Pollinators are crucial for plant reproduction and diversification. The plant genus Protea of the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa, a global biodiversity hotspot, is an example of how evolutionary radiations can potentially be driven by transitions among primary pollinators. The sprawling shrub Protea venusta has intermediate morphology and is listed as either mammal or bird pollinated, yet has no empirical documentation of pollination. Although it is difficult to document field observations of ground-dwelling mammal pollination, remote motion-activated camera analysis has enhanced our ability to capture 24-hours pollinator activity. This technology allows us to both decipher temporal activity patterns and identify novel pollinators. We deployed six camera traps in a population of Protea venusta at Swartberg Pass in the Western Cape to assess whether this species is predominantly bird pollinated, mammal pollinated, or whether it functions within a mixed pollination network. Preliminary evidence suggests that both birds (such as the Cape sugarbird, Promerops cafer) and rodents (such as the spectacled dormouse, Graphiurus ocularis) visit and likely pollinate this species. Understanding an individual species such as Protea venusta is crucial in providing insight into how unique plant-pollinator networks function, adapt, and persist in one of the world's most biodiverse hotspots.
