Studies on frugivory and seed dispersal are extremely important for management plans, but few studies have been developed in the Brazilian cerrado. In this paper we describe the frugivory and seed dispersal of Ocotea pulchella Mart. (Lauraceae) by birds in a cerrado area in São Paulo state (21º58' S, 47º52' W), southeastern Brazil. In 72 hours of focal observations, from August to October 1999, we recorded 411 visits of 13 different bird species consuming the fruits of O. pulchella. The main potential seed dispersers were the Pale-breasted Thrush, Turdus leucomelas (Muscicapidae), the Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Mimus saturninus (Mimidae), the Great Kiskadee, Pitangus sulphuratus (Tyrannidae) and the Elaenias, Elaenia spp. (Tyrannidae). We did not find significant difference in the frequency of visits at different hour intervals throughout the day when all of the species were pooled together and when the species were individually considered. The bird species did not differ in the time they spent foraging on the plants. The number of fruits consumed in each visit differed among species and there was positive correlation between avian body mass and mean number of consumed fruits in these visits. The time spent on plants was positively correlated to the number of consumed fruits by Elaenia spp., Brown-crested Flycatcher, Myiarchus tyrannulus (Tyrannidae) and the Rufous-bellied Thrush, Turdus rufiventris (Muscicapidae). Although specialist frugivorous birds have not been observed consuming O. pulchella, generalist species were potential seed dispersers, presenting high frequency of visits, high fruit consume and shortened visit periods.
Seed dispersal; Ocotea pulchella; cerrado; frugivory; ornitochory
