Free amino acids in nectar: its composition and variability among bat-pollinated plants

Regardless of the low concentrations at which amino acids are present in floral nectar of bat-pollinated plants, their role as nectar flavor providers and their influence on bats’ foraging decisions have been recognized. Nevertheless, variation in the free amino acids among bat-pollinated plant spe...

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Main Authors: Nelly Rodríguez-Peña, Kathryn E. Stoner, Jorge E. Schondube, Angel Durán-Díaz, Luis Barbo Hernández-Portilla, César Mateo Flores-Ortiz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México 2021-06-01
Series:Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
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Online Access:https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/3560
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author Nelly Rodríguez-Peña
Kathryn E. Stoner
Jorge E. Schondube
Angel Durán-Díaz
Luis Barbo Hernández-Portilla
César Mateo Flores-Ortiz
author_facet Nelly Rodríguez-Peña
Kathryn E. Stoner
Jorge E. Schondube
Angel Durán-Díaz
Luis Barbo Hernández-Portilla
César Mateo Flores-Ortiz
author_sort Nelly Rodríguez-Peña
collection DOAJ
description Regardless of the low concentrations at which amino acids are present in floral nectar of bat-pollinated plants, their role as nectar flavor providers and their influence on bats’ foraging decisions have been recognized. Nevertheless, variation in the free amino acids among bat-pollinated plant species has been less studied. The goal of this study was to analyze the nectar free amino acids and to determine its variability among 8 bat-pollinated plant species from 5 families in a Tropical Dry Forest in Mexico. Nectar collections were made opportunistically depending on plants flowering season. We quantified 17 amino acids by HPLC. All 17 free amino acids were present in nectar from the 8 analyzed plant species. The concentration of 12 amino acids is explained by plant species by 19-58%. Analyses showed that Ceiba grandiflora (Malvaceae) was significantly different in asparagine content when compared to Bahuinia pauletia (Fabaceae) and Ceiba aesculifolia (Malvaceae), and in glutamic acid when compared to Ipomoea ampullacea (Convolvulaceae). We discuss the importance of free amino acids in nectar among plant species and their influence on bat pollination ecology.
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spelling doaj-art-65e19dd0dc2a48bbb415c9fb117059df2025-08-20T02:31:13ZengUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoRevista Mexicana de Biodiversidad1870-34532007-87062021-06-019210.22201/ib.20078706e.2021.92.3560Free amino acids in nectar: its composition and variability among bat-pollinated plantsNelly Rodríguez-Peña0Kathryn E. Stoner1Jorge E. Schondube2Angel Durán-Díaz3Luis Barbo Hernández-Portilla4César Mateo Flores-Ortiz5Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México FES IztacalaColorado State University Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology,Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Functional Ecology Laboratory, IIES Morelia, Michoacán, MexicoUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México Department of Biostatistics, Biology, FES IztacalaUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México National Health Laboratory, FES IztacalaUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala Regardless of the low concentrations at which amino acids are present in floral nectar of bat-pollinated plants, their role as nectar flavor providers and their influence on bats’ foraging decisions have been recognized. Nevertheless, variation in the free amino acids among bat-pollinated plant species has been less studied. The goal of this study was to analyze the nectar free amino acids and to determine its variability among 8 bat-pollinated plant species from 5 families in a Tropical Dry Forest in Mexico. Nectar collections were made opportunistically depending on plants flowering season. We quantified 17 amino acids by HPLC. All 17 free amino acids were present in nectar from the 8 analyzed plant species. The concentration of 12 amino acids is explained by plant species by 19-58%. Analyses showed that Ceiba grandiflora (Malvaceae) was significantly different in asparagine content when compared to Bahuinia pauletia (Fabaceae) and Ceiba aesculifolia (Malvaceae), and in glutamic acid when compared to Ipomoea ampullacea (Convolvulaceae). We discuss the importance of free amino acids in nectar among plant species and their influence on bat pollination ecology. https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/3560Bat-pollinated plantsFree amino acid nectar typesNectar chemistryNectar flavorPollination ecology
spellingShingle Nelly Rodríguez-Peña
Kathryn E. Stoner
Jorge E. Schondube
Angel Durán-Díaz
Luis Barbo Hernández-Portilla
César Mateo Flores-Ortiz
Free amino acids in nectar: its composition and variability among bat-pollinated plants
Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
Bat-pollinated plants
Free amino acid nectar types
Nectar chemistry
Nectar flavor
Pollination ecology
title Free amino acids in nectar: its composition and variability among bat-pollinated plants
title_full Free amino acids in nectar: its composition and variability among bat-pollinated plants
title_fullStr Free amino acids in nectar: its composition and variability among bat-pollinated plants
title_full_unstemmed Free amino acids in nectar: its composition and variability among bat-pollinated plants
title_short Free amino acids in nectar: its composition and variability among bat-pollinated plants
title_sort free amino acids in nectar its composition and variability among bat pollinated plants
topic Bat-pollinated plants
Free amino acid nectar types
Nectar chemistry
Nectar flavor
Pollination ecology
url https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/3560
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