Association between nectar robbing and floral characteristics in a montane community of the Colombian Andes

Abstract

Rojas-Nossa, S.V. (2013). Association between nectar robbing and floral characteristics in a montane community of the Colombian Andes. Ecosistemas 22(2):107-112. Doi.: 10.7818/ECOS.2013.22-2.16

Nectar robbers are animals which use a perforation on the corolla in order to extract nectar from flowers. This behavior may generate changes of different directions and magnitudes on the diverse and complex pollination networks. However, the consequences of nectar robbing on the functioning of neotropical species and communities are practically unknown. Passeriform birds that behave as nectar robbers in ecosystems of northern Andes in Colombia were identified. Levels of nectar robbing in 38 plant species and their floral characteristics associated to floral visitors were characterized. Six bird species behave as nectar robbers in 60 % of the plants. Five plant species with flowers of long tubular corollas and abundant flowers presented robbing percentages higher than 20 %. These preferences patterns can be associated with higher energy rewards produced by long flowers and a higher foraging efficiency when visiting abundant flowers. Besides preliminary, the results suggest a complex scenario where these birds could be potentially important for the evolution of pollination systems in the Neotropics.