Fruiting phenology and consumption of zoochoric fruits by wild vertebrates in a seasonally dry tropical forest in the Brazilian Caatinga

Abstract This study aimed to describe and evaluate the fruit phenology of zoochoric plants and the use of this resource by wild vertebrates in a seasonally dry tropical forest in the Furna Feia National Park, an area of Brazilian Caatinga. Specifically, we described the seasonal variation in fruiting of zoochoric species and evaluated the influence of rainfall intensity on the seasonal variation of fruiting, along with the relative importance of each fruit producing species in the diet of medium- and large-sized vertebrates by analysis of fecal samples. Monthly expeditions to the study area occurred between January 2013 and June 2018, during which we monitored the phenology of 643 plants, belonging to 11 species, and collected vertebrates fecal samples. Sideroxylon obtusifolium, Cereus jamacaru, Ziziphus joazeiro, Commiphora leptophloeos and Bromelia laciniosa fruited during the rainy season, while Myracrodruon urundeuva, Licania rigida, Cissus sp. and Maytenus rigida fruited during the dry season. Phoradendron quadrangulare and Cynophalla flexuosa presenting lower seasonality in the fruiting throughout the year. The rainfall intensity influenced the fruiting of more than 50% of the zoochoric plant species, corroborating the prediction of the existence of a relationship between rainfall intensity and fruiting for Caatinga zoochoric plants. Sixteen plant species were identified in 294 fecal samples, suggesting medium- and large-sized vertebrates act potential seed dispersers of 12 plant native species. Future conservation strategies for Caatinga forests should prioritize the protection of multiple plant species to ensure fruit availability throughout the year.