Biodiversity Data Journal :
Research Article
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Corresponding author: Mannfred MA Boehm (mannfred.boehm@ubc.ca)
Academic editor: Christopher Heckscher
Received: 13 Nov 2017 | Accepted: 09 Feb 2018 | Published: 02 Mar 2018
© 2018 Mannfred Boehm, Micah Scholer, Jeremiah Kennedy, Julian Heavyside, Aniceto Daza, David Guevara-Apaza, Jill Jankowski
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Boehm M, Scholer M, Kennedy J, Heavyside J, Daza A, Guevara-Apaza D, Jankowski J (2018) The Manú Gradient as a study system for bird pollination. Biodiversity Data Journal 6: e22241. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.6.e22241
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This study establishes an altiudinal gradient, spanning from the highland Andes (2400 m) to lowland Amazon, as a productive region for the study of bird pollination in Southeastern Peru. The 'Manú Gradient' has a rich history of ornithological research, the published data and resources from which lay the groundwork for analyses of plant-bird interactions. In this preliminary expedition we documented 44 plants exhibting aspects of the bird pollination syndrome, and made field observations of hummingbird visits at three sites spanning the Manú Gradient: 2800 m (Wayqecha), 1400 m (San Pedro), and 400 m (Pantiacolla). Some of the documented plant taxa are underrepresented in the bird pollination literature and could be promising avenues for future analyses of their pollination biology. The Manú Gradient is currently the focus of a concerted, international effort to describe and study the birds in the region; we propose that this region of Southeastern Peru is a productive and perhaps underestimated system to gain insight into the ecology and evolution of bird pollination.
Observations were made on 11, 19, and 14 putatively bird pollinated plant species found at the high-, mid- and low-elevation sites along the gradient, respectively. Hummingbirds visited 18 of these plant species, with some plant species being visited by multiple hummingbird species or the same hummingbird species on differing occasions. Morphometric data is presented for putatively bird-pollinated plants, along with bill measurements from hummingbirds captured at each of three sites. Voucher specimens from this study are deposited in the herbaria of the Universidad Nacional de Agraria de La Molina (MOL), Peru and the University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada. The specimens collected represent a ‘snapshot’ of the diversity of bird-pollinated flora as observed over 10 day sampling windows (per site) during the breeding season for hummingbirds of Manú .
Hummingbirds, elevational gradient, co-evolution, ornithophily, pollination ecology, Andes, Amazon, neotropics
Manú National Park is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve nested within the most biodiverse region in the world: the tropical Andes (
Site Selection
We surveyed three field sites spanning an altitudinal gradient of 2400 m (400 m to 2800 m) in the southeastern Andes (Table
Plant Genus | Specific epithet | Family | Collection number(s) for plant specimens deposited in the herbaria of MOL and UBC | Corolla length (mm) | Corolla width (mm) | Nectar (% sugar, * = not recorded) | Corolla colour(s) | Hummingbird visited | Habitat notes |
