NECTAR BARRIER FOR BIRDS IN ANISACANTHUS (ACANTHACEAE) A KEYHOLE BARRIER.

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Title: NECTAR BARRIER FOR BIRDS IN ANISACANTHUS (ACANTHACEAE) A KEYHOLE BARRIER.
Authors: Manktelow, Mariette1 (AUTHOR) mariette.manktelow@ebc.uu.se
Source: Southwestern Naturalist. Jun2026, Vol. 70 Issue 2, p1-11. 11p.
Subjects: Acanthaceae, Hummingbirds, Insect pollinators, Pollination, Species
Abstract (English): This study describes a nectar barrier for birds in the hummingbird pollinated genus Anisacanthus (Acanthaceae). The most studied species is A. thurberi, but similar structures suggest a presence of a nectar barrier also in A. andersonii, A. junceus, A. linearis, A. pumilus, A. quadrifidus var. brevilobus, and A. quadrifidus var. wrightii. Similar structures were present but more weakly expressed in A. tetracaulis and A. puberulus, species that will need more detailed studies. When mimicking a hummingbird beak with a tweezer, I found that a visiting hummingbird would be able to move the style downwards in the nectar barrier to open a hole into the nectar chamber. I name the nectar barrier a Keyhole Barrier due to its appearance. A similar nectar barrier is present in Mexacanthus mcvaughii, a species now nested within Anisacanthus, and differences in that species could be due to an adaptation to insect pollination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Abstract (Spanish): Este estudio describe una barrera de néctar para aves en el género Anisacanthus (Acanthaceae), polinizado por colibríes. La especie más estudiada es A. thurberi, aunque estructuras similares sugieren la presencia de una barrera de néctar también en A. andersonii, A. junceus, A. linearis, A. pumilus, A. quadrifidus var. brevilobus y A. quadrifidus var. wrightii. Estructuras similares estaban presentes, con una expresion más débil, en A. tetracaulis y A. puberulus que requerirán estudios más detallados. Al imitar el pico del colibrí con una pinza, observé que un colibrí visitante podría mover el pistilo hacia abajo dentro de la barrera de néctar para abrir un orificio hacia la cámara de néctar. He nombrado a esta barrera de néctar como Barrera de Cerradura debido a su apariencia. Una barrera de néctar similar está presente en Mexacanthus mcvaughii, una especie actualmente incluida dentro de Anisacanthus, y las diferencias en esa especie podrían deberse a una adaptación a la polinización por insectos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Southwestern Naturalist is the property of Southwestern Association of Naturalists and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
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DbLabel: Engineering Source
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PubType: Academic Journal
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Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: NECTAR BARRIER FOR BIRDS IN ANISACANTHUS (ACANTHACEAE) A KEYHOLE BARRIER.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Manktelow%2C+Mariette%22">Manktelow, Mariette</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> mariette.manktelow@ebc.uu.se</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Southwestern+Naturalist%22">Southwestern Naturalist</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 70 Issue 2, p1-11. 11p.
– Name: Subject
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Acanthaceae%22">Acanthaceae</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hummingbirds%22">Hummingbirds</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Insect+pollinators%22">Insect pollinators</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pollination%22">Pollination</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Species%22">Species</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract (English)
  Group: Ab
  Data: This study describes a nectar barrier for birds in the hummingbird pollinated genus Anisacanthus (Acanthaceae). The most studied species is A. thurberi, but similar structures suggest a presence of a nectar barrier also in A. andersonii, A. junceus, A. linearis, A. pumilus, A. quadrifidus var. brevilobus, and A. quadrifidus var. wrightii. Similar structures were present but more weakly expressed in A. tetracaulis and A. puberulus, species that will need more detailed studies. When mimicking a hummingbird beak with a tweezer, I found that a visiting hummingbird would be able to move the style downwards in the nectar barrier to open a hole into the nectar chamber. I name the nectar barrier a Keyhole Barrier due to its appearance. A similar nectar barrier is present in Mexacanthus mcvaughii, a species now nested within Anisacanthus, and differences in that species could be due to an adaptation to insect pollination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract (Spanish)
  Group: Ab
  Data: Este estudio describe una barrera de néctar para aves en el género Anisacanthus (Acanthaceae), polinizado por colibríes. La especie más estudiada es A. thurberi, aunque estructuras similares sugieren la presencia de una barrera de néctar también en A. andersonii, A. junceus, A. linearis, A. pumilus, A. quadrifidus var. brevilobus y A. quadrifidus var. wrightii. Estructuras similares estaban presentes, con una expresion más débil, en A. tetracaulis y A. puberulus que requerirán estudios más detallados. Al imitar el pico del colibrí con una pinza, observé que un colibrí visitante podría mover el pistilo hacia abajo dentro de la barrera de néctar para abrir un orificio hacia la cámara de néctar. He nombrado a esta barrera de néctar como Barrera de Cerradura debido a su apariencia. Una barrera de néctar similar está presente en Mexacanthus mcvaughii, una especie actualmente incluida dentro de Anisacanthus, y las diferencias en esa especie podrían deberse a una adaptación a la polinización por insectos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Southwestern Naturalist is the property of Southwestern Association of Naturalists and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1894/0038-4909-70.2.7
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 11
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Acanthaceae
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Hummingbirds
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Insect pollinators
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Pollination
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Species
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: NECTAR BARRIER FOR BIRDS IN ANISACANTHUS (ACANTHACEAE) A KEYHOLE BARRIER.
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            NameFull: Manktelow, Mariette
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            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 70
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