https://doi.org/10.4081/rio.2023.693

The European laurel Laurus nobilis berries in the diet of the blackbird Turdus merula

Vol. 93 No. 2 (2023)
Submitted: 25 May 2023
Accepted: 3 June 2023
Published: 9 November 2023
Berry size and shape, trophic selection, coevolution
Abstract Views: 993
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Authors

Fabrizio Bulgarini
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4470-9889
Stazione Romana per l’Osservazione e la Protezione degli Uccelli (SROPU), Roma, Italy.
Fulvio Fraticelli
f_fraticelli@hotmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3999-3663
Stazione Romana per l’Osservazione e la Protezione degli Uccelli (SROPU), Roma, Italy.

The feeding activity of frugivorous birds is influenced by the selection criteria for berry size. European laurel (Laurus nobilis), a dioecious species with high lipid and protein content in its berries, is dispersed by blackbird (Turdus merula). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between berry size and feeding behavior of blackbird. Field data was collected in a botanical park near Rome (Italy) and included seed collection, observation of regurgitation events, and bird population surveys. The volume and shape index of berries and seeds were measured, and statistical analyses were performed. The results showed a positive linear correlation between berry and seed volume. Blackbird selectively consumed larger berries, resulting in a higher percentage of pericarp as an energy resource. The birds exhibited a bimodal strategy, feeding on both large ellipsoidal and large round berries, which had a higher percentage of pericarp. The shape index of berries and seeds showed a significant difference between the control collection and those consumed by blackbird. The findings suggest a case of coevolution, with the plant optimizing seed dispersal by offering berries of different sizes to accommodate the feeding behavior of blackbird. This study provides insights into the ecological relationship between frugivorous birds and plants, highlighting the role of berry size in seed dispersal strategies.

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How to Cite

Bulgarini, F., & Fraticelli, F. (2023). The European laurel <i>Laurus nobilis</i> berries in the diet of the blackbird <i>Turdus merula</i>. Rivista Italiana Di Ornitologia, 93(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/rio.2023.693
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