Abstract
A study of bird frugivory in Desamparaditos de Puriscal in Costa Rica in
2021 showed the importance of two tropical trees, Gumbo Limbo (Bursera
simaruba) and Huevos de Caballo (the common Spanish name of
Tabernaemontana donnell-smithii) within habited areas. The study also
focused on which species fed on lipid-rich fruits and which fed on
lipid-poor fruits — Gumbo Limbo fruits are lipid-poor, whereas Huevos
de Caballo “fruits” are lipid-rich — and whether the feeding choices
of various birds in this community would reflect the distinction in
lipid content. The study was done during the beginning of the rainy
season, and compared with a recent analysis of bird frugivory studies.
Results showed numerous similarities regarding the birds feeding on
Gumbo Limbo, but more differences were found for the birds feeding on
Huevos de Caballo. Most significant was that a number of species were
observed feeding on both of these fruits that had not been observed in
the other studies. Additionally, the study indicated that both trees
might be important nutritional sources for young birds. A follow-up
study was conducted in 2022. That study showed more feeding by some
species on Gumbo Limbo fruits, and demonstrated the importance of Gumbo
Limbo for these species during the late dry season. The 2022 study began
on 26 January and ended on 7 March, the date when the 2021 study began.
Data from 2022 (summarized in Appendices 3 and 3A) will not be fully
analyzed, but may be referred to in the discussion.