Effectiveness of bats as pollinators of Stenocereus stellatus (Cactaceae) in wild, managed in situ, and cultivated populations in La Mixteca Baja, central Mexico


Por: Arias-Cóyotl E., Stoner K.E., Casas A.

Publicada: 1 ene 2006
Resumen:
Stenocereus stellatus is an endemic, self-incompatible, columnar cactus found in central Mexico where many of its wild populations have been fragmented. As an economically important species of fruit-producing cactus, S. stellatus occurs in wild, managed in situ, and cultivated populations. The objectives of this study were to determine the effective pollinators of S. stellatus, to compare pollinator visits and reproductive parameters among the three types of populations, and to determine if nectar feeding-bats are moving among populations. Effective pollinators were the nectarivorous bats Choeronycteris mexicana, Leptonycteris curasoae, and L. nivalis. Fewer total visits per flower per night and fewer visits by Choeronycteris were observed in cultivated populations, while the opposite pattern was observed for Leptonycteris. One aggressive interaction was filmed in which Choeronycteris was physically displaced by Leptonycteris, and Choeronycteris visits were significantly affected by Leptonycteris visits. Cultivated populations received more pollen grains and had more fruit set. Variation in pollinator visits between different populations and the consequent effects on reproductive success were likely a result of competition between bat species, and differences in foraging and in sensitivity of bat species to human populations. Three marked L. curasoae traveled 15 km from their roosting site to their foraging area, and one visited cultivated and managed populations, suggesting that this species may be particularly important in moving pollen among populations.

Filiaciones:
Arias-Cóyotl E.:
 Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, A. P. 27-3 (S. M. de Guido), Morelia, Michoacán 58089, Mexico

Stoner K.E.:
 Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, A. P. 27-3 (S. M. de Guido), Morelia, Michoacán 58089, Mexico

Casas A.:
 Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, A. P. 27-3 (S. M. de Guido), Morelia, Michoacán 58089, Mexico
ISSN: 00029122
Editorial
BOTANICAL SOC AMER INC, PO BOX 299, ST LOUIS, MO 63166-0299 USA, Estados Unidos America
Tipo de documento: Article
Volumen: 93 Número: 11
Páginas: 1675-1683
WOS Id: 000242288400012
ID de PubMed: 21642113

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