Avian pollinators and the pollination syndromes of selected Mountain Fynbos plants

Abstract

The flowering phenology of Erica and proteaceous plants and the abundance of nectarivorous birds were monitored in Mountain Fynbos in the Jonkershoek State Forest, South Africa. Species tended to flower for short periods in summer at high altitudes, or for longer periods in autumn and winter at low altitudes. Three avian species apparently tracked the flowers occurring at low altitudes during winter and, when present, at high altitudes during summer. Statistical analyses confirmed that the distribution of Promerops cafer is primarily correlated with the abundance of protea flowers, and that of Nectarinia violacea with Erica flowers. The evolution of an unusually high ratio of putative avian pollinators to ornithophilous plant species in Mountain Fynbos is discussed. Die bloeifenologie van Erica en proteaplante en die talrykheid van nektaretende voëls in bergfynbos in die Jonkershoek Staatsbos is gemonitor. Spesies het geneig om in die somer vir korter periodes in hoogliggende gebiede, of in die herfs en winter vir langer periodes in laagliggende gebiede, te blom. Dit blyk dat drie voëlspesies agter die blomme aan getrek het. Die blomme word in die laer gebiede in die winter aangetref en, wanneer hulle in die somer wél teenwoordig is, kom hulle in die hoër gebiede voor. Statistiese analises het bevestig dat die verspreiding van Promerops cafer primêr met die talrykheid van proteablomme gekorreleer is, en die van Nectarinia violacea met Erica blomme. Die evolusie van ’n ongewoon hoë verhouding tussen bestuiwervoëls en voëlbestuifde plantspesies in bergfynbos word bespreek.