Toco Toucan (Ramphastos toco) frugivory and abundance in two habitats at South Pantanal

Abstract

Toco Toucan (Ramphastos toco) is one of the largest frugivorous birds of canopy, even in continuous forests than in semi-opened habitat. At South Pantanal (Brazil) Toco toucan is common in landscapes that intersperse open and closed habitats. On this research we evaluated the Toco Toucan abundance in capões forest and gallery forest as well as the production and consumption of fleshy fruit during dry season. Only six species produced fruits in capões forests, and five in gallery forests. In capões forest the higher presence of Ficus genera, which fructifying was asynchronous, provided constant fruit source. In gallery forests where fig trees were rare, the abundance of fleshy fruits was variable. The toucans explored Cecropia pachystachya, Genipa americana and Ficus fruits at two habitats. The occurrence of Toco Toucan in capões forest always was higher than in gallery forest. The occurrence in each habitat was higher when at least two species produced fleshy fruits at the same time. The regular toucan occurrence at capões forest was potentially a consequence of constant fleshy fruit availability, which occurred due to the presence of Ficus species in this habitat. However, the presence of Toco Toucan at this habitat must result from the combination of all common fruits in bird feed.