Besleria L. | sp. 1 | Gesneriaceae | MMAB 1 | 8 | 1 | * | red | Growing along trail's edge in relatively open canopy | |
Heliconia L. | sp. 1 | Heliconiaceae | MMAB 10, 11 | 100 | 19 | * | translucent with pink | Lowest point of a bog with little shade. Pioneering Cecropia and Schefflera are dominating species. Ruellia also abundant. | |
Centropogon | granulosus C. Presl | Campanulaceae | MMAB 12, 13 | 40 | 15 | * | yellow within red bract | Along ditches of the Manu Road. Typically at points facing South-East. Relatively dry forest edge. | |
Centropogon |
granulosus C. Presl | Campanulaceae | MMAB 2, 3 | 35 | 15 | 25.5 | red and yellow | Vine growing through dense understory at 1-3 m. Guaduais abundant. Flowers at breaks in the canopy where sunlight is more abundant. | |
Sanchezia Ruiz & Pav. | sp. 1 | Acanthaceae | MMAB 20, 21 | 70 | 5 | * | yellow within red bract | Along ditches of the Manu Road. Grows along weedy species including Vernonia, Calceolaria, and Gloxinia | |
Columnea | guttata Poepp. & Endl. | Gesneriaceae | MMAB 22, 23 | 10 | 1 | 20 | yellow | Epiphytic. Found readily in the same habitats as that of Columnea sp. 1 | |
Heliconia | subulata Ruiz & Pav. | Heliconiaceae | MMAB 24, 44 | 40 | 10 | * | bright yellow in dark red bract | Found in dense stand of Guadua. Little sunlight, relatively dry. | |
Guzmania | weberbaueri Mez | Bromeliaceae | MMAB 25, 26 | 37 | 7 | * | yellow | Colibri thalassinus, Doryfera ludovicae, Heliodoxa leadbeateri | Grows both as an epiphyte and from the ground. Always in high-moisture environments including bogs but less common near river's edge. |
Columnea | cf. inaequilatera Poepp. & Endl. | Gesneriaceae | MMAB 27, 28 | 44 | 9 | 21.5 | red | Edge of fast-flowing rocky river with little shade. | |
Thyrsacanthus Moric | sp. 1 | Acanthaceae | MMAB 29, 30 | 10 | 1 | 22.5 | red-purple | Along ditch of the Manu Road. East-facing, well drained. | |
Gurania | eriantha Poepp. & Endl. | Cucurbitaceae | MMAB 33 | * | * | * | red | Along ditch of the Manu Road. Growing through dense vegetation, flowers at edge. | |
Drymonia | semicordata (Poepp.) Wiehler | Gesneriaceae | MMAB 34, 35 | 10 | 2 | * | yellow within red bract | Hanging over edge of fast-flowing rocky river. Shaded by various Araceae. | |
Besleria L. | sp. 1 | Gesneriaceae | MMAB 36, 37 | 20 | 8 | * | bright red | Wet, dark, steep rocky cliff. North facing. | |
Drymonia | urceolata Wiehler | Gesneriaceae | MMAB 40, 39 | 20 | 5 | * | red | Wet, dark, steep rocky cliff. North facing. | |
Erythrina L. | sp. 1 | Fabaceae | MMAB 42, 41 | * | * | * | orange-red | Flowers found on ground at the lowest point of a bog with little shade. | |
Passiflora | coccinea Aubl. | Passifloraceae | MMAB 43, 38 | 120 | 60 | 22.5 | red | Unidentified | Growing from 0-12 m through dense stand of Guadua. |
Centropogon | congestus Gleason | Campanulaceae | MMAB 45 | 32 | 10 | * | pink-red | Dense stand of Guadua. Relatively humid and little light. | |
Oreocallis | grandiflora (Lam.) R. Br. | Proteaceae | MMAB 49, 48 | 46 | 12 | * | red-purple | Aglaeactis cupripenni, Boissonneaua matthewsii | Dominating tree species in dry, scrubby, elfin forest. |
Siphocampylus | scandens (Kunth) G.Don | Campanulaceae | MMAB 50, 51 | 47 | 8 | 16 | pink | Adelomyia melanogenys | Along ditch of the Manu Road. Grows indiscriminately in sun or shade. |
Siphocampylus | orbignianus A.DC. | Campanulaceae | MMAB 52, 53 | 54 | 17 | 12 | pink-red | Coeligena sp. | Along ditch of the Manu Road. Grows indiscriminately in sun or shade. |
