years in four forest sites in the southeastern Atlantic Forest of Brazil. Theory suggests that coexistence of similar species is possible by resource-use differences. To test this, patterns of niche overlap and niche breadth in diet were measured in different seasons and forest sites, based on fruit morphological traits and plant life forms. The results suggest seasonal and spatial variation in resource partitioning. During periods of high fruit availability, there was no evidence of fruit trait selection. In contrast, during periods of fruit scarcity in primary forests, there was evidence of niche partitioning, where C. caudata foraged for larger fruits in canopy and S. virescens searched for understory plants. The niche overlap was higher in secondary forest during periods of scarcity, when both species used small understory fruits. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 98/05090-6 - Biodiversity of interaction between fruit-eating vertebrates and plants of the Atlantic Rainforest of Southeast Brazil
• Grantee: Wesley Rodrigues Silva
• Support type: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Regular Research Grants