Sap-feeding behavior and tree selection in the endangered akiapolaau (Hemignathus Munroi) in Hawaii

Author:

Pejchar, Liba, Jeffrey, Jack

Title:

Sap-feeding behavior and tree selection in the endangered akiapolaau (Hemignathus Munroi) in Hawaii

Periodical:

Auk

Year:

2004

Volume:

121

Pages:

548-556

Subject:

Akiapolaau Hemignathus munroi Hawaiian honeycreepers Metrosideros polymorpha Animal nutrition Endangered species

Summary:

The Hawaiian Honeycreepers (Drepanidinae) are an example adaptive radiation and convergent evolution. Several original colonizers of the Hawaiian Archipelago gave rise to more than 50 species by evolving a remarkable behavioral and morphological diversity that enables them to exploit unique food resources. An example of this, is the Akiapolaau (Hemignathus munroi), an endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper, that drills 3-5 mm deep holes in ohia trees (Metrosideros polymorpha) and drinks the sap that emerges. While this is a remarkable example of a merging evolution in sap-feeding behavior with mainland woodpeckers and Australian sugar-gliders, little research has been done on how this species selects sap trees Ohia ("Aki trees") and what advantages they confer. As a result, this describes sap-feeding behavior and in an effort to determine how and why the Akiapolaau choose particular ohia trees as it was felt that this would not only contribute toward the understanding the ecology and evolution of this unique dietary niche, but would also have a conservation relevance. During this study, the locations, collected sap samples, and microhabitat data, were taken from 101 Aki trees and 73 randomly selected control trees in Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, Hawaii.

Label:

Birds - Akiapolaau

URL:

http://cletus.uhh.hawaii.edu:2074/10.1642/0004-8038(2004)121%5B0548:SBATSI%5D2.0.CO;2

Date:

2004

Collection:

Periodicals