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Fruits of Melastomataceae: phenology in Andean forest and role as a food resource for birds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 December 2011

Margarita M. Kessler-Rios  and
Gustavo H. Kattan
Margarita M. Kessler-Rios
Affiliation:
Fundación EcoAndina, Carrera 2 A Oeste No. 12–111, Cali, Colombia
Gustavo H. Kattan*
Affiliation:
Fundación EcoAndina, Carrera 2 A Oeste No. 12–111, Cali, Colombia Departamento de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Seccional Cali, Calle 18 No. 118–250, Cali, Colombia
*
1Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract:

The fruits of Melastomataceae are consumed by many Neotropical frugivorous birds. Several studies have reported segregated fruiting seasons of melastomes, but this pattern is not widespread. The segregated fruiting phenologies of congeneric sympatric species may be an evolutionary response to reduce competition for seed dispersers. Alternatively, aggregated fruiting phenologies may be favoured if local fruit abundance attracts more frugivores, thus enhancing seed dispersal. We monitored melastome fruiting in transects over a 2-y period at a cloud-forest site in the Colombian Andes. Fruiting periods of nine melastome species were aggregated and fruiting peaks coincided with rainy seasons. In a separate 6-mo study, observations at focal plants revealed that 47 of 61 bird species fed on 10 species of melastome, representing 37.4% of feeding events observed. Melastomes were consumed by birds in a higher proportion than expected from their availability and peak melastome fruit abundance coincided with the breeding season of the frugivore community, when melastomes constituted 54% of feeding records. Melastomes interact with a large number of bird species throughout their annual cycles, and seem to constitute pivotal elements that sustain the frugivore community in montane forests.

Keywords

AndesColombiafrugivorous birdsfrugivoryfruiting phenologyMiconiaMiconia theizans
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 28 , Issue 1 , January 2012 , pp. 11 - 21
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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