Abstract
The dispersal of seeds by birds of prey is an ecological relationship still little studied. Here I report the dispersal of Brazilian pepper seeds by Glaucidium brasilianum through diploendozoochory. The role of this owl in seed dispersal was also analyzed through records of bird predation (photos available on a digital platform and bibliographic review). I found records of predation of 19 species of birds. This result suggests that the predation of frugivorous and omnivorous species may favor the dispersal of seeds of plants that produce fruits with small seeds. Therefore, this type of interaction needs to receive more attention in ecological studies on seed dispersal by birds.
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Acknowledgements
I thank Jacilene Silva for the critical reading.
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This study was financially supported by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES).
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Communicated by Cristiano Azevedo (Associated Editor)
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da Silva, L.B. Can the ferruginous pygmy-owl (Aves, Strigidae) disperse seeds?. Ornithol. Res. 31, 307–310 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43388-023-00149-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43388-023-00149-x