Observations of birds feeding on the fruit of a successional tree, topobea multiflora, in southwestern Costa Rica

Abstract

We observed several individuals of a tropical fruiting tree, Topobea multiflora (Melastomataceae), to determine the diversity and prevalence of bird species that use this plant as a food source. Conducted on the South Pacific slope of Costa Rica, these observations are of interest because T. multiflora, though it grows in early successional habitat, attracts many bird species typically associated with mature forest. Most of these species are potential candidates for dispersing the small seeds of mature forest species as they leave the forest to feed on the fruit of T. multiflora. In this study, we recorded 477 observations of 24 species belonging to seven families feeding on T. multiflora fruit during ten count periods of observation. The family Thraupidae (tanagers) had both the highest proportion of feeding observations (65.8%) and the greatest diversity of all visiting taxa (13 species). The five species with the highest overall prevalence (prevalence >5%) were Silver-throated Tanager (Tangara icterocephala), Cherrie’s Tanager (Ramphocelus costaricensis), Thick-billed Euphonia (Euphonia laniirostris), Common Bush-tanager (Chlorospingus ophthalmicus), and Bay-headed Tanager (Tangara gyrola). Our results suggest that several species of Neotropical frugivores, because of their relationship to T. multiflora, May be considered indicator species of ongoing forest regeneration in southwestern Costa Rica.