Acta Scientific Biotechnology (ASBT) Volume 1 Issue 8 August 2020 Research Article Species Composition and Abundance of Sunbirds Foraging on Tapinanthus globiferus Parasitizing Citrus sinensis Ombugadu A1*, Benson RF in1 , PermanentAhmed HO1, OmbugaduSite of Federal EO2, PamUniversity VA1, Audu of Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria EA1, Adamu S3, Njila HL4, Echor BO4, Deme GG5, Abbas AA6, Aimankhu Received: 1 7 1 1 6 1 OS , Terna TP , Ayuba SO , Dogo KS , Angbalaga GA , Attah AS , Adejoh Published: June 15, 2020 1 1 1 1 8 1 VA , Micah EM , Samuel MD , Anyim JO , Nkup CD , Maro SA , Polycarp July 21, 2020 Ombugadu A., IA1, Simon ME1 and Uzoigwe NR1 et al. © All rights are reserved by 1Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria 2Plant Pathology Unit, Department of Crop Production, Faculty of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria 3Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa, Nasarawa LGA, Nasarawa State, Nigeria 4Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria 5State Key Laboratory of Ecology and Conservation, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, PR, China 6Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria 7Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria 8Department of Biology, College of Arts, Science and Technology, Kurgwi, Qua’an LGA, Plateau State, Nigeria *Corresponding Author: Email: Ombugadu A, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. [email protected] Abstract The foraging strategies of animals is often shaped by the distribution and availability of resources. Ornithophilous plants greatly study on species composition and abundance of sunbirds foraging on Tapinanthus globiferus parasitizing Citrus sinensis in Permanent rely on avian foraging preference which is measured based on the frequency of avian visit and duration of foraging. To this end, the Site of Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria was carried out from January to July 2017. Focal observation with the aid selected C. sinensis trees parasitized by T. globiferus Chalcomitra senegalensis of a pair of binoculars on visiting sunbirds was carried out thrice weekly in the morning and evening sessions on twelve randomly Cinnyris venustus Cinnyris pulchellus . A total of 376 sunbirds were sighted which spread across Cyanomitra verticalis (scarlet–chested sunbird) 181 (48.13%), (variable sunbird) 134 (35.63%), (beautiful sunbird)180 2 T. globiferus 43 (11.17%) and (green-headed sunbird) 19 (5.05%). Thus, there was a very high significant difference (F of sunbirds foraging on T. globiferus = 8.129, Adjusted R = 0.1046, P < 0.001) in relation to the abundance of sunbird species foraging on . The abundance 2 between months and as well as in relation to seasons showed a very high significant difference (months: F655 = 9.216, Adjusted R = 0.0586, P < 0.001; seasons: t = -5.8684, df = 589.02, P < 0.001). Also, abundance of sunbirds Cinnyris pulchellus T. globiferus foraging on mistletoe showed a very high significant difference (t = 8.5947, df = 472.33, P < 0.001) in relation to time of day. On the 2 average, (beautiful180 sunbird) spent the highest foraging time (20.0 ± 2.0 seconds) on . However, there Citrus was no significant difference (F = 0.3172, Adjusted R = -0.01132, P = 0.8129) in foraging duration between sunbird species. This is the first study on sunbirds in the University Permanent Site which clearly shows that the orchard is a potential conservation site that will be of great benefit to sunbirds and other organisms, hence, it should not be cleared for building construction in the near Keywords:future but allocated Sunbirds; as Tapinanthus a part of the globiferus Institution’s; Citrus zoological sinensis garden. Trees parasitized by mistletoe in the area should be protected. ; Months; Seasons; Time of Day; Foraging Duration Citation: Ombugadu A et al “Species Composition and Abundance of Sunbirds Foraging on Tapinanthus globiferus Parasitizing Citrus sinensis in Acta Scientific Biotechnology ., . Permanent Site of Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria". 