Palinomorfos Identificados en Cargas Polínicas Transportadas Por Seis Especies De Colibríes Del Noreste De Venezuela Y Factores Anatomoflorales, Biométricos Y Fenológicos Asociados a Su Presencia

Abstract

Palinomorphs identification in pollen loads transported for hummingbirds reveals, indirectly, their flower preferences and facilitate the interpretation of hummingbird-plant interactions in the communities where they live. Due to that we set out identify pollen forms (palinomorphs) in hummingbirds, by using routine light microscopical techniques and pollen keys ad hoc, and we comment about ecological factors influencing its occurrence. Twenty-four individuals of six hummingbirds species were examined from Paria peninsula, northeastern Venezuela: Glaucis hirsutus Gmelin 1788 (n=8), Amazilia fimbriata Gmelin 1788 (n=7) Phaetornis longuemareus Lesson 1832 (n=4), Polytmus guainumbi Pallas 1764 (n=3), Chlorestes notata Reichenbach 1854 (n=1) y Amazilia brevirostris Lesson 1829 (n=1). Ten palinomorphs were identified, Trizonoporate type, transported in four hummingbird species, was the most abundant palinomorph, following Monoporate, Pentaporate and Trizonocolpate types, transported in three hummingbird species. Palinomorphs identified follow the numerical pattern: C. notata (4), P. guainumbi (4), P. longuemareus (4), G. hirsutus (4), A. fimbriata (2) and A. brevirostris (1). Although the number of individuals analyzed per species was not enough for definitive conclusions, the amount and variety of palinomorphs depend of nectar availability, flowering seasons and flowers morphological arrangement which are visited by hummingbirds; breeding season and bill length and curvature. All these factors are determinant to understand the ecological role and floristic resources-hummingbirds relationships.