AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Frugivorous Birds, Host Selection and the Mistletoe Psittacanthus schiedeanus, in Central Veracruz, Mexico

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1999
Authors:De Buen, LLopez-, Ornelas, JFrancisco
Journal:Journal of Tropical Ecology
Volume:15
Issue:3
Date Published:1999
ISBN Number:02664674
Keywords:Bombycilla, Bombycilla cedrorum, Bombycilla garrulus, Bombycillidae, Myiozetetes, Myiozetetes similis, Ptiliogonatidae, Ptiliogonys, Ptiliogonys cinereus, Ptilogonys, Ptilogonys cinereus, Tyrannidae
Abstract:Frugivorous birds play an important role in parasitic mistletoe transmission among host species. The foraging behaviour and host selection of Psittacanthus schiedeanus mistletoe fruit-eating birds was studied in cloud forest remnants in Central Veracruz, Mexico. Cedar waxwings, Bombycilla cedrorum, gray silky flycatchers, Ptilogonys cinereus, and social flycatchers, Myiozetetes similis, eating ripe whole mistletoe fruits and defecating or regurgitating the seeds were observed. That variation in host species selection by frugivorous birds had a direct effect on mistletoe dispersion was hypothesized. To test whether mistletoe host species are visited in proportion to their abundance (total number of trees), or infested-tree abundance (total number of infested trees), or abundance of mistletoes (total number of individual mistletoe plants in each host species), the number of trees, infested trees and individual mistletoe plants were recorded. Tree abundance, infested-tree abundance and mistletoe abundance were different among host species. Frequency of birds' visits to host species varied depending on the tree, infested-tree, or mistletoe abundance. Liquidambar styraciflua was the most abundant host species with the highest number of infested trees and individual mistletoe plants, but Persea americana and Crataegus mexicana host species had the highest number of individual mistletoe plants in each tree. Our data suggest that L. styraciflua was the most selected host species by the three frugivorous birds. Host selection by birds is one behavioural factor in explaining differences in prevalence among host species, and variation in infection levels among individuals of one host species.
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/2560030
Short Title:Journal of Tropical Ecology
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith