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Nocturnal pollination of Parkia velutina by Megalopta bees in Amazonia and its possible significance in the evolution of chiropterophily.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
  • M. J. G. Hopkins
  • H. C. Fortune Hopkins
  • C. A. Sothers
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>09/2000
<mark>Journal</mark>Journal of Tropical Ecology
Issue number5
Volume16
Number of pages14
Pages (from-to)733-746
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

Canopy observations of the rain forest tree Parkia velutina (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) in Amazonian Brazil indicate that it is pollinated by night-flying bees. The small red flowers are organized into spherical heads; they open in the late afternoon and attract Megalopta bees (Halictidae: Augochlorini) which forage for pollen after dark. In contrast to the numerous bat-pollinated species of Parkia, no nectar was detected. Nocturnal melittophily is proposed as a possible intermediate stage in the evolution of chiropterophily from diurnal entomophily in Parkia.

Bibliographic note

http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=TRO The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Journal of Tropical Ecology, 16 (5), pp 733-746 2000, © 2000 Cambridge University Press.