Fruit-disperser interaction in a mistletoe-bird system: a comparison of two mechanisms of fruits processing on seed germination

Wecompared the effects of two mechanisms of fruit processing (defecationversus regurgitation) on seed germination andestablishmentin a mistletoe-bird system (Tristerix aphyllus –Mimus thenca). Despite regurgitation being more frequentlyobserved than defecation, radicle of defecated seeds grew longer than that ofregurgitated ones. In this fruit-seed disperser interaction, we demonstrate theimportance of different mechanisms of fruit processing for cactus infectionefficiency by the mistletoe.