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Hewes AE, Cuban D, Groom DJE, Sargent AJ, Beltrán DF, Rico-Guevara A. Variable evidence for convergence in morphology and function across avian nectarivores. J Morphol 2022; 283:1483-1504. [PMID: 36062802 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Nectar-feeding birds provide an excellent system in which to examine form-function relationships over evolutionary time. There are many independent origins of nectarivory in birds, and nectar feeding is a lifestyle with many inherent biophysical constraints. We review the morphology and function of the feeding apparatus, the locomotor apparatus, and the digestive and renal systems across avian nectarivores with the goals of synthesizing available information and identifying the extent to which different aspects of anatomy have morphologically and functionally converged. In doing so, we have systematically tabulated the occurrence of putative adaptations to nectarivory across birds and created what is, to our knowledge, the first comprehensive summary of adaptations to nectarivory across body systems and taxa. We also provide the first phylogenetically informed estimate of the number of times nectarivory has evolved within Aves. Based on this synthesis of existing knowledge, we identify current knowledge gaps and provide suggestions for future research questions and methods of data collection that will increase our understanding of the distribution of adaptations across bodily systems and taxa, and the relationship between those adaptations and ecological and evolutionary factors. We hope that this synthesis will serve as a landmark for the current state of the field, prompting investigators to begin collecting new data and addressing questions that have heretofore been impossible to answer about the ecology, evolution, and functional morphology of avian nectarivory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda E Hewes
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - David Cuban
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Derrick J E Groom
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Alyssa J Sargent
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Diego F Beltrán
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Alejandro Rico-Guevara
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Claudino RM, Antonini Y, Martins C, Beirão MV, Braga EM, Azevedo CS. Is bigger always better? Neither body size nor aggressive behavior predicts specialization of hummingbirds in a rocky outcrop. J Zool (1987) 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- R. M. Claudino
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ecologia Conservação e Manejo de Vida Silvestre Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte Brazil
| | - Y. Antonini
- Departamento de Biodiversidade Evolução e Meio Ambiente Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto Ouro Preto Brazil
| | - C. Martins
- Departamento de Biodiversidade Evolução e Meio Ambiente Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto Ouro Preto Brazil
| | - M. V. Beirão
- Departamento de Biodiversidade Evolução e Meio Ambiente Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto Ouro Preto Brazil
| | - E. M. Braga
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ecologia Conservação e Manejo de Vida Silvestre Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte Brazil
| | - C. S. Azevedo
- Departamento de Biodiversidade Evolução e Meio Ambiente Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto Ouro Preto Brazil
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Leimberger KG, Dalsgaard B, Tobias JA, Wolf C, Betts MG. The evolution, ecology, and conservation of hummingbirds and their interactions with flowering plants. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2022; 97:923-959. [PMID: 35029017 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara G Leimberger
- Forest Biodiversity Research Network, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, 3100 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR, 97331, U.S.A
| | - Bo Dalsgaard
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Copenhagen Ø, 2100, Denmark
| | - Joseph A Tobias
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7PY, U.K
| | - Christopher Wolf
- Forest Biodiversity Research Network, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, 3100 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR, 97331, U.S.A
| | - Matthew G Betts
- Forest Biodiversity Research Network, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, 3100 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR, 97331, U.S.A
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Zusi RL. Introduction to the Skeleton of Hummingbirds (Aves: Apodiformes, Trochilidae) in Functional and Phylogenetic Contexts. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.1525/om.2013.77.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Berns CM, Adams DC. Becoming Different But Staying Alike: Patterns of Sexual Size and Shape Dimorphism in Bills of Hummingbirds. Evol Biol 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s11692-012-9206-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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MELVILLE JANE, SWAIN ROY. Evolutionary relationships between morphology, performance and habitat openness in the lizard genus Niveoscincus (Scincidae: Lygosominae). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2008. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2000.tb00222.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Kearns CA, Inouye DW, Waser NM. ENDANGERED MUTUALISMS: The Conservation of Plant-Pollinator Interactions. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1998. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.29.1.83] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1118] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carol A. Kearns
- EPO Biology, Environmental Residential Academic Program, C.B.176, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742
- Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside California 92521
- Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, P.O. Box 519, Crested Butte Colorado 81224; e-mail:
| | - David W. Inouye
- EPO Biology, Environmental Residential Academic Program, C.B.176, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742
- Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside California 92521
- Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, P.O. Box 519, Crested Butte Colorado 81224; e-mail:
| | - Nickolas M. Waser
- EPO Biology, Environmental Residential Academic Program, C.B.176, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742
- Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside California 92521
- Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, P.O. Box 519, Crested Butte Colorado 81224; e-mail:
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DAY DENISEA, COLLINS BRIANG, REES ROSEMARIEG. Reproductive biology of the rare and endangered Banksia brownii Baxter ex R. Br. (Proteaceae). AUSTRAL ECOL 1997. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-9993.1997.tb00676.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Brown ED, Hopkins MJG. A test of pollinator specificity and morphological convergence between nectarivorous birds and rainforest tree flowers in New Guinea. Oecologia 1995; 103:89-100. [DOI: 10.1007/bf00328429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/1994] [Accepted: 02/07/1995] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Martínez del Rio C, Baker HG, Baker I. Ecological and evolutionary implications of digestive processes: Bird preferences and the sugar constituents of floral nectar and fruit pulp. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1992. [DOI: 10.1007/bf01920237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Mitchell RJ, Paton DC. Effects of nectar volume and concentration on sugar intake rates of Australian honeyeaters (Meliphagidae). Oecologia 1990; 83:238-46. [DOI: 10.1007/bf00317758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/1989] [Accepted: 12/23/1989] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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PATON DC, COLLINS BG. Bills and tongues of nectar-feeding birds: A review of morphology, function and performance, with intercontinental comparisons. AUSTRAL ECOL 1989. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-9993.1989.tb01457.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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