Do nectar feeders in Andean nature reserves affect flower visitation by hummingbirds

摘要: Abstract The interactions among plants and pollinators are crucial for plant reproduction because they structure gene flow individual populations of plants. Throughout the Neotropics there has been a strong increase in recent years use artificial nectar feeders private nature reserves to encourage ecotourism through prolonged observations hummingbirds. Currently, is considerable uncertainty whether have detrimental effect on competition or beneficial facilitation. This disconcerting given that harbour many rare endangered whose successful conservation goal. To assess affected hummingbird visitation flowering plants, we determined rates ten species five Andean Ecuador. We found tended be higher within 5 m around than were at 100 m, 500 m, 1.5 km distance feeders, therefore indicating facilitate flower close distance. Because 100 m 500 m from did not differ those 1.5 km, suggest do draw hummingbirds away resources, but if an all, tend rather reduce reproduction.