Seed dispersal by resident birds in urban riparian forest, Torres river, San José, Costa Rica. Birds are the main seed dispersers in neotropical ecosystems and it is important to understand their role in the natural regeneration of degraded environments. Here, we analyze dispersion by resident birds in two remnants of riverine forest in the urban watershed of the Torres river, San José, Costa Rica. We visited the sites four times per season, in dry, rainy and transition periods. On each visit we set up standard-size mist nets to capture birds, collect their excreta and extract seeds. In total we captured 168 birds from 23 resident species (12 families, five orders). We captured more individuals and species in Dry-Rainy transition, without difference among sites. The Dry-Rainy transition had more total seeds; higher seed capture rate, and a higher seed mean per bird. Resident birds can adapt to different scenarios and their role in seed dispersion should be promoted in urban ecosystems.Key words: Urban birdlife, Urban ecology, Ornithochory, Natural regeneration, Ecological restoration. RESUMEN:Las aves son el principal dispersor de semillas de los ecosistemas neotropicales y es importante entender su papel en la regeneración natural de los ambientes degradados. En este trabajo, analizamos la dispersión de semillas por aves residentes en dos remanentes de bosque ribereño urbano del río Torres, San José, Costa Rica. Visitamos los sitios cuatro veces por época, en época lluviosa, seca y transición seca-lluviosa. En cada visita colocamos redes de niebla de tamaño estándar para capturar aves, recolectar sus excretas y separar las semillas. En total capturamos 168 aves de 23 especies residentes (12 familias, cinco órdenes). Capturamos más individuos y especies en la transición seca-lluviosa, sin diferencia entre los sitios. La transición seca-lluviosa tuvo mayor cantidad total de semillas, mayor promedio de semillas por individuo y tasa de captura de semillas. Las aves residentes pueden adaptarse a diferentes escenarios y su papel en la dispersión de semillas debe promoverse en los ecosistemas urbanos.
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