Effects of habitat and size of fruit display on removal of Smilacina stellata (Liliaceae) fruits

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Abstract
The effects of habitat and infructescence size on fruit removal by birds and grazing mammals from artificial infructescences of Smilacina stellata (L.) Desf. were examined. The study site, a coniferous forest in the Blue Mountains of eastern Washington [USA], differed from sites previously examined for bird-fruit interactions in North America in that autumnal censuses for 3 years indicated numbers of avian frugivores were lower. Removal of fruits from infructescences in light gaps was consistently faster than was removal from infructescences placed along forest edge or beneath dense canopy. Larger fruit displays influenced removal along forest edge only. The greatest percentage seed loss to grazing mammals occurred generally in the largest fruit displays and in those infructescences under a closed canopy. The results suggest that levels of seed dispersal and seed predation in understory plants differ in light gaps, forest edges, and habitats beneath forest canopy.