1.8 (2020): 03-10. Species Composition and Abundance of Sunbirds Foraging on Tapinanthus globiferus Parasitizing Citrus sinensis in Permanent Site of Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria Introduction 04 woodlands where mistletoes have been left intact, had 17% more foraging strategies of animals The distribution and availability of resources often shape the total birds than woodlands where mistletoe have been removed [1,2]. The behaviour of animals may and of all 44 bird species recorded during the study, 70% were seen time - some influence the ecology and evolution of their resources at the same regularly within areas with mistletoes. Other ecological benefits of [3]. Inter-specific interactions such as between plants and an the plant have been reviewed by Watson [23] and Grund [24] ecosystem imals are the central point of many population interactions in the of which include: serving as a food resource to about 66 families of mutualists for a range of services including pollination birds and 30 families of mammals through its flowers, fruits and [4]. About 90% of plants in the tropics rely on animal - [5,6]. The leaves; a suitable nesting and roosting site to about 43 families of ability to fly and the need to obtain energy has resulted in birds birds and 7 families of mammals; and it controls the success of in becoming good pollination agents accessing different habitat types and a variety of plants, thereby, troduced plant species. [7,8]. Consequently, about 50 - Krebs and Davies [25] stated that the importance of feeding is to bird families are reported as flower visitors [8]. provide the raw material for growth, self-maintenance, and repro Tapinanthus globiferus - Among several plant flowers visited and pollinated by birds is duction. Birds, like any other foraging animal, are faced with two Tapinanthus globiferus - which belongs to the xylem-parasitic mis kinds of currencies: rate of food intake and efficiency. Therefore, - tletoe family, Loranthaceae [9,10]. was first choosing a variable foraging option may minimize the risk of star described by Rich, A. in 1895 [11]. Like other Loranthaceae, mis vation. This is especially likely to be important when the animal tletoe is a stem hemiparasite and grows on the branches of several lives in an environment that is unpredictable and the exact amount host trees and shrubs absorbing water, water-conducted nutrients of food the animal will obtain is uncertain [4]. Sunbirds have high and organic solutes from the host’s xylem. However, it produces energetic lifestyle and high metabolic rates [26] and they are wide T. globiferus is endemic to in distribution on the African continent in almost all habitat types its own sugar using its leaves [12,13]. Birds chiefly regulate the - reproductive success of the plant [11]. [27]. They patronize nectar of most flowering plants and several of - Africa, with a geographic spread ranging from the dry country of them are insectivores thereby aiding in checking insects’ popula Mauritania to Ethiopia, extending south in West Africa which in tion explosion that could assume pest status [28]. - cludes Nigeria to the Gulf of Guinea. The plant is found on plateaux, The abundance of sunbirds decrease with increasing tempera lowland forests, mangroves and extending into forested areas of ture but increases with vegetation diversity and monthly rainfall Southern Ethiopia. Mistletoe with the common names - bird lime, - [29]. In sunbirds, territoriality occurs mainly when food resources all heal, devil’s fuge, Iscador, etc. is a general term for woody shoot of resources increases caceae are scarce and the size of the territory decreases as the density parasites in several plant families especially Loranthaceae and Vis - He- [30-32]. When resources are abundant, no [14-16] and most genera of African mistletoes belong to the territoriality lixanthera, Berhautia, Englerina, Globimetula, Agelanthus, Tapinan- benefit accrues from aggressiveness and the sunbirds relax their family Loranthaceae [16]. Seven genera of the Loranthaceae thus and Phragmanthera [30,33]. Carpenter and Hixon [34] found that when feeding by nectarivorous birds is interrupted by harsh weather - with about five dozens or more species Selasphorus rufus conditions such as rain, they are bound to respond. In the Rufous are recognized in West Africa [14] and the group term mistletoe is Hummingbirds ( ) for example, days of rain results used for all these species. in drastic weight loss which is reversed when they recommence Vitellaria paradoxa Gaertn. In West Africa, mistletoes are found on many tree crops of feeding upon the return of good weather. f. Azadirachta indica L. Citrus si- economic importance including the nensis L. Citrus paradisi L Theobroma Pollination is achieved when sunbirds probe and/or open up (shear butter tree), (neem tree), cacao L. ripe flowers for nectar [16] during which their fore-head (crown) (orange tree) and . (grape), picks up pollen grains and comes in contact with the stigma of (cocoa) [17,18]. Economically-valuable fruit trees in wild mistletoes another flower of the same plant species when it is visited by the