Bat Foraging Strategies and Pollination of<i>Madhuca latifolia</i>(Sapotaceae) in Southern India

Nathan, Parthasarathy Thiruchenthil; Karuppudurai, T.; Raghuram, Hanumanthan; Marimuthu, G.

doi:10.3161/150811009x485657

Cited by 22 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 35 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Accessing flowers higher in the trees would be easier and energetically less costly for these large pteropodid bats, which are less maneuverable below the canopy than the smaller bats (Palmer et al, 2000). Previous studies corroborate this idea of spatial partitioning between species: Pteropus hypomelanus fed at greater heights in durian trees (6-20 m) than E. spelaea (<6 m) in Peninsular Malaysia ; P. giganteus fed at greater heights in Madhuca latifolia trees than Cynopterus sphinx (Nathan, Karuppudurai, Raghuram & Marimuthu, 2009); and P. giganteus foraged at greater heights (15-20 m) than C. sphinx in kapok trees (Singaravelan & Marimuthu, 2004). Our observations suggest that resource partitioning occurs spatially between small and large pteropodid bats (i.e., larger bats forage predominantly at greater heights within trees than smaller bats),…”

Section: Resource Partitioning Among Bat Speciesmentioning

confidence: 88%

Contributions of bats to the local economy through durian pollination in Sulawesi, Indonesia

2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Durian is economically important for local livelihoods in Indonesia. Our study investigated the identity of pollinators of semi‐wild durian and subsequently estimated the economic contribution of these pollination services. We conducted pollination exclusion experiments and deployed camera traps at durian trees from October 2017 to January 2018 in an area where the local economy depends on durian production in West Sulawesi, Indonesia. Durian flowers in the experiment that were accessible to bats had significantly higher fruit set compared with flowers that were completely closed to animal visitors or those that could only be visited by insects, suggesting that bats were the primary durian pollinator. The small, highly nectarivorous cave nectar bat (Eonycteris spelaea) visited more inflorescences (n = 25) and had visits of much longer duration (trueX¯ = 116.87 sec/visit) than the two species of flying foxes: Pteropus alecto (n = 7 inflorescences visited, trueX¯ = 11.07 sec/visit) and Acerodon celebensis (n = 6 inflorescences visited, trueX¯ = 11.60 sec/visit). Visits by large and small bats were influential in differentiating successful durian fruit production from unsuccessful. Using a bioeconomic approach, we conservatively estimate that bat pollination services are valued at ~$ 117/ha/fruiting season. By demonstrating an ecological link between bats and the local economy, this research provides an urgent message for Southeast Asian governments regarding the need to promote bat conservation in order to increase the production of durian grown under semi‐wild conditions. Abstract in Indonesia is available with online material.

show abstract

Section: Resource Partitioning Among Bat Speciesmentioning

confidence: 88%

Contributions of bats to the local economy through durian pollination in Sulawesi, Indonesia

2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Clear temporal differentiation in visits has been observed elsewhere between flying foxes and other pteropodids feeding on flowering kapok in southern India (Nathan et al., ; Singaravelan & Marimuthu, ) and Madagascar (Andriafidison et al., ), involving differences of several hours. This temporal differentiation may be due to roost locations influencing commuting times and energetic requirements, but is likely also due to resource partitioning (Andriafidison et al., ; Nathan et al., ). In contrast, our study found only very slight temporal partitioning between flying foxes and nectar bats.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nathan et al. () found an even smaller time difference, of only ~15 min, between P. giganteus and Cynopterus sphinx arriving to feed on madhuca ( Madhuca latifolia ) flowers in southern India, but peak activity timings were 1 hr apart. In that study, however, flying foxes arrived later and left earlier.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While exclusion experiments have been a successful approach for studying the role of smaller pteropodids in pollination (Bumrungsri et al., , ; Srithongchuay et al., ), the comparatively greater sizes and different feeding behavior of flying foxes (Nathan, Karuppudurai, Raghuram, & Marimuthu, ; Nathan, Raghuram, Elangovan, Karuppudurai, & Marimuthu, ) are difficult to account for when using such a study design; it is challenging to design a specific treatment that can exclude flying foxes while still allowing access to smaller pteropodids. Consequently, exclusion experiments that included both flying foxes and smaller pteropodids have simply grouped them together as “bats” (e.g., Nathan et al., , ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Pollination by the locally endangered island flying fox (Pteropus hypomelanus) enhances fruit production of the economically important durian (Durio zibethinus)

Aziz

Clements

McConkey

et al. 2017

Ecology and Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Fruit bats provide valuable pollination services to humans through a unique coevolutionary relationship with chiropterophilous plants. However, chiropterophily in the Old World and the pollination roles of large bats, such as flying foxes (Pteropus spp., Acerodon spp., Desmalopex spp.), are still poorly understood and require further elucidation. Efforts to protect these bats have been hampered by a lack of basic quantitative information on their role as ecosystem service providers. Here, we investigate the role of the locally endangered island flying fox Pteropus hypomelanus in the pollination ecology of durian (Durio zibethinus), an economically important crop in Southeast Asia. On Tioman Island, Peninsular Malaysia, we deployed 19 stations of paired infrared camera and video traps across varying heights at four individual flowering trees in a durian orchard. We detected at least nine species of animal visitors, but only bats had mutualistic interactions with durian flowers. There was a clear vertical stratification in the feeding niches of flying foxes and nectar bats, with flying foxes feeding at greater heights in the trees. Flying foxes had a positive effect on mature fruit set and therefore serve as important pollinators for durian trees. As such, semi‐wild durian trees—particularly tall ones—may be dependent on flying foxes for enhancing reproductive success. Our study is the first to quantify the role of flying foxes in durian pollination, demonstrating that these giant fruit bats may have far more important ecological, evolutionary, and economic roles than previously thought. This has important implications and can aid efforts to promote flying fox conservation, especially in Southeast Asian countries.

show abstract

“…(syn. M. latifolia; Nathan et al 2009) which abounds locally aside the cultural value assigned-either considered sacred (Marimuthu 1988) or evil. It is phytophagous (feeding on fruits, petals and leaves) and is one of the 13 species of fruit bats found in India.…”

Section: Biodiversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecology and conservation status of canebrakes in Warangal District of Andhra Pradesh, India

Suthari¹,

Raju²

2012

J. Threat. Taxa

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Bat Foraging Strategies and Pollination ofMadhuca latifolia(Sapotaceae) in Southern India

Cited by 22 publications

References 35 publications

Contributions of bats to the local economy through durian pollination in Sulawesi, Indonesia

Contributions of bats to the local economy through durian pollination in Sulawesi, Indonesia

Pollination by the locally endangered island flying fox (Pteropus hypomelanus) enhances fruit production of the economically important durian (Durio zibethinus)

Ecology and conservation status of canebrakes in Warangal District of Andhra Pradesh, India

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About