Avian Frugivory and Seed Dispersal in Eastern North America

Willson, Mary F.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-6784-4_5

Cited by 124 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 143 publications

(165 reference statements)

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“…Food source defense is very rare among fruiteating birds during winter (Snow & Snow 1984, Wilson 1986). The best known examples are the Mistle Thrush, Fieldfare Turdus pilaris and Robin Erithacus rubecula, which form winter territories in places with abundant berries and defend them as long-term resources (Snow & Snow 1988, Cuadrado 1995.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population Dynamics and Social Behavior of the Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusDuring Winter

Skórka

Wojcik

2005

Acta Ornithologica

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population Dynamics and Social Behavior of the Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusDuring Winter

Skórka

Wojcik

2005

Acta Ornithologica

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“…There are similar relationships between bird faunas and tree, shrub, and vine floras in other temperate regions (cf. Herrera 1987;Snow & Snow 1988;Willson 1986Willson , 1991Willson et al 1989), but the frugivorous bird -fleshy-fruited woody plant-seed dispersal syndrome is outstanding in the New Zealand context. This is because: (1) the proportions of trees with fleshy fruits (cf.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the warmer parts of the northern temperate zone and in Chile where fleshy-fruited woody plant species are relatively important, substantial numbers of the frugivorous birds are long-distance migrants which overwinter in mild climates (Stiles 1980;Herrera 1984bHerrera , 1987Armesto et al 1987;Willson 1986Willson , 1991. In New Zealand, the frugivores are year-round residents, although, as noted above, there are local winter migrations of some birds.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seed trapping in Ahuriri Summit Bush Scenic Reserve, Port Hills, western Banks Peninsula, 1985–1986

Burrows

1994

New Zealand Journal of Botany

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Seedfall in a mixed native angiospermgymnosperm forest, Port Hills, Canterbury, was investigated for the period early January 1985-December 1986, using seed traps with a mouth area of 0.1 m 2, sited in a restricted random fashion within a 25 • 25 m marked quadrat (16 traps in 1985, 20 in 1986). All plants 1 m tall or more in the quadrat were mapped, with dimensions recorded.From the total of 56 wild woody plant species in the forest (22 tree species, 20 shrubs, 14 vines) in 1985, 19 were represented in the total seed catch of all traps by 50 or more seeds and a further 12 by 10 or more seeds. Corresponding numbers in 1986 (adjusted in proportion to the increased number of traps) were 18 species represented by 62 or more seeds and a further five by 12 or more seeds. For many of the species there were notable differences in total numbers of seeds caught in the 2 years, and the temporal distribution and length of seedfall (and fruiting peaks) also differed.In 1985, a total of 17 847 full (i.e., potentially germinable) seeds was caught (~ 1115 + 768 per trap, range 239-2848). In 1986, corresponding numbers were 28 326 full seeds (~ 1416 + 1639 per trap, range 468-7861). The catch per trap for particular seed species was highly variable, and it is proposed that this is a reality of nature arising from non-random influences on the deposition of individual seeds. Most seeds were probably derived from nearby plants, especially those fruiting individuals which overhang the traps. This was most notable for species which fruited very abundantly (Pseudopanax crassifolius in 1985, Fuchsia excorticata and B93040 Received 12 May 1993; accepted 13 October 1993Schefflera digitata in 1986). Nevertheless, seeds of some species were caught in small to moderate numbers although they were not represented at the immediate trap site by fruiting parent plants. The most even distribution of seeds in traps was for species with relatively low seedfall numbers; most are absent from the immediate trap site. Seeds of a few species absent in Ahuriri Summit Bush were also trapped. Minimum distances from fruiting plants to traps for the species not at the trap site range from a few tens of metres to at least 1.5 km for two. These data show that it is virtually impossible to know the exact provenance of any seeds reaching the traps.The important seed-dispersing birds in the forest are bellbirds (Anthornis melanura), silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis), kereru (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae), and blackbirds (Turdus merula).Evidence is adduced to show that these birds actually eat fruit and disperse seeds, and it is assumed that this can occur for 75% of the woody plant species in the forest. The frugivorous birds appear to be generalists, feeding on many fruit species. The variety of fleshy fruit, available over the long period from mid December to August, attracts birds. Other attractions are flowers and invertebrates, as some of the frugivores are also nectarivores and "insectivores".Pre-dispersal seed predation by birds was negligible. Moth ...

