How to translate text using browser tools
19 September 2018 Comparison of Visitors and Pollinators of Mucuna macrocarpa between Urban and Forest Environments
Shun Kobayashi, Tetsuo Denda, Chi-Cheng Liao, Yu-Hsiu Lin, Wei-Ting Liu, Masako Izawa
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Mammal-plant interactions differ significantly between urban and natural environments; however, knowledge of mammal-pollinated plants in urban areas remains limited compared to plants in their natural habitats. Here, we compared the flower visitors of Mucuna macrocarpa between urban and forested areas in Okinawa-jima Island, Japan and in Taiwan. Mucuna macrocarpa requires a highly specialized pollination process. Our study showed that Ryukyu flying foxes (Pteropus dasymallus) were the pollinator of M. macrocarpa in both the urban and forested areas of Okinawa-jima Island, whereas, in Taiwan, red-bellied squirrels (Callosciurus erythraeus) were the main pollinator species. Both pollinator species visited inflorescences in urban areas at the same or higher frequency as in forested areas. In contrast, non-pollinating animals engaged in nectar-robbing or picking-off behaviors when visiting Mucuna flowers in forested areas only. These results suggest that M. macrocarpa successfully attracts local pollinators, even in urban environments that have relatively low biodiversity. The negative effect of animal guilds on the success of M. macrocarpa pollination is significantly lower in urban compared to forested areas. However, the fragmentation caused by urbanization might reduce the opportunity for cross-pollination.

© The Mammal Society of Japan
Shun Kobayashi, Tetsuo Denda, Chi-Cheng Liao, Yu-Hsiu Lin, Wei-Ting Liu, and Masako Izawa "Comparison of Visitors and Pollinators of Mucuna macrocarpa between Urban and Forest Environments," Mammal Study 43(4), 219-228, (19 September 2018). https://doi.org/10.3106/ms2018-0029
Received: 19 April 2018; Accepted: 14 July 2018; Published: 19 September 2018
KEYWORDS
explosive opening
mammal
Mucuna macrocarpa
pollination
urban
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top