
%0 Journal Article
%A Evans, KM 
%A Bunce, A 
%T A comparison of the foraging behaviour of the eastern pygmy-possum (<i>Cercartetus nanus</i>) and nectarivorous birds in a <i>Banksia integrifolia</i> woodland
%J Australian Mammalogy
%D 2000/01/01
%V 22
%N 1
%P 81-86
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/AM00081
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/AM00081 
%X The foraging behaviour of a non-flying mammal, the eastern pygmy-possum (Cercartetus nanus) and nectarivorous birds was compared in a Banksia integrifolia woodland at Wilson's Promontory National Park, Victoria, Australia. Exclusion experiments performed previously in this woodland indicate that both non-flying mammals and nectarivorous birds are important pollinators of B. integrifolia (Cunningham 1991: Oecologia 87: 86-90). In this study it is shown that C. nanus and nectarivorous birds employ different foraging tactics. Nectarivorous birds tended to move further between trees (&#935; = 8.16 &#177; 1.06 m) than C. nanus (&#935; = 5.64 &#177; 0.75 m), although these differences were not significant. Nectarivorous birds were attracted to trees with a significantly larger number of inflorescences (&#935; = 36.55 &#177; 2.84) than C. nanus (&#935; = 18.65 &#177; 2.95), and visited a significantly greater number of inflorescences per tree (&#935; = 4.24 &#177; 0.35) than C. nanus (&#935; = 2.33 &#177; 0.22). Although the two pollinator groups were attracted to banksia plants by different cues, once in the plants they visited an equal proportion of the available inflorescences. 