Brachyotum | rostratum (Naudin) Triana | Melastomataceae | MMAB 54, 55 | 19 | 7 | 13 | red with yellow tip | Aglaeactis cupripenni | Dry scrubby elfin forest. Dead ferns make up dense mat up to 1 m. |
Aetanthus | nodosus (Desr.) Engl. | Loranthaceae | MMAB 56, 57 | 70 | 5 | 14.5 | dark purple | Coeligena sp. | Humid transitional forest at where elfin forest dimishes. |
Gaultheria Kalm ex L. | sp. 1 | Ericaceae | MMAB 58, 59 | 7 | 3 | * | red with yellow tip | Aglaeactis cupripenni, Metallura tyrianthina | Edge of pond alongside other Ericaceae species. Abundant light, south facing. |
Miconia Ruiz & Pavón | sp. 1 | Melastomataceae | MMAB 6, 7 | 15 | 13 | * | pink | Heliodoxa leadbeateri | 3 m tree mostly shaded by Cecropia and other taller species. |
Passiflora | mixta L.f. | Passifloraceae | MMAB 60, 61 | 118 | 45 | * | white-pink | Ensifera ensifera | Growing through same habitat as Ericaceae gen. sp. 1 and 2. Flowers at breaks in the canopy. |
Fuchsia L. | sp. 1 | Onagraceae | MMAB 63, 62 | 65 | 45 | * | bright pink | Humid, dark understory. Habitat tends to be rocky. | |
Desmodium Desv. | sp. 1 | Fabaceae | MMAB 64, 65 | 20 | 19 | 16.5 | light red-orange | Metallura sp. | Rocky exposed cliffside. Many ferns. Dry. |
Siphonandra Klotzsch | sp. 1 | Ericaceae | MMAB 66, 67 | 18 | 5 | * | purple | Aglaeactis cupripenni | Edge of pond alongside other Ericaceae species. Abundant light, south facing. |
Bomarea Mirb. | sp. 1 | Alstroemeriaceae | MMAB 68, 69 | 18 | 7 | 18.5 | red with white tip | Rocky cliff next to slow-flowing river. In dense vegetation including Rubus and Asteraceae spp. | |
Drymonia | semicordata (Poepp.) Wiehler | Gesneriaceae | MMAB 70, 71 | 40 | 17 | * | yellow within red bract | Glaucis hirsutus, Heliodoxa aurescens, Phaethornis sp. | Ubiquitous throughout humid lowland forest. |
Pachystachys Nees | sp. 1 | Acanthaceae | MMAB 72 | 60 | 8 | * | red | In the shade of tall trees at trail's edge. | |
Costus L. | sp. 3 | Costaceae | MMAB 75, 74 | 30 | 5 | * | yellow | Relatively common at trail's edge, even in low light. | |
Heliconia | densiflora Verl. | Heliconiaceae | MMAB 76, 77 | 47 | 7 | * | orange within red bract | High moisture depression in humid forest. Medium shade. | |
Costus L. | sp. 2 | Costaceae | MMAB 78, 79 | 39 | 7 | * | yellow within red bract | Terra firma approx 300 m from Rio Madre de Dios | |
Columnea | aff. schimpfii Mansf. | Gesneriaceae | MMAB 8, 9 | 30 | 5 | * | white | Epiphytic. Can be found indiscriminately on any trees from at least 1-8 m. | |
Besleria L. | sp. 4 | Gesneriaceae | MMAB 80, 81 | 22 | 8 | * | red | Terra firma approx 300 m from Rio Madre de Dios | |
Heliconia | schumanniana Loes. | Heliconiaceae | MMAB 82, 83 | 44 | 5 | * | yellow within red bract | Abundant sunlight at clearning in forest. | |
Heliconia | lingulata Ruiz & Pav. | Heliconiaceae | MMAB 84, 85 | 37 | 4 | * | yellow within yellow bract | South-facing clay bank of the Alto Madre de Dios. | |
Besleria L. | sp. 2 | Gesneriaceae | MMAB 86, 87 | 19 | 9 | * | orange | Unidentified | Terra firma approx 300 m from Rio Madre de Dios |
Besleria L. | sp. 3 | Gesneriaceae | MMAB 88, 89 | 15 | 4 | * | orange | Unidentified | Relatively exposed at trail's edge. Dense cluster of upto 20 individuals. |
