Concentration-Dependent Sugar Preferences of the Malachite Sunbird (Nectarinia famosa)

The Auk

Steven D. Johnson¹  Mark Brown¹  Colleen T. Downs¹ 

关键词: bird pollination;    choice experiment;    floral reward;    Malachite Sunbird;    nectar;    Nectarinia famosa;    nectarivore;    pollination;    sugar composition;   

DOI  :  10.1525/auk.2009.09054

学科分类：动物科学

来源: Central Ornithology Publication Office

【 摘 要 】

Sugar-type preferences of nectarivores may be an important selective factor in the evolution of sugar composition in floral nectar. We investigated sugar preferences of the Malachite Sunbird (Nectarinia famosa), using experiments in which birds were offered paired choices between energetically equivalent solutions over a range of sugar concentrations. The birds preferred hexose at low (5%) concentration and sucrose at high (25%) concentration; they showed no preference at 10%, 15%, and 20% concentrations. The birds regulated energy intake by adjusting volumetric consumption, except on a 5% concentration diet, where they failed to maintain energy balance. They also exhibited a strong preference for concentrated solutions, given a choice between 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% sucrose solutions. We discuss the significance of these results in terms of the nectar composition of sunbird-pollinated plants.

【 授权许可】

Unknown