Effects of hummingbird morphology on specialization in pollination networks vary with resource availability

Tinoco, Boris A.; Graham, Catherine H.; Aguilar, Juan Manuel; Schleuning, Matthias

doi:10.1111/oik.02998

Cited by 73 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Bill length and curvature were measured by inspecting an average of 10 adult specimens, both males and females, deposited in museums (Zanata, Dalsgaard, Rahbek, & Varassin, ; see details in Supporting Information Appendix S6); body mass data were gathered from the literature (Supporting Information Appendix S2). For all three traits, we used the mean trait values per species, because interspecific trait variation is larger than intraspecific variation and plays a larger role in determining the division of floral resources among coexisting hummingbird species (Graham et al, ; Tinoco, Graham, Aguilar, & Schleuning, ). In our data, the intraspecific coefficient of variation (CV) across all hummingbird species averaged 6.2% for bill length and 8.3% for bill curvature, whereas interspecific variation amounted to 42.4% and 246.9%, respectively (see also Supporting Information Appendix S2).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional diversity mediates macroecological variation in plant–hummingbird interaction networks

Maruyama

Sonne

Vizentin‐Bugoni

et al. 2018

Global Ecol Biogeogr

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Aim Species interaction networks are known to vary in structure over large spatial scales. We investigated the hypothesis that environmental factors affect interaction network structure by influencing the functional diversity of ecological communities. Notably, we expect more functionally diverse communities to form interaction networks with a higher degree of niche partitioning. Location: Americas. Time period: Current. Major taxa studied: Hummingbirds and their nectar plants. Methods We used a large dataset comprising 74 quantitative plant–hummingbird interaction networks distributed across the Americas, along with morphological trait data for 158 hummingbird species. First, we used a model selection approach to evaluate associations between the environment (climate, topography and insularity), species richness and hummingbird functional diversity as predictors of network structure (niche partitioning, i.e., complementary specialization and modularity). Second, we used structural equation models (SEMs) to ask whether environmental predictors and species richness affect network structure directly and/or indirectly through their influence on hummingbird functional diversity. For a subset of 28 networks, we additionally evaluated whether plant functional diversity was associated with hummingbird functional diversity and network structure. Results Precipitation, insularity and plant richness, together with hummingbird functional diversity (specifically, functional dispersion), were consistently strong predictors of niche partitioning in plant–hummingbird networks. Moreover, SEMs showed that environmental predictors and plant richness affected network structure both directly and indirectly through their effects on hummingbird functional diversity. Plant functional diversity, however, was unrelated to hummingbird functional diversity and network structure. Main conclusions: We reveal the importance of hummingbird functional diversity for niche partitioning in plant–hummingbird interaction networks. The lack of support for similar effects for plant functional diversity potentially indicates that consumer functional diversity might be more important for structuring interaction networks than resource functional diversity. Changes in pollinator functional diversity are therefore likely to alter the structure of interaction networks and associated ecosystem functions.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional diversity mediates macroecological variation in plant–hummingbird interaction networks

Maruyama

Sonne

Vizentin‐Bugoni

et al. 2018

Global Ecol Biogeogr

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“…Durante las floraciones de 2015 y 2016 con la ayuda de tubos capilares se extrajo el néctar de los diez apéndices bulbosos de 70 flores en 24 plantas. Se midió la concentración de azucares con un refractómetro manual calibrado [9]. En total se colectó 1849,30 µl de néctar, obteniendo un volumen por flor de 26,4 ± 15,25 µl (3,2-58,4 µl, n = 70).…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

“…Una flor promedio tendría 3,2 mg de azúcar, y una planta 249,6 mg de azúcar en el néctar de todas sus flores. Estos resultados indican que Axinaea merianiae oferta mayor volumen de néctar que 24 especies de plantas de la región que son utilizadas por colibríes (con un promedio de 7,7 µl) [9] y que 46 especies utilizadas por colibríes en los Andes Colombianos (con promedio de 12,6 µl) [8]. A pesar de los altos volúmenes, la concentración de azúcar del néctar se mantiene similar a aquella de otras especies que ofertan néctar a colibríes [6,8,9].…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

“…Axinaea merianiae no presenta las características florales que tradicionalmente se consideran en estudios de polinización ornitófila [6,8,9]. Al contrario, esta planta está utilizando aves dispersoras de semillas en su estrategia de polinización [2,5], probablemente aprovechando las ventajas de las aves sobre los insectos en las condiciones ambientales rigurosas de los Andes [1,2].…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

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Ecología de polinización de Axinaea merianiae en una región de los altos Andes de Ecuador: Características de su néctar y aves polinizadoras.