Heliconia | metallica Planch. & Linden ex Hook. | Heliconiaceae | MMAB 90, 91 | 40 | 4 | * | red | Phaethornis sp. | High moisture depression in humid forest. Medium shade. |
Pentagonia Benth. | sp. 1 | Rubiaceae | MMAB 93, 92 | 31 | 10 | * | yellow within red bract | Unidentified | High moisture depression in humid forest. Medium shade. |
Passiflora L. | sp. 1 | Passifloraceae | MMAB 94, 95 | 80mm long, pre-anthesis | * | * | red | Growing through dense understory including Melastomaceae. | |
Pachystachys Nees | sp. 2 | Acanthaceae | MMAB 96, 97 | 50 | 17 | * | red | Phaethornis sp. | Relatively exposed at trail's edge. |
Hummingbird Species | Plant visited | Plant Family | Collection number | Site |
Adelomyia melanogenys Bonaparte | Siphocampylus scandens | Campanulaceae | MMAB 50 | San Pedro |
Aglaeactis cupripennis Bourcier | Gaultheria sp. 1 | Ericaceae | MMAB 58 | Wayqecha |
Aglaeactis cupripennis | Siphonandra sp. 1 | Ericaceae | MMAB 66 | Wayqecha |
Aglaeactis cupripennis | Brachyotum rostratum | Melastomataceae | MMAB 54 | Wayqecha |
Aglaeactis cupripennis | Oreocallis grandiflora | Proteaceae | MMAB 49 | Wayqecha |
Boissonneaua matthewsii Bourcier | Oreocallis grandiflora | Proteaceae | MMAB 49 | Wayqecha |
Coeligena sp. | Siphocampylus orbignianus | Campanulaceae | MMAB 52 | Wayqecha |
Coeligena sp. | Aetanthus nodosus | Loranthaceae | MMAB 56 | Wayqecha |
Colibri thalassinus Swainson | Guzmania weberbaueri | Bromeliaceae | MMAB 25 | San Pedro |
Doryfera ludovicae Bourcier & Mulsant | Guzmania weberbaueri | Bromeliaceae | MMAB 25 | San Pedro |
Ensifera ensifera Lesson | Passiflora mixta | Passifloraceae | MMAB 60 | Wayqecha |
Glaucis hirsutus Gmelin | Drymonia semicordata | Gesneriaceae | MMAB 70 | Pantiacolla |
Heliodoxa aurescens Gould | Drymonia semicordata | Gesneriaceae | MMAB 70 | Pantiacolla |
Heliodoxa leadbeateri Bourcier | Miconia sp.1 | Melastomataceae | MMAB 6 | San Pedro |
Heliodoxa leadbeateri | Guzmania weberbaueri | Bromeliaceae | MMAB 25 | San Pedro |
Metallura tyrianthina Loddiges | Brachyotum rostratum | Melastomataceae | MMAB 54 | Wayqecha |
Metallura sp. | Desmodium sp. 1 | Fabaceae | MMAB 64 | Wayqecha |
Metallura tyrianthina | Gaultheria sp. 1 | Ericaceae | MMAB 58 | Wayqecha |
Phaethornis sp. | Pachystachys sp. 2 | Acanthaceae | MMAB 96 | Pantiacolla |
Phaethornis sp. | Drymonia semicordata | Gesneriaceae | MMAB 70 | Pantiacolla |
Phaethornis sp. | Heliconia metallica | Heliconiaceae | MMAB 90 | Pantiacolla |
Unidentified Trochilidae | Besleria sp. 2 | Gesneriaceae | MMAB 86 | Pantiacolla |
Unidentified Trochilidae | Besleria sp. 3 | Gesneriaceae | MMAB 88 | Pantiacolla |
Unidentified Trochilidae | Passiflora coccinea | Passifloraceae | MMAB 43 | San Pedro |
Unidentified Trochilidae | Pentagonia sp. 1 | Rubiaceae | MMAB 93 | Pantiacolla |
Basic bill morphometrics from birds mist-netted along the Manú Gradient.
Species |
Sex (F=Female, M=Male, U=Unknown) |
Mean bill length (mm) | Bill length std dev (mm) | Mean bill width (mm) | Bill width std dev (mm) | Bill length sample size | Bill width sample size |
Adelomyia melanogenys | F | 14.55 | 1.34 | 2.7 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Adelomyia melanogenys | U | 14.56 | 1.10 | 2.44 | 0.18 | 9 | 9 |
Aglaeactis cupripennis | U | 18.06 | 1.05 | 2.64 | 0.11 | 5 | 5 |
Boissonneaua matthewsii Bourcier | U | 18.4 | NA | 2.9 | NA | 1 | 1 |
Chalcostigma ruficeps Gould | F | 11.5 | NA | 2 | NA | 1 | 1 |
Chalcostigma ruficeps | M | 11.9 | 1.27 | 2.2 | 0.14 | 2 | 2 |
