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Interactions between Hummingbirds and Butterflies at a Hamelia patens Bush

1986; Wiley; Volume: 18; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/2388759

1744-7429

Chris D. Thomas, P. M. Lackie, M. J. Brisco, David Hepper,

Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies

A semiterritorial hummingbird, Eupherusa eximia, guarded a Hamelia patens bush against butterflies in poor weather. During good weather, when butterflies were abundant and active, E. eximia abandoned the bush. The net energy balance of chasing away the relatively few butterflies in poor weather was positive, but the balance would have been negative had E. eximia tried to exclude all butterflies during good weather. The outcome of competition between hummingbirds and butterflies may depend on the size of the resource being defended; the availability of alternative food resources; the size, number, and activity of butterflies; and the weather. The outcome is not inevitably in favor of hummingbirds.