The evolution, ecology, and conservation of hummingbirds and their interactions with flowering plants
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Leimberger, Kara G
Dalsgaard, Bo
Tobias, Joseph A
Wolf, Christopher
Betts, Matthew G
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The ecological co-dependency between plants and hummingbirds is a classic example of a mutualistic interaction: hummingbirds rely on floral nectar to fuel their rapid metabolisms, and more than 7000 plant species rely on hummingbirds for pollination. However, threats to hummingbirds are mounting, with 10% of 366 species considered globally threatened and 60% in decline. Despite the important ecological implications of these population declines, no recent review has examined plant–hummingbird interactions in the wider context of their evolution, ecology, and conservation. To provide this overview, we (i) assess the extent to which plants and hummingbirds have coevolved over millions of years, (ii) examine the mechanisms underlying plant–hummingbird interaction frequencies and hummingbird specialization, (iii) explore the factors driving the decline of hummingbird populations, and (iv) map out directions for future research and conservation. We find that, despite close associations between plants and hummingbirds, acquiring evidence for coevolution (versus one-sided adaptation) is difficult because data on fitness outcomes for both partners are required. Thus, linking plant–hummingbird interactions to plant reproduction is not only a major avenue for future coevolutionary work, but also for studies of interaction networks, which rarely incorporate pollinator effectiveness. Nevertheless, over the past decade, a growing body of literature on plant–hummingbird networks suggests that hummingbirds form relationships with plants primarily based on overlapping phenologies and trait-matching between bill length and flower length. On the other hand, species-level specialization appears to depend primarily on local community context, such as hummingbird abundance and nectar availability. Finally, although hummingbirds are commonly viewed as resilient opportunists that thrive in brushy habitats, we find that range size and forest dependency are key predictors of hummingbird extinction risk. A critical direction for future research is to examine how potential stressors – such as habitat loss and fragmentation, climate change, and introduction of non-native plants – may interact to affect hummingbirds and the plants they pollinate.
Date Issued
2022-01-13
Date Acceptance
2021-12-08
Citation
Biological Reviews, 2022, 97 (3)
ISSN
1464-7931
Publisher
Wiley
Journal / Book Title
Biological Reviews
Volume
97
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
© 2022 Cambridge Philosophical Society. This is the accepted version of the following article: Leimberger, K.G., Dalsgaard, B., Tobias, J.A., Wolf, C. and Betts, M.G. (2022), The evolution, ecology, and conservation of hummingbirds and their interactions with flowering plants. Biol Rev, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.12828
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000742218600001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Biology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine - Other Topics
coevolution
interaction networks
mutualism
pollination ecology
pollen dispersal
specialization
species interactions
Trochilidae
NECTAR-FEEDING BIRDS
POLLINATOR-MEDIATED SELECTION
ANIMAL MUTUALISTIC NETWORKS
PURPLE-THROATED CARIBS
CLIMATE-CHANGE
TROPICAL HUMMINGBIRD
POLLEN DISPERSAL
EXTINCTION RISK
FOREST FRAGMENTATION
SEXUAL-DIMORPHISM
Publication Status
Published online
Date Publish Online
2022-01-13