Chlorostilbon mellisugus Linnaeus | F | 20.5 | NA | 2.7 | NA | 1 | 1 |
Coeligena coeligena Lesson | U | 29.47 | 3.30 | 2.65 | 0.21 | 9 | 10 |
Coeligena torquata Boissonneau | M | 32.4 | 1.9 | 2.66 | 0.20 | 3 | 3 |
Coeligena torquata | F | 36.2 | NA | 3 | NA | 1 | 1 |
Coeligena violifer Gould | U | 31.74 | 4.78 | 3.22 | 0.25 | 5 | 5 |
Coeligena violifer | M | 33.13 | 0.98 | 3.26 | 0.25 | 3 | 3 |
Coeligena violifer | F | 35.5 | 1.4 | 3.3 | 0.35 | 4 | 4 |
Colibri coruscans Gould | U | 24.05 | 2.89 | 3.06 | 0.15 | 2 | 3 |
Colibri thalassinus | U | 21.46 | 1.72 | 3 | 0.17 | 3 | 3 |
Doryfera johannae Bourcier | F | 26.2 | NA | 3 | NA | 1 | 1 |
Doryfera ludovicae | U | 27.62 | 7.90 | 2.75 | 0.14 | 7 | 8 |
Doryfera ludovicae | M | 30.8 | NA | 2.6 | NA | 1 | 1 |
Doryfera ludovicae | F | 31.2 | 1 | 2.5 | 0.26 | 3 | 3 |
Eutoxeres condamini Bourcier | U | 24.23 | 1.52 | 3.87 | 0.68 | 8 | 7 |
Florisuga mellivora Linnaeus | F | 18.1 | NA | 2.6 | NA | 1 | 1 |
Florisuga mellivora | M | 18.7 | 0.28 | 3.45 | 0.49 | 2 | 2 |
Glaucis hirsutus | M | 28.9 | NA | 3.3 | NA | 1 | 1 |
Glaucis hirsutus | U | 29.15 | 1.21 | 3.82 | 0.29 | 4 | 4 |
Heliangelus amethysticollis d'Orbigny & Lafresnaye | M | 17.46 | 0.69 | 2.46 | 0.29 | 6 | 6 |
Heliangelus amethysticollis | U | 18.5 | NA | 2.5 | NA | 1 | 1 |
Heliangelus amethysticollis | F | 18.65 | 0.21 | 2.8 | 0.14 | 2 | 2 |
Heliodoxa leadbeateri | M | 20.56 | 0.99 | 2.95 | 0.05 | 6 | 6 |
Heliodoxa leadbeateri | U | 20.8 | NA | 3.2 | NA | 1 | 1 |
Heliodoxa leadbeateri | F | 22.27 | 0.82 | 3.2 | 0.16 | 4 | 4 |
Ocreatus underwoodii Lesson | F | 15.6 | NA | 2.5 | NA | 1 | 1 |
Ocreatus underwoodii | M | 15.8 | NA | 2.2 | 0.84 | 1 | 2 |
Ocreatus underwoodii | U | 15.8 | NA | NA | NA | 1 | 0 |
Phaethornis guy Lesson | F | 38.05 | 1.90 | 3.3 | 0.42 | 2 | 2 |
Phaethornis guy | U | 39.6 | NA | 3 | NA | 1 | 1 |
Phaethornis koepckeae Weske & Terborgh | U | 34.5 | 2.09 | 3.725 | 0.17 | 4 | 4 |
Phaethornis superciliosus Linnaeus | U | 35.43 | 2.19 | 3.65 | 0.58 | 6 | 6 |
Thalurania furcata Gmelin | F | 20.7 | 0.55 | 3.2 | 0.45 | 3 | 3 |
Thalurania furcata | M | 23.65 | 4.03 | 3.55 | 0.49 | 2 | 2 |
Thalurania furcata | U | 24.6 | 6.22 | 3.25 | 0.21 | 2 | 2 |
Threnetes leucurus | U | 28.52 | 0.99 | 3.675 | 0.22 | 4 | 4 |
Site information for putatively bird pollinated plants along the Manú Gradient
Collection numbers | Site | Latitude | Longitude | Altitude (m a.s.l.) | Date |
MMAB 1 | San Pedro |
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1347 | 4-ix-2016 |
MMAB 2, 3 | San Pedro |
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1402 | 4-ix-2016 |
MMAB 6, 7 | San Pedro |
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1393 | 4-ix-2016 |
MMAB 8, 9 | San Pedro |
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1411 | 4-ix-2016 |
MMAB 10, 11 | San Pedro |
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1403 | 4-ix-2016 |
MMAB 12, 13 | San Pedro |
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1357 | 4-ix-2016 |
MMAB 20, 21 | San Pedro |
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1378 | 6-ix-2016 |
MMAB 22, 23 | San Pedro |
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1394 | 6-ix-2016 |
MMAB 24, 44 | San Pedro |
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1355 | 7-ix-2016 |
MMAB 25, 26 | San Pedro |
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1330 | 7-ix-2016 |
