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Vertical stratification of plant-animal interactions and their impact on pollination and seed dispersal within a single Neotropical plant species (2018 – 2021)

This study focuses on a neotropical liana species, Marcgravia longifolia, that produces flowers and fruits across all strata in the forest, and interacts with a large number of different nectarivores and frugivores. We seek to study these plant-animal interaction in detail, with a specific focus on the vertical stratification of these interactions and the consequences on dispersal, and ultimately, gene flow. 

In 2018 and 2019, the PhD candidate Sarina Thiel has collected data on visitations rates, species assemblages and nectar and fruit quality and quantity across the vertical gradient.

The project is carried out in close collaboration with Prof. Dr. Eckhard Heymann (DPZ) and Prof. Dr. Marco Tschapka (University of Ulm).

Inflorescence of Marcgravia longifolia

PIs: Katrin Heer

Team: Sarina Thiel (PhD student, UMR)

Cooperation partners: Eckhard Heymann (DPZ Göttingen), Marco Tschapka (Ulm)

Funding: DFG (HE7345/5-1)

Project-related publications:

Thiel S, Tschapka M, Heymann EW*, Heer K* (2021) Vertical stratification of frugivorous vertebrate communities and their interactions with plants in tropical forests. Biological Reviews 96(2) 454-469. https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.12664