Cold temperature increases winter fruit removal rate of a bird -

We tested the hypothesis that winter removal rates of h i t s of wax myrtle, ~Vfjricu cerifern, are higher in colder winters. Over a 9-year period, we monitored M. cerifkru fruit crops in 13 0.1-ha study plots in South Carolina, U.S.A. Peak ripeness occurred in November, whereas peak removal occurred in the coldest months, December and January. Mean time to fruit removal within study plots was positively correlated with mean winter temperatures, thereby supporting our hypothesis. This result, combined with the generally low availability of winter arthropods, suggests that fruit abundance may play a role in determining winter survivorship and distribution of permanent resident and short-distance migrant birds. C. Kwit (M) . D. J. Levev . S. F. Pearson . J. P. McCartv S. Sargent Department of Zoology, University of Florida, Box 1 18525 Gainesville, FL 3261 I , USA e-mail: [email protected] Tel.: + 1-803-7255925 Fax: + 1-803-7753309 C. FI. Greenbcrg Southern Researell Station, USDA Forest Service, Ashcville. NC 28806. USA Pre~en t urldrtt.~.~: C . Kwit Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. P.0. Drawer E .4ikeii. South Carolina 29802. USA Piewnr uddrcr~ S F Pearson Washtngton Natural Arcas Program, Washlngton Dcparhnent of Natttral Resources, I 1 1 I CVashington Street S E , Olympl'~. Washlngton 98504, USA J P. McCarty Depdrtment of B~ologj, Uruvcrs~ty of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska 68 182, USA Pri.,cL~t~r <~ciiJras S Sargent Department 01. Biology, Allegheny College, Weadv~ile, Pcnnsylvanta 16335. USA From the plant's perspective, i t demonstrates inter-annual variation in the temporal component of seed dispersal, with possible consequences for post-dispersal seed and