Frugivoria e especificidade por hospedeiros na erva-de-passarinho Phoradendron rubrum (L.) Griseb. (Viscaceae)

Abstract

We investigated the behavior of avian seed disperser and host characteristics that influence the presence and abundance of the mistletoe Phoradendron rubrum (Viscaceae) on Floresta Estadual Edmundo Navarro de Andrade, Rio Claro, São Paulo - Brazil. During 90 hours of focal observation we recorded 280 bird visits, Euphonia chlorotica and E. cyanocephala were the main seed disperser, responsible for 98,21% of the visits. Phoradendron rubrum parasitized two tree species: Tabebuia ochracea (Cham.) Standl. (Bignoniaceae) and Melia azedarach L. (Meliaceae). The location in the canopy and the size of the branch affected the presence of mistletoes. The frequency of P. rubrum was higher in the upper canopy and in branches between 1.1 and 2.0 cm in diameter. Characteristics related to the host size (height, DBH and canopy diameter) also affect the number of infection. Mistletoe presence and abundance can be influenced by disperser behavior and characteristics of host plants.