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Study on Fruit and Seed Eating by Birds in the Upper Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, Southern India

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Study on Fruit and Seed Eating by Birds in the Upper Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, Southern India Podoces, 2018, 13(1): 8−17 PODOCES 2018 Vol. 13, No. 1 Journal homepage: www.wesca.net Study on Fruit and Seed Eating by Birds in the Upper Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, Southern India A. Chitheena*, B. Ramakrishnan & A. Samson Mammalogy and Forest Ecology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Government Arts College, Udhagamandalam-643002, India Article info Abstract Original research In this study we studied fruit eating behaviour of birds through two methods, i.e. direct observation and bird dropping. Data of 100 hours of field observation were Received: 22 December collected and 17 bird species were recorded. The majority of bird species (N=17) 2016 was attracted by Solanum mauritianum and Rubus niveus with the total visits of Accepted: 20 August 240 and 215 followed by 16 bird species attracted by Cestrum aurantiacum with 2018 the total visits of 239. On the other hand, Phytolacca americana was attracted by fewer number of bird species (N=8) with 191 sightings during the survey period. Key words Among 17 bird species, the Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonottus jocosus, Oriental Birds White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus and Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscus were Exotic plants found predominantly feeding on the exotic plants (non- native plants) and proved Frugivory them as perfect frugivores. Totally two hundred bird droppings belonging to four Seed abundant bird species namely Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscus, Oriental White- eye Zosterops palpebrosus, Pied Bush Chat Saxicola caprata, and Red- whiskered Bulbul Pycnonottus jocosus were collected from three different localities, under nests (N=109), under trees (N=77) and few of them (N=14) were collected in other places such as human traits and paths. Seeds of five plant species, namely Cestrum aurantiacum, Pytolacca americana, Rubus ellipticus, Rubus niveus and Solanum mauritianum were recorded. It was interesting to note that all these plants were exotic species. The high variations were seen in the Jungle Myna droppings where Solanum marutianum seeds were seen high in number in the droppings (22.23±11.45, N=978) because Solanum maruritianum fruit contain more number of seeds compared with that of other fruits. This study clearly indicates that the exotic plants attract bird communities than native plants by providing food for them and thereby they vigorously disperse their seeds than native plants. 1. Introduction (Schupp1993). The pulp furnishes food to the Some plant species provide food resources for a bird or animal, which in turn carries the seeds large number of bird communities. about in its digestive system until they are Subsequently, the generality of the relationships ejected in its droppings and thus are scattered between plants and birds can be ascertained and about the countryside. likely specialized plant-bird interactions The ability of frugivores to monitor the (pollination or seed dispersal) identified. Seed abundance of fruit, both spatially and dispersal is the process of seed transportation seasonally, is fundamental for efficient seed from the mother plant to another place, and thus dispersal. In fact, this link between frugivores plays a key role in the subsequent recruitment and fruit has been documented in various of new plants (Herrera 2002). The contribution geographical zones with regard to its seasonal of frugivores to plant fitness depends on both dimension (i.e. phonological synchrony), the quantity and quality of seed dispersal observing a consistent pattern and generalized * Corresponding: [email protected] Podoces, 2018, 13(1): 8−17 adjustment between the abundances of both they have excellent colours. While, red and kinds of interacting organisms (Loiselle & black fruits are predominantly dispersed by Blake 1991; García et al. 2011). ). birds, it is still contentious as whether the Vertebrate animals are important dispersal occurrence of fruit colours especially black and agents and among them birds are perhaps most red match the colour preferences of birds in the commonly associated with spread of seeds into wild (Duan et al. 2014). Further, the selection new habitats by seed dispersal (Pijl 1972). of fruits with birds may be driven by factors However, if the offer of fruit in the environment other than colour, behaviours such as nutritional falls, the birds do not behave as strict frugivores contents and secondary compounds also but rather as facultative frugivores, consuming influence bird food preference (Valido et al. other dietary resources (e.g. invertebrates). This 2011). Frugivores can also benefit from the change in diet allows the birds to link invasion of exotic fruit producing species and themselves seasonally and spatially with can be vectors of exotic invasion by dispersing alternative resources, aside from fruits. In this non-native seeds. way, they sustain their nutritional requirements Seed dispersal is the movement