Exploratory Analysis of Traits for the Study of the Seed Dispersal by Birds

In grassland-forest mosaics, isolated shrubs and trees modify the resource availability and environmental conditions beneath their crowns, creating suitable habitats for the establishment of forest species, leading to the nucleation of forest patches. Nucleation of forest patches in grassland also depends on dispersal of plant diaspores (namely fruits and/or seeds) from forests to open sites. Woody plants established on grassland attract frugivorous birds that use them as perches, increasing seed rain beneath the plant crown. Traditionally, traits of vertebrate-dispersed diaspores, such as size and color have been used as indicators of dispersal by distinct dispersers. Vegetation mosaics formed by Araucaria forest and Campos grassland constitute the main natural landscape found in southern Brazilian highlands. Colonizer plants with large, reserve-rich seeds are expected to have advantage over small-seeded species as patch area increases. Nonetheless, colonization is also expected to be influenced by the activities of dispersal agents, especially frugivorous birds. We evaluated the functional relevance of diaspores traits as indicators of plant-disperser mutualisms in the colonization of Araucaria forest patches in southern Brazil. Diaspores of colonizer plant genera were characterized by diaspore type, size and color. In this communication we jointly analyze data matrices of data collected in a field work, in order to establish deeper relations among the different items taken into account: relevés characters, bird genus, plant genus, and traits. In particular, Correspondence Analysis was taken into account, in order to get a first insight of the data, helpful in planning more appropriate statistical analyses.