Neotropical bromeliads as food sources for birds: a systematic review and perspectives on the management of ecological interactions

Abstract

The loss of interactions and ecosystem functions is a concerning by‐product of pervasive Anthropocene species decline and extinction. Ecological interactions between species sustain the provision of ecosystem processes, especially those mediated by trophic relationships such as pollination and predation. At the local habitat scale, the diversity of natural food sources may increase the diversity of interactions, thus enhancing the stability of local communities and ecosystem functioning. Here I discuss the importance of bromeliads as a potential provider of additional trophic interactions with birds, a key animal group in the Neotropics. Based on 88 studies published between 1965 and 2020 across the Neotropical region, I observed that bromeliads act as ‘wildlife restaurants’ by providing an additional food source throughout the year in almost all Neotropical ecosystems for at least 162 bird species (mostly hummingbirds). These plants (both epiphytic and terrestrial forms) can provide nectar, flowers, water for drinking, invertebrates, small vertebrates, seeds, and fruits, as well as nest materials and substrates. Given these trophic relationships between bromeliads and birds, actions to restore the richness and abundance of these plants in changed habitats would potentially enhance the local diversity of birds. I discuss and recommend the use of bromeliad transplantations as a relevant conservation tool for birds and some implications for the maintenance of species and interaction diversity in natural and agricultural habitats.