Data from: Floral roles in hummingbird-mediated indirect plant interactions in Tropical Andean communities
Data files
Jul 30, 2026 version files 284.08 KB
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floraltraits_abundance_nodedegree.xlsx
25 KB
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pollen_dataframe.xlsx
252.35 KB
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README.md
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Abstract
In pollination networks, indirect plant-plant interactions mediated by their shared pollinators can shape community dynamics and species fitness; yet, the influence of floral traits on species roles remains unclear, particularly in diverse ecosystems like the tropical Andes. We studied hummingbird-mediated interactions among 31 flowering plants in three high-elevation shrubby habitats located in southern Ecuador. During August and November 2022 and January 2023, we collected stigma samples and constructed weighted interaction networks linked by heterospecific pollen grains. Species roles were determined by defining whether they were donors or receivers of pollen, measured by node degree out and node degree in, respectively. We also explored the association between the abundance of flowers and different floral traits and species roles. Finally, we assessed the potential influence of floral roles on species fitness by calculating the ratio of conspecific-to-heterospecific pollen grains observed in each species. We found that the identity of donor and receiver species was highly dynamic across habitats and time. Receiver species were characterized by being highly abundant, while donor species presented high levels of nectar production. The receiver species received more heterospecific pollen than conspecific pollen, indicating that the pollen-sharing roles of species could have fitness consequences. Our findings highlight the importance of some floral traits and abundance in shaping floral roles and their potential fitness consequences in hummingbird-mediated indirect interactions.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.z08kprrsq
Description of the data and file structure
Readme file – pollen_dataframe.xslx
The file pollen_dataframe contains data on pollen grains found in each sampled flower. The dataset was collected across three localities (Aguarongo, El Gullán, and La Tranca) and three sampling periods (August 2022, October–November 2022, and January 2023).
It includes sampling metadata (locality, transect, date, repetition), as well as botanical information of sampled flowers (field name, revised taxonomic name, family, sample codes, individual, and flower number). In addition, it provides pollen identification and counts:
Type of pollen (CP = conspecific, HP = heterospecific)
Taxonomic identification (species, genus, or family depending on resolution)
Number of pollen grains counted per sample
This dataset is focused on documenting pollen loads at the flower level to assess interspecific pollen transfer.
floraltraits_abundance_nodedegree.xslx
The file floraltraits_abundance_nodedegree contains data on floral traits, floral abundance, and network indices (weighted node degree in and out) for each species across the three study sites and sampling periods. Any NA represents missing data.
The variables include flower morphology and rewards (corolla aperture, color, stigma and stamen position, nectar production and concentration), as well as abundance of flowers per site and period. Additionally, it incorporates network metrics:
Wnodedegreeout: weighting species by the number of pollen grains delivered to the floral community
Wnodedegreein: weighting species by the number of pollen grains received from the floral community
This dataset provides the link between floral traits, abundance, and species’ roles within plant–plant interaction networks mediated by pollen transfer.
Files and variables
File: pollen_dataframe.xlsx
Description: The file dfv1 contains data on pollen grains found in each sampled flower. The dataset was collected across three localities (Aguarongo, El Gullán, and La Tranca) and three sampling periods (August 2022, October–November 2022, and January 2023).
Variables
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repetition: categorical data. Indicates the three repetitions carried out (1 for August 2022, 2 for October–November 2022, and 3 for January 2023)
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day: indicates the day on which the data were collected.
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month: indicates the month in which the data were collected.
year: indicates the year in which the data were collected.
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locality: categorical data. Indicates the three sites where the data were collected (Aguarongo, El Gullán, and La Tranca).
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transect: code indicating site and transect (GU = El Gullán, AG = Aguarongo, TR = La Tranca. Transects are 02 and 03. For example: GU03).
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plant_field_name: plant name used in the field.
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plant_revised_name: plant name after identification and taxonomic correction.
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family: taxonomic identification of the family to which the species belongs.
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code_field_gma: complete code for the samples: species name, individual number, and flower number separated by a period. For example, Vioarg 01.2 corresponds to a sample of Viola arguta, individual 1, flower 2.
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code: indicates only the species name to which the sample belongs. Contains the first three letters of the genus and the species.
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individual: indicates the individual number of the sample. It may contain only a number, or a camera code combined with a memory code.
Example: 12/R where 12 is the camera code and R is the memory code.
Example: G_4 where G is the memory code and 4 is the individual number.
Example: H where H corresponds only to the memory code.
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flower: indicates the flower number to which the sample belongs (only a number). Some samples may not have a value, as they come from camera traps where individual and flower numbers were not recorded.
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type_polen: categorical data. Two categories: CP = conspecific pollen, HP = heterospecific pollen.
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idPOLEN: indicates the taxonomic identification of pollen grains, both CP and HP. It includes species, genus, or family names depending on the identification level.
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tax_level: indicates the taxonomic resolution of the pollen grain identification. Only for samples containing heterospecific pollen (HP).
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pollen_grains: number of pollen grains counted for each sample, including both CP and HP.
File: floraltraits_abundance_nodedegree.xlsx
Description:
Variables
- species: the name of species in the floral community
- floral_tube_length: The length from the top of the calyx to the opening of the corolla; the size of the petals is not taken into account. Centimeters
- openning_corola: The diameter of the corolla at its narrowest point, where it acts as a constraint on pollinators. Centimeters.
- color: categorized into four groups: 1 for flowers with blue–violet colors, 2 for purple, yellow, white, and green colors, 3 for pink or salmon and red/yellow bicolored flowers, and 4 for tomato or red colors.
- stigma_floraltubelenght: the diference between the size of stigma and floral tube; negative values mean the stigma is located below the corolla opening, while positive values mean the stigma is exposed and outside the corolla opening. Centimeters.
- stamen_floraltubelenght: the diference between the size of stamen and floral tube; negative values mean the stamen is located below the corolla opening, while positive values mean the stamen is exposed and outside the corolla opening. Centimeters.
- stigma_stamen: the diference between the size of stigma and stamen; negative values mean the stamen is more exposed than the stigma, while positive values mean the stigma is more exposed. Centimeters.
- nectar_production: contains values related to nectar production over 24 hours. It is a volume and is measured in µL/24hrs.
- nectar_concentration: contains values related to nectar concentration, measured in degrees Brix.
- NodedegreeOUT: index that weights a species within the community using the number of pollen grains delivered by a species to the flower community.
- NodedegreeIN: index that weights a species within the community using the number of pollen grains it receives from the flower community.
- repetition: categorical data. Indicates the three repetitions carried out (1 for August 2022, 2 for October–November 2022, and 3 for January 2023).
- locality: categorical data. Indicates the three sites where the data were collected (Aguarongo, El Gullán, and La Tranca).
- abundance: number of flowers counted in each site and sampling period.