Floral Visit by Hummingbirds on a Coastal Hill in the North of the Pacific Desert, During 2021

Abstract

The Hill of Cerro Campana located in the north of the desert of the Pacific, is a unique ecosystem to host a high and specialbiological diversity, within which we find the "hummingbird ", very active and colorful bird species that feed on nectar and flower pollen. The objective of this work was to determine the number of interactions or visits of the hummingbirds to the species of flowering plants in the ACP Lomas del Cerro Campana, during 2021. For which were made 24 fixed points of counting, randomly distributed between the windward and leeward sides of this ridge and where interactions or visits to the flower of plants were recorded by the species of hummingbirds identified by direct and auditory observation. The presence of: Amazilia amazilia, Myrtis fanny, Myrmia micruraand Rhodopis vesper; birds that fed on the flowers of 20 plant species, belonging to 17 genera and 10 families; finding that Amazilia had preference for 16 plant species, Myrtis fannyby 06 species, Myrmia micruraby 08 species and Rhodopis vesperby 11 species of plants. These birds had a greater preference for interaction or visits by the flowers of species of the families Cactaceae, Bromeliaceae and Capparaceae. The plant species with which they had a greater number of interactions were: Puya ferruginea, with 12 interactions; Espostoa melanostele, Opuntia quitensiswith 9 each, Colicodendron scabridumwith 7; Tillandsia multiflora and Haageocereus decumbenswith 6 interactions each. These species, besides playing an important role in pollination, are an alternative to promote ecotourism in this ACP.