PATTERNS OF PLANT VISITATION BY NECTAR-FEEDING LIZARDS

Geckos in the genus Hoplodactylus visit flowers to feed on nectar. I e xamined the patterns of flower visitation exhibited by two gecko speci es (H. maculatus and H. duvauceli) having access to two plant species: pohutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa: Myrtaceae) and flax (Phormium tenex : Agavaceae). Individual geckos were not observed to visit both plant species; individuals visiting flax tended to revisit the same plant. G eckos visiting pohutukawa were larger than those visiting flax and exh ibited an early night peak in plant visitation, while lit ards on flax displayed a more even pattern of activity throughout the night. On fl ax, geckos were more likely to be found on plants with a greater numbe r of male flowers. Male flax flowers were of greater diameter than fem ale flowers and produced nectar at higher rates and with greater conce ntrations of sugars. Experimental manipulation of pohutukawa nectar vo lumes suggested that the distribution of geckos is influenced by the p attern of nectar availability.