Free amino acids in nectar: its composition and variability among bat-pollinated plants

Autores/as

  • Nelly Rodríguez-Peña FES Iztacala, UNAM http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3273-5189
  • Kathryn E. Stoner Colorado State University Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology,
  • Jorge E. Schondube Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Functional Ecology Laboratory, IIES Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
  • Angel Durán-Díaz Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Department of Biostatistics, Biology, FES Iztacala
  • Luis Barbo Hernández-Portilla Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México National Health Laboratory, FES Iztacala
  • César Mateo Flores-Ortiz Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5837-799X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22201/ib.20078706e.2021.92.3560

Palabras clave:

Bat-pollinated plants, Free amino acid nectar types, Nectar chemistry, Nectar flavor, Pollination ecology

Resumen

Regardless of the low concentrations at which amino acids are present in floral nectar of bat-pollinated plants, their role as nectar flavor providers and their influence on bats’ foraging decisions have been recognized. Nevertheless, variation in the free amino acids among bat-pollinated plant species has been less studied. The goal of this study
was to analyze the nectar free amino acids and to determine its variability among 8 bat-pollinated plant species from 5 families in a Tropical Dry Forest in Mexico. Nectar collections were made opportunistically depending on plants flowering season. We quantified 17 amino acids by HPLC. All 17 free amino acids were present in nectar from the 8 analyzed plant species. The concentration of 12 amino acids is explained by plant species by 19-58%. Analyses showed that Ceiba grandiflora (Malvaceae) was significantly different in asparagine content when compared to Bahuinia pauletia (Fabaceae) and Ceiba aesculifolia (Malvaceae), and in glutamic acid when compared to Ipomoea ampullacea (Convolvulaceae). We discuss the importance of free amino acids in nectar among plant species and their influence on bat pollination ecology.

Biografía del autor/a

Nelly Rodríguez-Peña, FES Iztacala, UNAM

Dra. en Ciencias Biológicas

Laboratorio de Fisiología Vegetal

Fes Iztacala, UBIPRO, UNAM

Citas

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2021-06-08

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ECOLOGÍA