Floral Visitors and Florivory in Tacinga inamoena (Cactaceae) in the Ex Situ Collection of the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

Tacinga inamoena (K. Schum.) N.P. Taylor & Stuppy (Cactaceae, Opuntioideae) is a native Brazilian species found in the Caatinga phytogeographic domain. Although its flowers are adapted for bird pollination (ornithophily), few birds visit these plants in the ex situ collection at the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden. Despite this, fruit production occurs, prompting an investigation into the floral visitors and other animals interacting with T. inamoena flowers. This study aimed to identify floral visitors and quantify florivory damage to flowers in the Cacti and Succulents thematic collection. During the study, 79 flowers were monitored, along with their floral visitors and 26 instances of florivory, totaling 110 observation hours during the anthesis period. Despite recording only five hummingbird visits, a high fruit set was observed, with 72 fruits formed. Results indicated that bees of the genus Trigona sp. were the main floral visitors. Florivory damage, primarily caused by lizards of the species Tropidurus torquatus (Wied-Neuwied, 1820), did not negatively impact fruit formation in this cactus species under cultivation. To fully understand the reproductive success of this species, further studies are needed to assess the viability of seeds formed under these conditions, as the species may be self-compatible and autogamous.