ibclogo XVI International Botanical Congess


Abstract Number: 3122
Poster No. = 319


MUTUALISTS OUT OF SYNCHRONY: AGAVE PALMERI FLOWERING AND NECTAR BAT VISITS


Peter E. Scott, Dept. Life Sciences, Indiana State Univ., Terre Haute, IN 47809.


Of agave species in the southwestern U.S., A. palmeri overlaps most with migratory nectar bats. However, records indicate that nectar bats miss the early part of the flowering period. I studied flowering, bat visits, and nectar levels. During the first 6 weeks of flowering no bat visits were seen in the Peloncillos Mountains and few in the Chiricahua Mountains. Large dawn nectar levels indicated little nocturnal consumption. From August 25 to September 12, lesser long-nosed and hog-nosed bats visited regularly. Although A. palmeri and the bats are mutualists, the relationships are not obligate. Migration of long-nosed bats is not timed to coincide with the entire flowering period of A. palmeri, but rather with its latter portion. Hog-nosed bats arrive earlier, but do not reach sufficient densities to pollinate effectively.


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