title: Electrostatic Charge on Flying Hummingbirds and Its Potential Role in Pollination.
abstract: Electrostatic phenomena are known to enhance both wind- and insect-mediated pollination, but have not yet been described for nectar-feeding vertebrates. Here we demonstrate that wild Anna's Hummingbirds (Calypte anna) can carry positive charges up to 800 pC while in flight (mean ± s.d.: 66 ± 129 pC). Triboelectric charging obtained by rubbing an isolated hummingbird wing against various plant structures generated charges up to 700 pC. A metal hummingbird model charged to 400 pC induced bending of floral stamens in four plants (Nicotiana, Hemerocallis, Penstemon, and Aloe spp.), and also attracted falling Lycopodium spores at distances of < 2 mm. Electrostatic forces may therefore influence pollen transfer onto nectar-feeding birds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Badger
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Victor Manuel
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Ortega-Jimenez
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: von Rabenau
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America.
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smiley
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Republic of Panama.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dudley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000502:physiology*; D005426:Flight, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D054817:Pollination / Q000502:physiology*; D055672:Static Electricity