Pollinators in high-elevation ecosystems: relative effectiveness of birds and bees

Author:

Cruden, Robert W.

Title:

Pollinators in high-elevation ecosystems: relative effectiveness of birds and bees

Periodical:

Science

Year:

1972

Volume:

176

Pages:

1439-1440

Subject:

Pollination Birds Bees Mexico

Summary:

During the rainy season, bird-flowered plants at higher elevations are more effectively pollinated than closely related bee-flowered plants and with good flight conditions the effectiveness of birds and bees is essentially equal. Thus, the higher incidence of bird flowers at higher elevations is partly attributable to the competitive advantage that is gained through greater reproductive success. Three questions are addressed in this report as follows: "Why is the frequency of bird-flowered plants greater at higher elevations?", "Are birds more efficient pollinators than bees or vice-versa?", "Is it possible for a conceptual model to be constructed that would predict the relative abundance of bird-flowered plants in certain habitats?"

Label:

Botany

Date:

1972

Collection:

Periodicals