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“…A "fruit" was defined as a discrete package consisting of fleshy, edible pulp surrounding or attached to the seed(s) (Willson 1986). Fleshy fruits included arillate structures (such as those of the podocarps) but not "dry" fruits and capsules which are not usually eaten by possums (Cowan 1990).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of the characteristics of fruit eaten by possums,Trichosurus vulpecula, in New Zealand

Cowan

1992

New Zealand Journal of Zoology

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The colours and sizes of the fleshy fruits of native trees and shrubs in the New Zealand flora and in the flora of the Orongorongo Valley, southern Rimutaka Range, were compared with those known to be eaten by possums to assess the degree of food selection by possums. Colour and diameter of fruits had little effect on whether they were selected by possums, but the size of the enclosed seed affected feeding behaviour. Fruits with seeds < 10 mm were eaten whole, whereas usually only the skin and flesh were eaten from fruits with larger seeds. An analysis of the wet and dry weights of the flesh and seeds of fruits growing in the Orongorongo Valley suggested that possums could maximise their dry matter intake from fruits by feeding preferentially on the larger fruits. Although this suggestion was supported in general by field observations, other studies suggest that annual variations in the abundance of fruits of the various species and their accessibility are also important in determining the contribution of fruits to the diet of possums. INTRODUCfIONNew Zealand's flora of fleshy-fruited plants evolved on an isolated land mass for over 70 million years without any terrestrial mammals, apart from three species of small bats. The main dispersers of the seeds of fleshy-fruited plants are birds and lizards (Clout 1982;Whitaker 1987;Clout & Hay 1990).About 140 years ago, brushtail possums, Trichosurus vulpecula (Marsupialia), were introduced from Australia (Pracy 1974). Although possums are primarily leaf-eaters, in their native Australia they also eat fleshy fruits, particularly in the tropical parts of their range (Proctor-Gray 1984;Kerle 1985). In New Zealand they supplement their diet in the summer and autumn with large quantities of the fruits of native trees and shrubs (Green 1984;Cowan 1990), and may compete for those resources with native frugivorous birds (Leathwick et al., 1983).Possums are selective browsers, showing clear preferences for the leaves of particular native plants (Fitzgerald 1976(Fitzgerald , 1981. Williams (1982) analysed the protein, lipid, carbohydrate, and energy contents of six fruit species which featured in the diet of possums in native forest, and compared them with the leaf-only component of the diet. He suggested that inclusion of fruit in the diet provided possums with a greater rate of intake of digestible nutrients; however, physical characteristics of some fruits detracted from their value as foods. Cowan (1990) also suggested that factors other than nutritional quality might influence the possums' choice of fruits. The present paper examines the influence of the colour, size of the whole fruit, and the composition of the fruit flesh on the choice of native fruits eaten by possums. A "fruit" was defined as a discrete package consisting of fleshy, edible pulp surrounding or attached to the seed(s) (Willson 1986). Fleshy fruits included arillate structures (such as those of the podocarps) but not "dry" fruits and capsules which are not usually eaten by possums (Cowan 1990)...

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Avian Frugivory and Seed Dispersal in Eastern North America

Cited by 124 publications

References 143 publications

Population Dynamics and Social Behavior of the Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusDuring Winter

Population Dynamics and Social Behavior of the Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusDuring Winter

Seed trapping in Ahuriri Summit Bush Scenic Reserve, Port Hills, western Banks Peninsula, 1985–1986

Analysis of the characteristics of fruit eaten by possums,Trichosurus vulpecula, in New Zealand

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