Aloe marlothii is a winter-flowering succulent that is widespread in the savanna biome of northern and north-eastern South Africa. Plants grow up to 8 m in height and are commonly found on rocky north-facing slopes. Nectar ...

Pollination is an essential ecosystem service, increasing reproductive success of many crops, which can be provided by managed pollinators, wild bees (including honeybees) and other insect pollinators. However, the pollination ...

The relationship between beetles and flowers is often mutually beneficial. Flowers provide not only edible rewards and favourable micro-environments, but may also be sites for mating and egg-laying activities. Even though ...

The most important indigenous bee plant in South Africa is the winter flowering Aloe greatheadii var davyana, with a widespread distribution across the summer rainfall region. Beekeepers commonly move their hives to the ...

The small size of nectarivorous birds is associated with high mass-specific metabolic rates and energetic lifestyles. Their energy balance is likely to be strongly influenced by environmental factors. Firstly, nectar varies ...

Nectar-feeding birds must ingest copious amounts of water due to their liquid diet. Large volumes of preformed water in the dilute diet mean that birds feeding on these diets risk the loss of solutes in order to excrete ...

Xylose is an unusual nectar sugar found in the nectar of Protea and Faurea (Proteaceae). Since nectar composition is an important floral characteristic in plant strategies for ensuring reproductive success, the unexplained ...