Abstract
Niche partitioning is an important mechanism that allows species to coexist. Within mutualistic interaction networks, diel niche partitioning, i.e., partitioning of resources throughout the day, has been neglected. We explored diel niche partitioning of a plant-hummingbird network in the Brazilian Atlantic forest for nine months. To evaluate diel patterns of hummingbird visits and nectar production, we used time-lapse cameras on focal flowers and repeated nectar volume and concentration measures, respectively. Additionally, we measured flower abundance around focal flowers and flower morphological traits. We did not observe diel partitioning for either hummingbirds or plants. Instead, hummingbirds appeared to specialize in different plant species, consistent with trophic niche partitioning, potentially resulting from competition. In contrast, plant species that co-flowered and shared hummingbird visits produced nectar during similar times, consistent with facilitation. Our focus on the fine-scale temporal pattern revealed that plants and hummingbirds appear to have different strategies for promoting co-existence.
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Claims 5
Claim · model-written summary
Plants showed no diel partitioning in the observed network.
- Taxon
- plantsViridiplantaee0
- Interactor
- hummingbirdsTrochilidaee0pollinator
- Outcome
- did not observe diel partitioninge0
- Setting
- Brazilian Atlantic foreste1
Verbatim
e0“We did not observe diel partitioning for either hummingbirds or plants.”
e1“We explored diel niche partitioning of a plant-hummingbird network in the Brazilian Atlantic forest for nine months.”
Claim · model-written summary
Hummingbirds showed no diel partitioning in the observed network.
- Taxon
- hummingbirdsTrochilidaee0
- Interactor
- plantsViridiplantaee0other
- Outcome
- did not observe diel partitioninge0
- Setting
- Brazilian Atlantic foreste1
Verbatim
e0“We did not observe diel partitioning for either hummingbirds or plants.”
e1“We explored diel niche partitioning of a plant-hummingbird network in the Brazilian Atlantic forest for nine months.”
Claim · model-written summary
Hummingbirds appeared to specialize in different plant species, consistent with trophic partitioning potentially arising from competition.
- Taxon
- hummingbirdsTrochilidaee0
- Interactor
- plant speciese0other
- Outcome
- specialize in different plant speciese0
- Qualifier
- consistent with trophic niche partitioning, potentially resulting from competitione0
Verbatim
e0“Instead, hummingbirds appeared to specialize in different plant species, consistent with trophic niche partitioning, potentially resulting from competition.”
Claim · model-written summary
Co-flowering plants sharing hummingbird visits produced nectar at similar times, consistent with facilitation.
Verbatim
e0“In contrast, plant species that co-flowered and shared hummingbird visits produced nectar during similar times, consistent with facilitation.”
Claim · model-written summary
Plants and hummingbirds appeared to use different strategies for coexistence.
- Taxon
- plantsViridiplantaee0
- Interactor
- hummingbirdsTrochilidaee0pollinator
- Outcome
- different strategies for promoting co-existencee0
Verbatim
e0“Our focus on the fine-scale temporal pattern revealed that plants and hummingbirds appear to have different strategies for promoting co-existence.”