ABSTRACT. Bird frugivory on Nectandra megapotamica (Lauraceae) in an area of deciduous seasonal forest in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The importance of Lauraceae fruits has been reported on the diet of several birds, mainly from the Ramphastidae, Cotingidae and Trogonidae families. The objectives of this study were to determine which birds consume the fruits of Nectandra megapotamica (Spreng.) Mez (Lauraceae) in a deciduous seasonal forest and, based on the analysis of some of the qualitative and quantitative dispersal components, infer which birds can act as dispersers of the seeds. The study was carried out at the Campo de Instrução de Santa Maria (CISM) (29º43'S, 53º42'W), in the vicinity of Santa Maria, in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. In a total of 70 hours of focal observation, 726 visits of 21 bird species were registered. The birds considered as potential dispersers of N. megapotamica were Turdus albicollis Vieillot, 1818, T. rufiventris Vieillot, 1818, Pitangus sulphuratus (Linnaeus, 1766) and T. amaurochalinus Cabanis, 1850 among the residents, and Tyrannus savanna Vieillot, 1808 and Myiodynastes maculatus (Müller, 1766) among the migratory ones. Generalist birds seemed to enhance the dispersal of N. megapotamica, since they consumed the entire fruits, realized short visits (shorter than 3 minutes) and presented high frequency of visits which, in turn, is related to a higher rate of fruit removal. Nectandra megapotamica shows features that allow it to be included in the generalist dispersal system, except for the high nutritional level of its seeds. KEYWORDS. Nectandra megapotamica,

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Resumo ∙ Atualmente informações sobre as variáveis que influenciam a seleção dos territórios reprodutivos das populações brasileiras do Coleiro-do-brejo (Sporophila collaris) são escassas assim como a descrição de áreas para nidificação. Durante a estação reprodutiva de 2015– 2016 coletamos dados de reprodução de S. collaris nos campos do sul do Brasil com objetivo de estimar o tamanho dos territórios, comparando dois métodos de avaliação, e caracterizar a estrutura e composição florística dos micro-habitats importantes na seleção dos territórios reprodutivos. Adicionalmente identificamos as principais espécies de plantas que são usadas como alimento nos territórios reprodutivos. Monitoramos 32 casais, os quais estabeleceram seus territórios em ambientes seminaturais úmidos (56%), ambientes seminaturais secos (25%) e banhados (19%). Os territórios sempre estiveram associados a um corpo d’água, sendo que 59% estavam próximos a canais artificiais de irrigação, 38% a açudes e 3% à lavoura de arroz. O tamanho médio estimado dos territórios reprodutivos foi de 1,46 ha (Mínimo Polígono Convexo) e 3,22 ha (Estimativa de Densidade de Kernel). Registramos 66 espécies de plantas nas amostras estudadas, sendo 15 exclusivas nas amostras ninho e sete nas amostras não-ninho. A cobertura do estrato médio e alto, bem como a altura da vegetação e a presença de água, foram características importantes na seleção dos territórios reprodutivos. Das 22 espécies de plantas que compõem a dieta, 70% foram representadas por Poaceae. Nós enfatizamos a necessidade de mais estudos com territórios reprodutivos para espécies no Brasil e recomendamos cautela ao avaliar resultados de medidas de tamanho de território baseadas em diferentes métodos. Abstract ∙ Breeding territory of the Rusty-collared Seedeater (Sporophila collaris) in southern Brazil: selection and description of nesting and feeding areas Currently, the variables that influence the selection of breeding territories of Brazilian populations of Rusty-collared Seedeater (Sporophila collaris), as well as the description of nesting areas, are poorly known. During the breeding season of 2015–2016 we collected data on breeding of S. collaris in grasslands in southern Brazil aiming to estimate the size of the territories, comparing two methods of evaluation, and describe the structure and floristic composition of the microhabitats used for selection of breeding territories. Additionally, we identified the main species of plants that were used as food sources within the breeding territory. We monitored 32 pairs of S. collaris, with territories established in humid seminatural environments (56%), in dry seminatural environments (25%) and in wetlands (19%). Breeding territories were always associated with a water body, with 59% of them being close to artificial irrigation channels, 38% to dams and 3% to rice crops. The estimated average size of breeding territory was 1.46 ha (Minimum Convex Polygon) and 3.22 ha (Kernel Density Estimation). We recorded 66 plant species in the study site samples, 15 being exclusive of nest samples and seven in non-nest samples. Middle and upper vertical cover, as well vegetation height and presence of water, were the most important characteristics associated with the selection of breeding territories. From the 22 species of plants that composed the diet, Poaceae represented 70%. We stressed the importance of breeding territories studies for species in Brazil and we recommend cautious when evaluating results of territory size estimates based on different methods.

Crypturellus noctivagus noctivagus is a forest bird endemic to Brazil. In the state of Rio Grande do Sul, the species is considered Critically Endangered, and is known for one relictual population in Pampa Biome. In this study, we estimated the population density of this relictual population using the Distance Sampling method. Samplings occurred from September to February, thus comprising three reproductive periods of the species (2012 to 2017). In total, 58 contacts were recorded with C. n. noctivagus individuals in the three reproductive periods. In each reproductive period 81.600 m were covered in trails. We found a density of 0.04 individuals/km², with an average probability of 18 adult individuals. Our results represent the first efforts for density estimation of this relictual population of C. n. noctivagus, which we suggest is composed by the last individuals in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, highlighting the need of local conservation.