Aguilar

Tinoco

2017

ACI

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Plants of the genus Axinaea (family Melastomataceae) have a novel and recently discovered pollination system, involving birds that are not traditionally known as pollinators (specifically members of the families Thraupidae, Passerellidae and Fringillidae). We contribute with information on some aspects of the ecology of this pollination mechanism analyzing Axinaea merianiae, an endemic species of shrubby paramo at high Andean Ecuador. We observed five species of birds (Anisognathus igniventris, Atlapetes latinuchus, Coeligena iris, Diglossa cyanea, Tangara vassorii) in interaction with flowers of A. merianiae. The nectar of A. merianiae has a mean volumen of 26,4 µl in each flower and a sugar concentration of 11,6% w/w; these are the usual characteristics of nectar offered to birds by other plant species in this region. This information increases knowledge about how Andean birds may have took over some ecosystem functions performed by insects at lower elevations.Keywords: ecosystem functions, plant-bird interaction, Passerellidae, Thraupidae, Melastomataceae. ResumenLas plantas del género Axinaea (familia Melastomataceae) presentan un novedoso sistema de polinización recientemente descubierto, que involucra aves que tradicionalmente no son consideradas polinizadoras (específicamente de las familias Thraupidae, Passerellidae y Fringillidae). Contribuimos con información sobre la ecología de este mecanismo de polinización analizando Axinaea merianiae, una especie endémica de los páramos arbustivos de los altos Andes de Ecuador. Observamos a cinco especies de aves (Anisognathus igniventris, Atlapetes latinuchus, Coeligena iris, Diglossa cyanea, Tangara vassorii) interactuando con las flores de A. merianiae. El néctar de A. merianiae tiene un volumen 26,4 µl en cada flor y una concentración de azucares de 11,6% w/w; estas son las características usuales del néctar ofertado para las aves por otras especies de plantas de la región. Esta información incrementa el conocimiento en torno a cómo las aves andinas posiblemente han asumido algunas funciones ecosistémicas realizadas por insectos a menores elevaciones.Palabras clave: funciones ecosistémicas, interacciones planta-ave, Passerellidae, Thraupidae, Melastomataceae.

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“…, Tinoco et al. , Weinstein and Graham ). Currently, little quantitative information is available concerning the plants used by Black‐breasted Pufflegs and how floral morphology may influence their foraging preferences.…”

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confidence: 97%

Plant and habitat use by Black-breasted Pufflegs (Eriocnemis nigrivestis), a critically endangered hummingbird

Guevara¹,

Hipo²,

Poveda

et al. 2017

J. Field Ornithol.

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Black‐breasted Pufflegs (Eriocnemis nigrivestis) are hummingbirds endemic to Ecuador and are considered critically endangered because of their limited distribution, a population estimated at fewer than 1000 individuals, and ongoing habitat degradation. From November 2013 to June 2016, we examined the foraging preferences of these hummingbirds using a combination of direct observations, time‐lapse cameras, and motion‐detection software. We first identified 21 species of ornithophilous plants distributed among five sites in the northwestern flanks of the Pichincha volcano in northwest Ecuador. We then monitored these plant species using time‐lapse cameras and recorded 144 visits by Black‐breasted Pufflegs to seven of the 21 species. Most visits (128 of 144 visits, 89%) were to just two species of plants, Macleania rupestris and Palicourea fuchsioides, the latter of which is also an endemic and threatened species. In addition, Black‐breasted Pufflegs were only observed in the most pristine habitats. Given the potential negative effects of climate change for species in the tropical Andes plus the possible loss and degradation of habitat resulting from human activities, efforts are needed to conserve habitats currently used by Black‐breasted Pufflegs, recover degraded habitats, and connect isolated patches of suitable habitat. Our results concerning species of flowering plants used most by Black‐breasted Pufflegs (P. fuchsioides and M. rupestris) should help guide any habitat restoration initiatives.

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Effects of hummingbird morphology on specialization in pollination networks vary with resource availability

Cited by 73 publications

References 52 publications

Functional diversity mediates macroecological variation in plant–hummingbird interaction networks

Functional diversity mediates macroecological variation in plant–hummingbird interaction networks

Ecología de polinización de Axinaea merianiae en una región de los altos Andes de Ecuador: Características de su néctar y aves polinizadoras.

Plant and habitat use by Black-breasted Pufflegs (Eriocnemis nigrivestis), a critically endangered hummingbird

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