Seed Shadows Generated by Frugivorous Birds in an Eastern Mediterranean Scrub

Fruits of the five common fleshy-fruit plant species in an Israeli Mediterranean scrub were removed by twelve bird species of which seven were transients. Fruits of shrubs Rhamnus palaestinus and Pistacia lentiscus were removed mainly by all-year residents, while fruits of a semi-parasitic dwarf shrub Osyris alba, a vine Rubia tenuifolia and a tree P. palaestina were removed mainly by transients. Rhamnus was visited by most bird species more often than expected from its relative abundance, and the highest density of bird-deposited seeds was found under Rhamnus. Scrub clearings were largely avoided by birds (...)