Kaehler et al. 2005 (Article) Bromeliaceae [Portugese]

Pollination of a bromeliad community in the high montane Atlantic rain forest in Paraná state, Brazil

Author(s):—M. Kaehler, I.G. Varassin & R. Goldenberg

Publication:—Revista Brasil. Bot. 28(2): 219-228. (2005)

Portugese title:—Polinização em uma comunidade de bromélias em Floresta Atlântica Alto-montana no Estado do Paraná, Brasil

Abstract:—The main goals of this research were to characterize the pollinators of a bromeliad community in the Atlantic rain forest, as well as to understand the relationships between bromeliad flower morphology and its pollinators. The study was carried out at the “Pico do Marumbi” State Park on eight bromeliad species. The most of bromeliad species showed aggregate flowering between November and May. Five bromeliad species from the genera Nidularium Lem., Vriesea Lindl., and Wittrockia Lindm. were pollinated by hummingbirds, two Vriesea species were pollinated by bats and one Aechmea Ruiz & Pav. species by bees. Twelve species of pollinators were registered: eight hummingbirds, three bats and one bee. The high representativity of the hummingbird Phaethornis eurynome on bromeliad pollination suggests that it is a “key-species”. It is evident that the corolla size, the time of anthesis and the presence of odor and nectar are clearly related to the animal group that act as a pollinator, determining distinct guilds among bromeliad species.

Keywords:—Bromeliaceae, high montane Atlantic rainforest, Phaethornis eurynome, pollination