Patterns of frugivory in the columnar cactus Pilosocereusleucocephalus

Ecology and Evolution
Shamira Vázquez-CastilloErnesto Ruelas Inzunza

Abstract

In the frugivory networks of many arid and semi-arid Mesoamerican ecosystems, columnar cacti act as keystone species that produce fruits with a high content of water and nutrients attractive to numerous vertebrates. The aim of this investigation was to assess the fruit removal patterns of two guilds of frugivores on the fruits of the woolly torch Pilosocereus leucocephalus. We assessed fruit pulp removal in two ways: by estimating the consumption of seeds given the amount of pulp removed per visit and by estimating the percentage of pulp removal over time. We put exclosures on unripe, intact fruits to keep frugivores from removing material. Once ripe, we removed the exclosures and tracked animal visitation of 69 fruits using camera traps. We obtained a total of 2,162 hr of footage (14:47 hours of them with effective pulp removal). The highest number of visitors is that of diurnal species (n = 12, all birds) versus only four nocturnal (three bats, one rodent). The most effective species in pulp removal are birds. Bats play a modest role in frugivory of this cactus. The significance of this work is twofold: (a) birds and bats consume the fruit pulp of this cactus and likely disperse its seeds, and (b) although bats rank high in p...Continue Reading

Associated Datasets

Nov 26, 2018·Ernesto Ruelas InzunzaAntonio Miranda-Jácome

References

Aug 3, 2010·The New Phytologist·Eugene W SchuppJosé María Gómez
Dec 14, 2012·The American Naturalist·Winifred F FrickKathleen M Kay
Jul 24, 2014·Brazilian Journal of Biology = Revista Brasleira De Biologia·V G N GomesH F P Araujo

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Citations

Oct 21, 2021·Molecular Ecology Resources·Manolo F PerezEvandro M Moraes

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
lava
flow

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