Araujoi 2004 (Book) Brazil

As Bromélias Na Região Do Rio Verde

Author(s):—A.C. Araujoi, E. Fischer & M. Sazima in Marques, O.A. & Duleba, W. (eds.), Estação Ecológica Juréia-/tatins. Ambiente Físico, Flora e Fauna. Ribeirão Preto, Holos, Editora.

Publication:— (2004).

Abstract:—Species assemblages, pollination biology, flowering and fruiting phenology, dispersal mode, and association with flower-eating crabs were studied in four types of habitats: Riparian Forest (RF), Dense Forest (DF), Restinga Scrub (RE), and Rocky Shore (RS). The studied bromeliad flora is among the richest in the region, including 27 species. The most diversified genera are Vriesea andAechmea, followed by Tillandsia, Nidularium and Quesnelia. The highest number of bromeliad individuaIs was recorded in the RF habitat followed, in decreasing order, by RE, RS and DF. Most species are pollinated by hummingbirds, but two are bat-pollinated and one is pollinated by bumblebees. The hermit hummingbird Ramphodon naevius pollinates 14 bromeliad species throughout the year, and it is considered a keystone pollinating species. Bird-dispersedbromeliads occupy exposed micrositesat higher elevations in the canopy in RF and DF than their relatives dispersed by mammals. Terrestrial species exhibit similar combinations of light requirements and seed . vectors, and occur only in open sites in RE and RS. The bromeliad species dispersed by similar vectors in same habitats fruit sequentially along the year. Wind-dispersed species occur in either shade or light conditions; the entire group releases seeds during the dry season. The kind of seed vector seems to be related to spatial distribution of Bromeliaceae species at the Rio Verde estuary. The crab Annases rubripes lives in bromeliad tanks and feeds on the bromeliad flower parts. This crab is apparently non-selective since its frequency on the inflorescences vary according to the density of flowers per bromeliad species.