DefinePK

Abstract

One hundred and fifty five plant species were evaluated monthly in relation to flowering phenology, habitats and life forms in the Venezuelan Central Plain. Beetle and wind-pollinated species shown the largest levels of pollination overlapping and the lowest was found in bat-pollinated species. Intermediate values were associated to pollinating bees, flies, butterflies, moths, birds and wasps, respectively. The average values of pollination overlapping among the same or similar life form was larger than values among different life forms. The a-posteriori tests were significant among all average values of pollinating agent class overlap. For example, pollination overlapping within tree species was significantly lower than those values within herbaceous species. The average values of pollination overlap increased significantly from forest to disturbed area. The values of pollination overlapping within and among habitat exhibited the following tendency: overlapping values between forest and each one of the other habitats were the lowest ones. With the exception of forest, pollination overlapping between habitats and within each one of the habitats showed an increasing patterns from different to similar pair of habitats. Therefore, pollination overlapping could be attenuate by life form and habitat seasonality, in such way that plant species from the same life form in the same habitat have the highest values of pollination overlapping.