Apidologie 34 (2003) 1-10
DOI: 10.1051/apido:2002049

Nectar sugar content: estimating standing crop and secretion rate in the field

Sarah A. Corbet

Department of Zoology, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
(Received 13 May 2002; revised 25 July 2002; accepted 9 August 2002)

Abstract
Field techniques for sampling and measuring the standing crop and secretion rate of nectar are described, in order to clarify some discrepancies and omissions in existing reviews of nectar measuring techniques. Slender microcapillary tubes (a fresh one for each sample) are recommended for withdrawing nectar, and a hand held sucrose refractometer, capable of operating with very small fluid volumes, is used for measuring concentration. Potential errors due to the presence of solutes other than sucrose, or to temperatures other than the calibration temperature, are discussed. I consider how measurements of secretion rate are affected by reabsorption and by the nature of the bags used to exclude nectarivores.

Key words: standing crop / nectar concentration / secretion rate / microcap / refractometer / sucrose / glucose / fructose / amino acids / nectarivore

Correspondence and reprints: Sarah A. Corbet
    e-mail: sacorbet@stloy.u-net.com

© INRA, EDP Sciences, DIB, AGIB 2003