Can the ferruginous pygmy-owl (Aves, Strigidae) disperse seeds?

The dispersal of seeds by birds of prey is an ecological relationship still little studied. Here I report the dispersal of Brazilian pepper seeds by Glaucidium brasilianum through diploendozoochory. The role of this owl in seed dispersal was also analyzed through records of bird predation (photos available on a digital platform and bibliographic review). I found records of predation of 19 species of birds. This result suggests that the predation of frugivorous and omnivorous species may favor the dispersal of seeds of plants that produce fruits with small seeds. Therefore, this type of interaction needs to receive more attention in ecological studies on seed dispersal by birds.

Automated summary

This study reports the seed dispersal of Brazilian pepper by Glaucidium brasilianum through diploendozoochory, an ecological relationship that has received little attention. The predation records of 19 bird species were analyzed, indicating that the predation of frugivorous and omnivorous species may facilitate the dispersal of small-seeded plants. This highlights the importance of further studying this interaction in ecological research on bird-mediated seed dispersal.