Original Title: Consumo de frutos de acebo (Ilex aquifolium L.) y movilización de semillas por Passeriformes en las montañas cantábricas occidentales, noroeste de España
In the Cantabrian Mountains (Sierra de Ancares, Galicia, NW Spain), the average density of Holly ripe fruits is about 22.250 fruits/ha in favourable areas (november 1981 and 1982). The ripe fruits are present during the whole annual cycle. Seven passerine species feed on fruits and remove seeds. We emphasize the high dependence of Turdus iliacus on the Holly berries and the consequent high removal ratio. The monthly number of seeds collected in the fecal samples shows two different patterns in the annual removal system: (1) autumn period during the maximum of fruit availability, with six bird species implicated; (2) winter period. with the crops partially depleted, in which T. iliacus performs almost the whole fruit removal. According to the results, the number of seeds removed is greater in the second period.
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