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Morphological and behavioural adaptations to feed on nectar: how feeding ecology determines the diversity and composition of hummingbird assemblages

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Abstract

Hummingbirds are the most specialised nectarivorous birds and show close ecological relationships to their food plants. Their small body size, bright colors, and unique behaviour have fascinated generations of naturalists. In this review, we investigate the morphological and behavioural adaptations of hummingbirds to feed on nectar and arthropods, and explore their diffuse co-evolution with their food plant species. Further, a list of plant genera including species mainly pollinated by hummingbirds is presented. Summarising the existing knowledge on hummingbird feeding ecology, we find that much of the variability in morphology and behaviour of hummingbirds is determined by their unique feeding mode and the constraints set by their food plants. Based on the existing literature, we developed a hierarchical system explaining how different environmental factors have shaped the current richness of hummingbirds, and their morphological and behavioural diversity. We propose that climatic stability within and between seasons and days determines the constancy of food availability, which in turn is the most important factor for species richness in hummingbird assemblages. However, the assemblage composition of hummingbirds is also influenced by phylogenetic factors, especially under harsh environmental conditions. Unsurprisingly, the highest morphological and behavioural diversity is observed in the most species-rich assemblages. This diversity may have at least partly evolved to reduce inter- and intraspecific competition. Independently of which morphological character we consider, the 360 different hummingbird species have evolved a large morphological variability to adapt to their individual feeding niches.

Zusammenfassung

Morphologische und Verhaltensanpassungen um Nektar zu fressen: Wie die Nahrungsökologie den Artenreichtum und die Zusammensetzung von Kolibrigemeinschaften bestimmt

Kolibris sind die am höchsten spezialisierten, Nektar fressenden Vögel und zeigen enge ökologische Anpassungen an ihre Futterpflanzen. Ihre geringe Körpergröße, ihre leuchtenden Farben und ihr einzigartiges Verhalten haben Generationen von Naturliebhabern fasziniert. In dieser Literaturübersicht untersuchen wir die morphologischen und Verhaltensanpassungen von Kolibris, um sich von Nektar und Arthropoden zu ernähren und erkunden die diffuse Koevolution mit ihren Futterpflanzen. Außerdem präsentieren wir eine Liste von Pflanzengattungen, in denen Arten vorkommen, die hauptsächlich kolibribestäubt sind. Indem wir das vorhandene Wissen über die Nahrungsökologie von Kolibris zusammengefassten, zeigen wir, dass die Variabilität in der Morphologie und dem Verhalten von Kolibris größtenteils durch ihre einzigartige Art der Nahrungsaufnahme und den Beschränkungen verursacht werden, die ihre Futterpflanzen vorgeben. Basierend auf der vorhandenen Literatur haben wir ein hierarchisches System entwickelt, das erklärt, wie unterschiedliche Umweltfaktoren den aktuellen Artenreichtum sowie die morphologische und Verhaltensvielfalt von Kolibris geformt haben. Wir postulieren, dass klimatische Stabilität innerhalb und zwischen Jahreszeiten und Tagen die kontinuierliche Verfügbarkeit von Nahrung bestimmt, was wiederum den wichtigsten Faktor für den Artenreichtum einer Kolibrigemeinschaft darstellt. Allerdings ist die Zusammensetzung von Kolibrigemeinschaften ebenfalls von phylogenetischen Faktoren abhängig, besonders unter harschen Umweltbedingungen. Wenig überraschend ist, dass die größte Vielfalt von morphologischer und Verhaltensvielfalt in den artenreichsten Kolibrigemeinschaften zu finden ist. Diese Diversität entstand vermutlich zumindest teilweise, um inter- und intraspezifische Konkurrenz zu vermeiden. Unabhängig davon welche morphologische Eigenschaft wir berücksichtigen, haben die etwa 360 bekannten Kolibriarten eine enorme morphologische Vielfalt entwickelt, um sich an ihre ökologischen Nischen anzupassen.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Elena Benetti and Martin Spinnler for their help during literature collection, Andreas Fleischmann, Andreas Gröger and Urs Eggli for their comments on our list of genera containing hummingbird-pollinated species, Eliane Furrer for her support, and Gary F. Stiles and the other anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nees Institute for Plant Biodiversity, University of Bonn, Meckenheimer Allee 170, 53115, Bonn, Germany

    Stefan Abrahamczyk

  2. Institute for Systematic Botany, University of Zurich, Zollikerstr. 107, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland

    Stefan Abrahamczyk & Michael Kessler

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  1. Stefan Abrahamczyk
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  2. Michael Kessler
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Correspondence to Stefan Abrahamczyk.

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Communicated by C. G. Guglielmo.

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Abrahamczyk, S., Kessler, M. Morphological and behavioural adaptations to feed on nectar: how feeding ecology determines the diversity and composition of hummingbird assemblages. J Ornithol 156, 333–347 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-014-1146-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-014-1146-5

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