Floral visitors of Aechmea constantinii (Mez) L. B. Sm. (Bromeliaceae) in a remnant of the Brazilian Northeast Atlantic Rainforest

• Published in: Biotemas
• Main Authors: Rios, Petrúcio Alexandre Fonseca, da Silva, Juliana Braga, Moura, Flávia de Barros Prado
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina 2010
• Subjects: Nordeste; Northeast Atlantic
• Online Access: https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/biotemas/article/view/2175-7925.2010v23n4p29; https://doi.org/10.5007/2175-7925.2010v23n4p29

This study aims to determine the fl oral visitors and potential pollinators of Aechmea constantinii (Mez) L. B. Sm. (Bromeliaceae), a bromeliad endemic to the Brazilian Northeast Atlantic Rainforest. Reproductively-active individuals were observed systematically and their visitors were recorded and determined. The main recorded fl oral visitors were Glaucis hirsutus, Phaethornis ruber and Phaethornis pretrei (hummingbirds) which executed frontal functional fl oral visits in which they touched the reproductive parts of the fl owers. Visits of Plebeia fl avocincta, Plebeia sp., Trigona spinipes and Euglossa cordata (bees) and Talides sergestu and Strymon ziba (butterfl ies) were also recorded. In addition, two ants (Hymenoptera, Insecta, Formicidae) were identifi ed in activity on the fl oral scapes and fl owers of the studied bromeliad. The suggestion is made in the study that the A. constantinii is pollinated by hummingbirds since these birds executed direct frontal visits to the fl owers, touching reproductive structures. The identifi cation of pollen on the bodies of bees and butterfl ies, as well as the contact executed by visitors, with the stigma of the visited fl owers, offered an indication that these species may exert an infl uence as secondary pollinators of Aechmea constantinii. Este trabalho teve como objetivo principal a determinação dos visitantes florais e potenciais polinizadores de Aechmea constantinii (Mez) L. B. Sm., uma bromélia endêmica da Mata Atlântica do Nordeste Oriental do Brasil. Indivíduos reprodutivos foram acompanhados e seus visitantes florais foram registrados e determinados. Os principais visitantes florais foram: os beija-flores Glaucis hirsutus, Phaethornis ruber e Phaethornis pretrei, que efetuaram visitas legítimas pela frente das flores tocando suas partes reprodutivas. Além dos beija-flores, também se registrou visitas das abelhas Plebeia flavocincta (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini), Plebeia sp. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), Trigona spinipes (Hymenoptera: Apidae) e Euglossa ...