First record of non‐flying mammalian contributors to pollination in a tropical montane forest in Asia |
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| Authors: | Shun Kobayashi Somsak Panha Teerapong Seesamut Nattawadee Nantarat Natdanai Likhitrakarn Tetsuo Denda Masako Izawa |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara Japan ; 2. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok Thailand ; 3. Academy of Science, The Royal Society of Thailand, Bangkok Thailand ; 4. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai Thailand ; 5. Faculty of Agricultural Production, Maejo University, Chiang Mai Thailand ;6.Present address: Kitakyushu Museum of Natural History and Human History, Kitakyushu Japan |
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| Abstract: | This study aims to identify the flower visitors of Mucuna thailandica (Fabaceae), endemic plant species in montane forests in Thailand, to determine their potential pollinators. The genus Mucuna produces papilionaceous flowers and has an explosive flower‐opening step. Explosive opening rapidly exposes stamens and pistil from keel petals and releases pollen. The flower of this species depends completely on animals to perform this step, essential for pollination success. Using a camera trap survey, we revealed that non‐flying mammals, such as squirrels (Callosciurus sp.) and masked palm civets (Paguma larvata), opened flowers explosively. Thus, these mammals contribute to the pollination of M. thailandica. This is the first report of non‐flying mammals contributing to pollination in montane forests in tropical Asia. |
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| Keywords: | montane forest, Mucuna thailandica, non‐ flying mammal, pollination, tropical Asia |
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