Vertebrate florivory of vascular epiphytes: the case of a bromeliad

Abstract

The avoidance of vertebrate herbivory is thought to be one of the possible drivers for the evolution of epiphytism. Scarce literature suggests that epiphyte herbivory is mainly related to insect attack on reproductive structures. In a pine-oak forest we observed almost all inflorescences of an epiphytic bromeliad (Tillandsia carlos-hankii) with signs of florivory; the degree of damage suggested that vertebrate herbivores could be involved. To assess the intensity of vertebrate florivory damage we recorded the percentage of damaged individuals in a 500 m2 plots during two flowering seasons. To identify possible vertebrate herbivores, we installed 20 mixed capture stations, 10 photo-traps focused on bromeliads and analyzed stomach contents of captured vertebrates. Florivory was observed on 62% of individuals during the first flowering season and 77% on the second; and average one individual lost 41% of reproductive structures. Vertebrates associated with florivory were a bird, Icterus bullockii (Aves, Passeriformes, Icteridae), a squirrel Sciurus aureogaster (Mammalia, Rodentia, Sciuridae), and mice, Peromyscus gratus, P. levipes and P. aztecus (Mammalia, Rodentia, Cricetidae). Our results suggest that vascular epiphytes are used as opportunistic resources for small vertebrates during seasons when preferred resources are scarce.

Long‐term community dynamics in vascular epiphytes on Annona glabra along the shoreline of Barro Colorado Island, Panama

“…Similarly, the well‐documented importance of herbivore and pathogen pressure on the community structure of trees (e.g. Bagchi et al., 2014; Janzen, 1970) seems to have no equivalent in epiphytes, although here again more data are needed (but see Palacios‐Mosquera et al., 2019; Winkler et al., 2005; Zotz et al., 2005). Yet, some aspects of the biology of epiphytes show surprising resemblance to their long‐lived hosts, more than to terrestrial herbs.…”

Vascular Epiphytes: The Ugly Duckling of Phenological Studies

“…Among epiphytes, herbivory is of low occurrence when compared to terrestrial plants (Benzing, 1990;Zotz, 2016) which could indicate that it does not have an important effect on their phenology. However, we need studies to confirm this idea, since there are reports of herbivore damage on reproductive structures of different orchid and bromeliad species, affecting flowers, peduncles, spigots, bracts, and fruits (Ackerman, 1989;Cascante-Marín et al, 2009;Orozco-Ibarrola et al, 2015;Palacios-Mosquera et al, 2019). This indicates that herbivores can have a direct effect on the loss of epiphyte reproductive tissue and an indirect effect on the behavior of pollinators (Canela and Sazima, 2003;McCall and Irwin, 2006;Cascante-Marín et al, 2009).…”

Reproductive biology and flower-visitor interactions of two bromeliad species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

“…Benzing et al 2000;Kaehler et al 2005;Carranza-Quiceno & Estévez-Varón 2008;Scrok & Varassin 2011;Schmid et al 2011;Christianini et al 2012;Hornung-Leoni et al 2013;Rocca & Sazima 2013;Aguilar-Rodríguez et al 2014aMarques et al 2015;Velásquez-Noriega et al 2020;Milet-Pinheiro et al 2021), research addressing the role of floral visitors in non-mutualistic relations with bromeliads is still scarce. Florivory has been reported for few species of Bromeliaceae (Canela & Sazima 2003b;Grohme et al 2007;Cascante-Marín et al 2009;Aguilar-Rodríguez et al 2014b;Saldarriaga 2014;Palacios-Mosquera et al 2019;Freitas et al 2020), as well as examples of nectar robbing (González-Gómez & Valdivia 2005;Fumero-Cabán & Meléndez-Ackerman 2007.…”