MMAB 27, 28 | San Pedro |
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1360 | 7-ix-2016 |
MMAB 29, 30 | San Pedro |
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1269 | 8-ix-2016 |
MMAB 33 | San Pedro |
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1439 | 8-ix-2016 |
MMAB 34, 35 | San Pedro |
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1324 | 8-ix-2016 |
MMAB 36, 37 | San Pedro |
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1547 | 9-ix-2016 |
MMAB 40, 39 | San Pedro |
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1297 | 9-ix-2016 |
MMAB 43, 38 | San Pedro |
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1363 | 10-ix-2016 |
MMAB 42, 41 | San Pedro |
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1403 | 11-ix-2016 |
MMAB 45 | San Pedro |
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1149 | 16-ix-2016 |
MMAB 49, 48 | Wayqecha |
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2727 | 20-ix-2016 |
MMAB 50, 51 | Wayqecha |
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2939 | 21-ix-2016 |
MMAB 52, 53 | Wayqecha |
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2958 | 21-ix-2016 |
MMAB 54, 55 | Wayqecha |
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2955 | 22-ix-2016 |
MMAB 56, 57 | Wayqecha |
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2888 | 26-ix-2016 |
MMAB 58, 59 | Wayqecha |
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2625 | 26-ix-2016 |
MMAB 60, 61 | Wayqecha |
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2866 | 27-ix-2016 |
MMAB 63, 62 | Wayqecha |
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2904 | 27-ix-2016 |
MMAB 64, 65 | Wayqecha |
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2834 | 28-ix-2016 |
MMAB 66, 67 | Wayqecha |
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2979 | 28-ix-2016 |
MMAB 68, 69 | Wayqecha |
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2780 | 29-ix-2016 |
MMAB 70, 71 | Pantiacolla |
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398 | 6-x-2016 |
MMAB 72 | Pantiacolla |
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391 | 7-x-2016 |
MMAB 75, 74 | Pantiacolla |
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396 | 8-x-2016 |
MMAB 76, 77 | Pantiacolla |
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394 | 8-x-2016 |
MMAB 78, 79 | Pantiacolla |
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410 | 9-x-2016 |
MMAB 80, 81 | Pantiacolla |
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404 | 9-x-2016 |
MMAB 82, 83 | Pantiacolla |
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404 | 9-x-2016 |
MMAB 84, 85 | Pantiacolla |
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405 | 11-x-2016 |
MMAB 86, 87 | Pantiacolla |
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396 | 11-x-2016 |
MMAB 88, 89 | Pantiacolla |
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428 | 12-x-2016 |
MMAB 90, 91 | Pantiacolla |
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391 | 12-x-2016 |
MMAB 93, 92 | Pantiacolla |
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397 | 12-x-2016 |
MMAB 94, 95 | Pantiacolla |
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423 | 13-x-2016 |
MMAB 96, 97 | Pantiacolla |
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394 | 13-x-2016 |
Summary information and site descriptions for three sampling points along the Manú Gradient.
