Frugivoria por aves em Área de Cerrado no Município de Uberlândia, Minas Gerais

Abstract

The consumption of fleshy fruits by vertebrates is an important phenomenon in the tropics, especially birds and mammals that have high proportions of frugivorous species. The aim of this study was to observe the main frugivorous birds in the reserve Cerrado area of the Clube Caça e Pesca Itororó, Uberlândia, MG, during the period extending from November 2000 to October 2001. We recorded 90 interactions involving 22 species of plants and 33 species of birds. Asymmetrical pattern was found in the interactions in which few species are responsible for most interactions. The main birds observed consuming fruits are small size and omnivorous. Frugivorous interactions with large sized birds, such as the Cracidae and Ramphastidae families, considered as potential seed dispersers, were not recorded. The study demonstrated the importance of the plant species Ouratea spectabilis and Miconia theizans in frugivory interactions, and highlighted the genus Elaenia as a fruit consumer and seed disperser.