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Heliconia-hummingbird interactions in the Lesser Antilles: a geographic mosaic?

Dalsgaard, B., Timmermann, A., Martín González, A. M., Olesen, J., Ollerton, J. and Andersen, L. (2010) Heliconia-hummingbird interactions in the Lesser Antilles: a geographic mosaic? Caribbean Journal of Science. 46(2/3), pp. 328-331. 0008-6452. [Mailed 2012]

Item Type: Article
Abstract: One of the most striking examples of plant-pollinator co-adaptation is between the heliconias Heliconia bihai and H. caribaea, and the Lesser Antillean hummingbird - the purple-throated carib Eulampis jugularis. To date, the purple-throated carib is the only reported pollinator of these heliconias on the islands of St. Lucia and Dominica. Here, we show that the pollination of H. bihai and H. caribaea in the Lesser Antilles is more complex than previously hypothesized, locally involving several hummingbird species, specifically the green-throated carib Eulampis holosericeus, rufous-breasted hermit Glands hirsuta, blue-headed hummingbird Cyanophaia bicolor, and the antillean crested hummingbird Orthorhyncus cristatus. Hopefully, our observations will stimulate research into whether H. bihai and H. caribaea show local co-adaptation toward hummingbird pollinators other than the purple-throated carib. This would further verify the co-adaptation hypothesis between heliconias and Lesser Antillean hummingbirds, although, depending on locality, more hummingbird species have to be added as mutualistic partners.
Additional Information: Journal issue dated 2010, published 2012
Subjects: Q Science > QK Botany > QK926 Pollination
Q Science > QL Zoology > QL671 Birds > QL696 Hummingbirds
Q Science > QH Natural history > QH540 Ecology > QH549.5 Animal-plant relationships
Creators: Dalsgaard, Bo, Timmermann, Allan, Martín González, Ana M, Olesen, Jens, Ollerton, Jeff and Andersen, Laila
Publisher: University of Puerto Rico
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Group > Landscape and Biodiversity Research Group
Faculties > Faculty of Arts, Science & Technology > Environmental Science
Research Centres > Environment Research Group
Date: 2010
Date Type: Publication
Page Range: pp. 328-331
Journal or Publication Title: Caribbean Journal of Science
Volume: 46
Number: 2/3
Language: English
ISSN: 0008-6452
Status: Published / Disseminated
Refereed: Yes
Related URLs:
URI: http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/4594

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