SEASONAL CHANGES IN THE POLLEN SAMPLED FROM NECTARIVOROUS BIRDS VISITING AN OPEN FOREST AT MENAI, NEW SOUTH WALES
| Posted: |
04/08/2021 |
| Author(s): |
K. H. Egan |
Pollen was sampled from the foreheads of 1 046 individuals of seven honeyeater species which
were captured in mist nets in an open woodland near Sydney. Four species of honeyeaters were winter
visitors and were present in the site during the period of peak flowering. Pollen of
Banksia spp.
dominated the sample reflecting the relative abundance of Banksia spp. in the study site. The contribution
of different flowering plants to the diet of some species of honeyeater varied throughout the year as
expected. This variation resulted from both the seasonal pattern of flowering and the presence or
absence of the honeyeater species when different plants were in flower. There is some evidence that
both interspecific competition between honeyeater species and the degree of morphological compatibility
between flower and bird head shape contributes to the variation in diet.
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