Potential effects of artificial feeders on hummingbirds-plant interactions: are generalizations yet possible?

Human influence on ecosystems and species interactions has frequently been observed by ornithologists. This is most evident where food is provided to wildlife, such as around hummingbird feeders. This artificial contribution of resources raises questions about its impact on aspects like pollination, floral visits, and movement within and among landscapes. Through a systematic literature review, we compiled hypothetical changes and effects that the presence of artificial feeders could have on pollinator-plant relationships. We found 26 articles discussing the role of feeders in plant-animal interaction dynamics, categorizing potential impacts as positive, negative, or neutral (no impact). We found that scientific output on this topic is limited, and that determining clear impacts of feeders was challenging. Several researchers also note that feeder effects and interactions in plant-pollinator relationships could be species-specific, rendering generalizations inappropriate. We conclude that the supporting literature is insufficient and inconclusive, underscoring the need for rigorous studies to assess how feeders might influence reproductive biology, hummingbird spatial distribution, and ecosystem processes modification. Additionally, we performed a systematic Google® search to identify widely disseminated pages that provide the information that ultimately reaches the general public and thus becomes the accepted common knowledge. From the first 40 pages on this topic, we examined the sources used to support the information, revealing a dearth of verifiable sources such as scientific papers. We deem it essential to advocate that the dissemination of public domain information regarding the use of feeders should be substantiated by concrete ornithological studies.