Potential role of lava lizards as pollinators across the Galápagos Islands

Abstract

Lizards have been reported as important pollinators on several oceanic islands. Here we evaluate the potential role of Galápagos lava lizards (Microlophus spp.) as pollinators across their radiation. Over 3 years, we sampled pollen transport by 9 lava lizard species on the 10 islands where they are present, including 7 single‐island endemics. Overall, only 25 of 296 individuals sampled (8.4%) transported pollen of 10 plant species, the most common being Prosopis juliflora, Exodeconus miersii, Sesuvium sp. and Cordia leucophlyctis. At least 8 of these plant species were native, and none were confirmed as introduced to the archipelago. Despite the low overall proportion of individuals carrying pollen, this was observed in 7 of the nine lizard species, and on 8 of the ten main islands (Española, Fernandina, Floreana, Isabela, Marchena, Pinta, Santa Cruz and Santiago), suggesting that this is a widespread interaction. The results reported here support the potential role of lava lizards as pollinators across their radiation, although they may represent a relatively modest contribution when compared with birds and insects. However, we cannot discard that lizards may be ecologically significant for particular plant species and ecosystems given the specific climatic condition and functional diversity of each island.

Environmental and morphological drivers of mutualistic plant–lizard interactions: a global review

“…In relation to the previous review on pollination by lizards (Godínez‐Álvarez 2004), we documented up to a fourfold rise in the number of Lacertilia species interacting with flowers, as a result of an increase by 165% in the number of studies on islands (from 35 to 95 lizard species) and by 3450% in mainland (from 2 to 71 lizard species). These values support the claim that the phenomenon may be even more widespread, but simply has not received much attention yet (Hernández‐Teixidor et al 2020, Hervías‐Parejo et al 2020). Despite this limitation, this study is the first providing data on environmental factors and lizard species traits that could explain the current distribution of plant–lizard interactions.…”

“…Interactions between plants and lizards (Squamata: Sauria/Lacertilia), specifically those in the families Gekkonidae and Lacertidae, are frequently reported on islands (Traveset and Sáez 1997, Olesen and Valido 2003, Hervías‐Parejo et al 2020). The low species richness and, thus, a weak interspecific competition, together with a low predation level, may explain the high densities that some taxonomic groups such as lizards achieve on insular systems (i.e.…”

Florivory by lizards on Tacinga inamoena (K.Schum.) N.P.Taylor & Stuppy (Cactaceae) in the Brazilian Caatinga

“…A study about the diet of the Tropiduridae lizard Microlophus pacificus (Steindachner 1876) on Isla Pinta Galápagos found Opuntia flowers in its stomach and a positive correlation between lizard body size and herbivory (Schluter 1984), followed by a recent study that has observed M. pacificus consuming Opuntia galapageia Hensl. flowers in the field, possibly transporting its pollen and acting as a pollinator (Hervías-Parejo et al 2020). Opuntia florivory by a non-insular lizard species of Cnemidophorus was first We categorized the flower consumption records into four categories (from four to one) according to the Damage Intensity (D.I.)…”

“…Such is the case of florivory by lizards, as their feeding on flowers is often destructive (Olsson et al 2000). Many lizard species feed on nectar and other flower parts because of their high nutritional and energetic values, potentially playing a significant positive role in pollen transfer (Pérez-Mellado & Casas 1997;Gomes et al 2013;Hervías-Parejo et al 2020).…”

Assessing the Role of Lizards as Potential Pollinators of an Insular Plant Community and Its Intraspecific Variation

“…Therefore, it is not expected that these animals have relevant roles in plant reproduction through seed dispersal and pollination. This perception has changed greatly in recent decades, revealing more flexible trophic behaviors of lizards with important implications for the communities in which they are integrated [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ].…”