Site (Latitude, Longitude) |
Period Collected and Netted | Altitudinal Range Sampled (m asl) | Number of Plants Species Collected | Number of Hummingbirds Netted | Number of Hummingbird Species Netted | Number of Bird Visits Recorded | General Site Description |
San Pedro (-13.055387, -71.546832) |
4-ix-2016 to 16-ix-2016 | 1149 - 1547 | 19 | 76 | 14 | 7 | Montane cloud forest, Cecropia readily found in disturbed habitats. Dominant palm is Wettinia and canopy is generally composed of Clusiaceae, Rubiaceae, Melastomataceae and Lauraceae ( |
Wayqecha (-13.1752615, -71.5884099) |
20-ix-2016 to 03-x-2016 | 2625 - 2979 | 11 | 65 | 15 | 10 | Highland cloud forest and puna grassland of mainly Asteraceae and Poaceae. Oreocalis grandiflora is a noteable and abundant tree species. Araliaceae, Cunoniaceae,Chloranthaceae, Myrsinaceae, Sabiaceae, and Symplocaceae are readily found ( |
Pantiacolla (-12.656544, -71.231862) |
07-x-2016 to 13-x-2016 | 391 - 428 | 14 | 31 | 9 | 8 | Lowland rainforest, includes both seasonally flooded and terra firme forests. Canopy dominated by Fabaceae, Malvaceae, Moraceae and Annonaceae ( |
Data Collection
Pre-cut singletrack trails were used to access sampling areas away from the Manú Road (main access road that runs along the southeastern border of Manú National Park). We sampled hummingbirds using standard (12 x 3 m, 34 mm mesh) mist-nets along trail systems only. Mist-netting sites were sampled during the primary breeding season (August–November) for two consecutive days from approximately 0600–1200 hrs during suitable weather conditions (i.e., no periods of extended heavy rain, high winds, or other situations that could compromise researcher or bird safety). Each site consisted of an array of ten to fifteen nets placed in forested and open habitat and spaced at intervals of 25-50 m. Ten sites were sampled at Wayqecha and San Pedro, and 8 sites were sampled at Pantiacolla. Hummingbird bill length was measured from the bill tip to the nares. Bill width was measured from the anterior edge of the nares. All captured hummingbirds were marked by cutting the terminal 1-2 cm of one rectrix to avoid resampling of individuals.
Both trails and the Manú Road were used to opportunistically collect plants. Plants were considered putatively bird pollinated if they met criteria adhering to typical bird pollination ‘syndromes’; namely, dilute nectar and long tubular flowers (
We identified 44 putatively bird pollinated plants of interest belonging to 16 families (Table
Diversity of putatively bird pollinated plants of the Manú Gradient. MMAB collection numbers listed in Table
Diversity of putatively bird pollinated plants of the Manú Gradient. MMAB collection numbers listed in Table
Diversity of putatively bird pollinated plants of the Manú Gradient. MMAB collection numbers listed in Table
Diversity of putatively bird pollinated plants of the Manú Gradient. MMAB collection numbers listed in Table
Diversity of putatively bird pollinated plants of the Manú Gradient. MMAB collection numbers listed in Table
We recorded 23 hummingbird visitations to 18 plant taxa belonging to 12 plant families (Table
Diversity of plants exhibiting the bird pollination syndrome does not differ across the gradient in the time frame sampled (Table
Hummingbird pollination is common and well-established in Neotropical montane and lowland environments. Our observations and collected specimens exemplify that bird-plant interactions are readily observed along the Manú Gradient - an area that is relatively accessible has been subject to only a handful of studies on hummingbird pollination (Oreocallis grandiflora, Proteaceae;
Along the gradient, putatively bird pollinated plants were generally characterized by long corollas and were predominantly coloured red, yellow, orange, or some combination thereof. Previous documentation of bird pollination exists for each of the 16 families collected (
We recorded 23 independent visits by hummingbirds to 19 different plant taxa over 33 days. These observations by no means represent a comprehensive list of the total diversity for hummingbirds (
The number of plants exhibiting bird pollination syndrome and number of bird visits observed are comparable between sites. That is, at a coarse scale we did not find any indication that elevation affects the absolute diversity of bird pollinated plant taxa (as expected by
Evaluating the extent to which plants and their pollinators contribute to maintaining local biodiversity, and identifying keystone species within these systems (
The authors would like to acknowledge Daniela Olivera (Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco) for their assistance in the field, as well as the staff of Wayqecha Biological Station, Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge, and Pantiacolla Lodge. We also acknowledge Jenny Muñoz (University of British Columbia), the Asociación para la Conservación de la Cuenca Amazónica (ACCA), and the Servicio Nacional Forestal y de Fauna Silvestre (SERFOR) for assistance in administering research permits, and Prof. Carlos Reynel and the herbarium staff at Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina for generously providing assistance at all stages of this project. Identification of our Geseneriacae specimens were greatly improved by Dr. John Clark (University of Alabama). Identification of numerous other specimens were assisted by Dr. Quentin Cronk (University of British Columbia). This expedition was supported by grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grants Program, held by Dr. Quentin Cronk (RGPIN-2014-05820) and Dr. Jill Jankowski (RGPIN-2012-418294), as well as a Walter H. Lewis Award in Plant Biodiversity to MMA Boehm and a Werner and Hildegard Hesse Research Award to MN Scholer.