throughout the year (Rey 1995). The fruit- of seeds away from the parent plant, even frugivore interactions have been studied in though moreover changes to germination recent decades but there is no consolidated caused by the passageway of a seed through the information on the role of birds in the seed digestive tract of a vertebrate such as a bird. dispersal. Birds are expected as the main dispersal agent Plant-animal interactions range from the of many invasive plant species. Many plant broad to highly exact relationships and involve species depend on animals for seed dispersal. intricate evolutionary adaptations. Plant-birds Ingestion of seeds by vertebrate dispersers may interactions play a vital role in maintaining the either positively or negatively affect seed structural and functional integrity of natural germination, or have no apparent effect. The ecosystems. Some plant species supply food effect of gastrointestinal tract ingestion by resources for a large number of bird frugivores on the changes in seed traits, communities. Fruits are usually seasonal germination characteristics, and seedling resources used by many animals as part of their establishment are important factors influencing diet, and because of their high level of successful recruitment and species diversity. carbohydrates or lipids, they are considered as Animals and birds are dispersing plant seeds in rich-energy sources for frugivorous species several ways and most of vertebrates ingestion (Rio & Restrepo 1993). Consequently, the are important for the seed dispersal (Travaset et generality of the relationships between plants al. 2014). Many plants disperse their seeds by and birds can be ascertained and likely birds. Frugivores birds are eating fresh and dry specialized plant-bird interactions can be fruit in different dispersal methods. Successful identified (i.e. pollination or seed dispersal). dispersal can contribute to successful renewal Frugivorus refers to the consumption of and renovation as well as population spread and plants. Frugivory birds are visited at trees preservation of hereditary connectivity. during the morning and evening hours. Many The aims of this study were: to find out the bird species depend directly on plants for their extent of visits made by various bird species in food and shelter. For food, they use many plant selected plant species; to examine fruit handling resources, including nectars, parts of flowers, methods by various bird species; to conclude pollen, leaves, exudates, seeds and fruits. plant-bird interactions in the study area; to find Similarly, some plant species depend on birds out what are the plant species preferred by the to achieve pollination or seed dispersal (Crome avian community. 1975; Paton & Ford 1977; Holmes 1987; French 1990; Green 1993). Fruit colors are 2. Materials and Methods habitually considered in avian dispersion, since 2.1. Study area 9 Fruit and Seed eating by birds− Chitheena et al. Fig. 1. Geographical location of the study area. This study was conducted in Lovedale area, sholas, a term derived from the Tamil word Nilgiri District, located between 11º11’– “solai”, which etymologically means a tropical 11º42’N and 76º14’–77º01’E in the state of rain forest. It is currently thought that the Tamil Nadu, South India. It is bounded to the tropical rain forest altered as it extended west by Kerala, to the north by Karnataka and upwards into the temperate grassland areas to the South east Coimbatore District of Tamil (Noble 2000). Paulraj (2000) has reported about Nadu (Fig. 1). A detailed survey was carried 180 shola forest patches in the Upper Nilgiris. out on the upper plateau of the Nilgiri hills The report concluded that among the sholas, where biotic pressure is very high. The average 107 were found low level of biotic pressure, 58 elevation of the hill range is 1800m. The slope with medium level of pressure, 13 with high is gentle to very steep, varying from the 5º at levels of pressure and 2 with very high levels of the valley bottom to nearly 90º near the hilltops. biotic pressures. The sholas are found along the Champion & Seth (1968) classified this as valleys and folds of the hills while the Southern Montane Wet Temperate Forest. grasslands are found on the hill slopes. In the Monthly mean temperature of the Upper Nilgiri Plateau, most of the grasslands are now Nilgiris during this study varied from 15º to 26º found only on the western part of the plateau. C. The average annual rainfall is 1900–2000 Sholas belongs to the Southern mountain wet mm and the climate is very equable with an temperature forest type as per the classification average maximum temperature of 23.3ºC and of Champion & Seth (1968). Evergreen forests average minimum 7.2ºC. There is some frost in without conifers are found in the Nilgiris, high areas from December to January. The Anamalai and Thirunelvelli Hills of South mammal species found in the shola forest are Indian type is confined to the sheltered valleys Leopard Panthera pardus, Gaur Bos gaurus, of Nilgiris and locally called Sholas (James Sambar deer Cervus unicolor, Barking deer 1978). Muntiacus muntjak, Wild boar Sus scrofa, Nilgiri In study area dominant trees are Eucalyptus Langur Presbytis johni, Porcupine Hystrix globulus, Eucalyptus citriodora, Cupressus sp., indica, etc.
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