Hurricane Aftermath: Resiliency of an Orchid-Pollinator Interaction in Puerto Rico

Abstract

The impact of severe habitat disturbance on plants and animals is often dramatically negative, but across species and guilds there is considerable variance. The effects of hurricane damage exemplify this phenomenon. When most organisms are adversely affected, it is expected that the dynamics of their inter actions will also be altered. The consequences of a direct hit by Hurricane Hugo, a category 4 storm, on a plant-pollinator interaction was investigated by comparing pre-hurricane (1981–1985) with post-hurricane data (1989-1990). The nectarless, self-compatible Epidendrum ciliare L. (Orchidaceae) is pollinated by Pseudosphinx tetrio (L.) (Sphingidae), a large hawkmoth. Despite severe habitat alteration and some plant damage (uprooting, breakage and sun scorching), flowering phenology was apparently unaltered. Pollinator service was different from that of previous years in that mom flowers were visited (57% vs. 28-41%). The higher number of effective visits increased pollinarium removals, but the number of pollinia depositions remained about the same (11% vs. 11–15%). Fruit fates differed among seasons. Post-hurricane loss of fruits to rat predation was higher than previous years, but the proportion of fruits reaching maturity was similar to prehurricane seasons. Final fruit set after the hurricane (5.3%) fell within the range of previous years. Although details of the plant-pollinator dynamics were altered, the short-term consequences of hurricane induced damages were apparently minimal.

Citation

Ackerman, J.D.; Moya, S. 1996. Hurricane Aftermath: Resiliency of an Orchid-Pollinator interaction in Puerto Rico. Caribbean Journal of Science. 32(4): 369-374.