Using bird-flower interactions to select native tree resources for urban afforestation: the case of Erythrina velutina

《Using bird-flower interactions to select native tree resources for urban afforestation: the case of Erythrina velutina》

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关键字: Dry season;energy and water;opportunistic nectivory;perching-bird pollination;urban forestry

作者单位: Universidade do Oeste Paulista, Rodovia Raposo Tavares, Km 572, Bairro do Limoeiro, CEP 19067-175, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil;Programa de Pós-graduação em Meio Ambiente e Desenvolvimento Regional, Universidade do Oeste Paulista, Rodovia Raposo Tavares, Km 572, Bairro do Limoeiro, CEP 19067-175, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil;Secretaria da Educação do Estado de São Paulo, Diretoria de Ensino da Região de Tupã, Praça da Bandeira, 900, Centro, CEP 17600-380, Tupã, SP, Brazil;Universidade do Oeste Paulista, Rodovia Raposo Tavares, Km 572, Bairro do Limoeiro, CEP 19067-175, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil;Programa de Pós-graduação em Meio Ambiente e Desenvolvimento Regional, Universidade do Oeste Paulista, Rodovia Raposo Tavares, Km 572, Bairro do Limoeiro, CEP 19067-175, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil;Secretaria da Educação do Estado de São Paulo, Diretoria de Ensino da Região de Tupã, Praça da Bandeira, 900, Centro, CEP 17600-380, Tupã, SP, Brazil

摘要: The negative impacts of urbanization on biodiversity can be mitigated via afforestation, particularly if the trees provide food, e.g., flowers and fruits. However, it is necessary to highlight the effectiveness of the tree species in attracting and supporting primary consumers in cities. Addressing animal-tree interactions in urban areas is useful for identifying such efficacy and consistently selecting native tree resources. Here, we investigate the role of the native tree species Erythrina velutina Willd (Fabaceae: Papilionoideae) as an effective additional food source for birds in an urbanized area of Ilha Solteira, a city in northwest São Paulo state, SE Brazil. This is done based on the frequent interactions of the birds with the E. velutina flowers due to their constant search for the diluted but copious nectar at the driest time of the year. Erythrina velutina attracted 17 species of nectivorous and non-nectivorous birds (11.37 visits during each 30-min session, n = 24), some of which were potential pollinators, such as oropendolas and parakeets. Nonparametric estimations indicated that at least five additional bird species might be attracted to the E. velutina flowers. The bird-flower interaction approach conducted here provides a background for selecting E. velutina for urban afforestation. As shown, this species is a native tree resource capable of promoting biodiversity in cities.