Biocultural Species Enhancement in the Archaeological Site of Tzintzuntzan, the “Place of Hummingbirds”

Abstract

Biocultural species enhancement within archaeological sites is particularly challenging because restoration goals and the preservation of cultural assets need to be met simultaneously. Biocultural restoration aims to reestablish the ecological components while preserving or restoring the cultural components of the site, as well as the relationships between them. Biocultural species enhancement is one component of these efforts. Biocultural species enhancement within archaeologically protected sites can establish multiple connections among nature and culture; yet, it can be complicated by the need to preserve the archaeological remains. Tzintzuntzan, in the State of Michoacan, Mexico, holds the remains of the capital of the Tarascan empire. Due to ecological degradation of Tzintzuntzan’s landscape, hummingbirds are seldom seen within the archeological site. As part of a project that aims to restore habitat components for hummingbirds within the Tzintzuntzan Archaeological Site, we established patches of the native Salvia fulgens (Mexican red sage). Initially, potted S. fulgens plants were temporarily placed within the study site to test the feasibility of attracting hummingbirds by providing feeding resources. Five hummingbird species were recorded using the sage pots, with Cynanthus latirostris (Broad-billed hummingbird) being the most frequent. Results of this study show that at least 37 flowers per patch are needed to attract C. latirostris. A permanent S. fulgens plantation was established to provide this habitat at Tzintzuntzan.