Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T05:17:22.210Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Insular interactions between lizards and flowers: flower visitation by an endemic Mauritian gecko

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 November 2001

DORTE FRIIS NYHAGEN
Affiliation:
Department of Ecology & Genetics, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade Block 540, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark Email: [email protected]
CAROLINE KRAGELUND
Affiliation:
Department of Ecology & Genetics, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade Block 540, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
JENS. M. OLESEN
Affiliation:
Department of Ecology & Genetics, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade Block 540, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
CARL G. JONES
Affiliation:
Forestry Quarters, Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, Black River, Mauritius

Extract

Lizards mainly eat arthropods, fruit, nectar, pollen and animal scats (Pérez-Mellado & Casas 1997, Whitaker 1987), using their sense of smell and good colour vision while foraging (Vinson & Vinson 1969). Although several papers have contributed to the knowledge on the relationship between lizards and floral resources, this topic is often still regarded as anecdotal. However, a few detailed ecological studies on lizard and flower interactions have been conducted, e.g. in New Zealand and the Balearic Isles (Eifler 1995, Sáez & Traveset 1995, Traveset & Sáez 1997,Whitaker 1987). Pollination by lizards was rendered likely by the following findings: first, Mediterranean lacertid lizards and New Zealand geckos have pollen adhering to their belly, throat and labium; second, they may carry pollen for several hours, and thus also transport pollen some distance away from a pollen donor plant. New Zealand geckos carry pollen up to 72 m away from donors. Good experimental evidence of lizard pollination was produced by Pérez-Mellado & Casas (1997). They showed that an umbellifer species produced less viable seeds if Podarcis lilfordi lizards were excluded from flowers.

Type
SHORT COMMUNICATION
Copyright
© 2001 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)