The objective of this study was to quantify the impact of herbivory by goats on natural populations of Bromelia laciniosa Mart. ex Schult. f. (Bromeliaceae), an endemic species to the Caatinga biome. Field studies were conducted Caboclo (8º28'56,4"S, 40º56'6,9"W, 588 m alt.), municipality of Afrânio, Pernambuco state. This area is regarded as being highly biologically important and therefore it is a priority area for conservation. The quantitative analysis of this impact was based on the inventory of 10 plots of 2.000 m², along a pre-existing path in the study area, and consisted in doing the accounting of flowering B. laciniosa individuals and the percentage of individuals which had their flowers foraged by goats. Additionally, we also obtained information on the phenology, floral morphology and fruit and seed set rates of this bromeliad. It was found that out of the 246 individuals surveyed, 65.8% had their flowers foraged by these animals. The estimate of consumed flowers was 8,748 and the likely number of fruit and seeds that thus could not develop were approximately 7,227 fruits and 252,945 seeds. Foraging of inflorescences by goats reduces fruit and seed set rates and it may thus directly interfere with the conservation of this bromeliad.
Goat husbandry; Foraging and Conservation
