Frugivory by birds in Siphoneugena widgreniana O. Berg (Myrtaceae) in the Chapada dos Perdizes, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

Seed dispersal by birds is one of the main reproductive strategies of trees in tropical forests and considering birds-plants interactions may allow better conservation planning. As information about frugivory in the globally threatened Siphoneugena widgreniana O. Berg (Myrtaceae) is almost inexistent, we provide a list of birds that consumed fruits of S. widgreniana and may act as seed dispersers. For this, the fruit consumption of three individuals of S. widgreniana by birds was registered. These observations were realized in Chapada das Perdizes, located between the municipalities of Carrancas and Minduri, southern Minas Gerais state, southeastern Brazil. Fifteen species of birds were registered and may play a role in seed dispersal were considered potential dispersers of the studied plant , highlighting the Tangara genus of the Thraupidae family.