Differential ingestion of fig seeds by a Neotropical bat, Platyrrhinus lineatus

Munin, Roberto Lobo; Costa, Priscila Canesqui da; Fischer, Erich Arnold

doi:10.1016/j.mambio.2010.12.006

Cited by 11 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 15 publications

(25 reference statements)

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“…For monoecious fig species, the differential ingestion of fig seeds has been reported for only a few Neotropical and paleotropical fruit bats (Utzerrum & Heideman 1991, Reiter 2002, Munin et al 2011. It might be difficult for bats to masticate the slippery and intact outside gelatinous coating of viable fig seeds; instead, they swallow the small, sticky seeds whole.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In contrast, holed and nonviable wasp-parasitized seeds lacking a coating are spat out in oral pellets. The effectiveness of bats as seed dispersers can therefore be enhanced by the differential ingestion of viable seeds and the discarding of nonviable seeds (Utzerrum & Heideman 1991, Munin et al 2011). In the present study, although galls were commonly observed in pellet samples containing monoecious F. microcarpa and F. superba var.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Preference of an insular flying fox for seed figs enhances seed dispersal of a dioecious species

et al. 2017

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Interactions among multiple species form complex networks of interdependences and are considered primary factors in the generation and maintenance of biodiversity. Pteropodid bats are keystone species that provide important ecosystem services of pollination and seed dispersal in the tropics and subtropics. In this study, we investigated the utilization and preference of food resources by the insular frugivorous flying fox Pteropus dasymallus. We found that fig species constituted the major portion of the diet of the flying fox (94.6%). When foraging, the flying fox preferred seed figs from female trees over gall figs from male trees in functionally dioecious fig species. Germination experiments showed a significantly higher percentage of germination for fig seeds in feces than those from pellets and ripe figs (feces: 80.2%, pellets: 23.4%, ripe figs: 32.9%). Considering the active selection of seed figs and avoidance of gall figs by foraging flying foxes, we suggest that the abundance of seed figs accurately represents food availability for dioecy. This preference for seed figs or viable seeds can effectively promote the survival of pollinating wasps and might reinforce the evolution of dioecism in figs. In addition, the effects of gut passage on seed germination, in combination with the capacity of flying foxes to travel long distances, may substantially contribute to the efficiency of flying foxes as seed dispersers.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preference of an insular flying fox for seed figs enhances seed dispersal of a dioecious species

et al. 2017

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“…These bats get and leave feeding roosts many times each night and perform U-shaped flights when entering or leaving roosts. As they defecate in flight and during fruit handling as well (Munin et al 2011), stools are released in variable directions under palm canopies and consistently to palm stems. Although bat individuals use different feeding roosts through time, they show a high fidelity to a few canopies (Marques and Fischer 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, the success of the hemiepiphytic growth form depends on consistent interactions with seed dispersers to attain appropriate phorophytes. In general, hemiepiphytic tree species show effective seed dispersal through zoochoric diaspores swallowed and defecated by vertebrates, but also by secondary dispersal by ants (Kaufmann et al 1991;Passos and Oliveira 2002;Teixeira et al 2009;Munin et al 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bizarre Cecropia pachystachya (Urticaceae) hemiepiphytic growth on palms in the “Pantanal” wetland

Corrêa

Fischer

2016

Braz. J. Bot

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In this study, we describe for the first time facultative hemiepiphytism in Cecropia pachystachya Trécul growing on palms in the ''Pantanal'' wetland of Brazil and investigate ecological factors associated with this unexpected phenomenon. We sampled C. pachystachya seeds lodged in palm stems and recorded the seed rain to low stems, high stems and to the ground below and away from palms. We also tested seed germination on soil and stem substrates and measured the chemical composition of both substrates. Compared to freestanding conspecifics, hemiepiphytes of C. pachystachya were rare and displayed wider trunks but similar height. All hemiepiphytes were fixed on low stems by aerial roots encircling the palms and coalesced branches rooted into the ground. Most palm stems contained C. pachystachya seeds but a few concentrated seeds massively. Dispersal of seeds was 15 times greater to lower than higher portions of stems, and seven times higher below palms than elsewhere. Germination rates of C. pachystachya seeds did not differ between soil and stem substrates. The clayey stem substrate presented more Zn, K, P, Ca, Mg and Al than the sandy soil, which in turn presented more Fe and Cu. The exceptional occurrence of C. pachystachya as a facultative hemiepiphyte in the ''Pantanal'' wetland results from massive seed rain to lower regions of palm stems, where germination, mechanical stability and access to nutrients are conducive to establishment and subsequent growth. However, the rarity of hemiepiphytism in C. pachystachya indicates that opportunities for successful establishment rely on a combination of uncertain spatiotemporal conditions.

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“…Dentre elas, a família Plyllostomidae é a única da ordem com representantes frugívoros e possui 56 gêneros agrupados em 11 subfamílias (BAKER et al, 2003). Os membros dessa família têm preferência por frutos carnosos e suculentos, cuja polpa geralmente é mascada ou sugada e as sementes menores são engolidas, saindo depois com as fezes (MUNIN et al, 2011). Por voarem em áreas mais abertas, como clareiras e bordas de mata, morcegos são importantes nos processos de regeneração da vegetação, disseminando grandes quantidades de sementes nesses ambientes.…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Nutritional Determination of Fruit-Eating Bats of the Pantanal Wetland, Mato Grosso Do Sul, Brazil

Oliveira

Marques

Fischer

2012

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Morcegos frugívoros contribuem para o estabelecimento de muitas espécies de plantas pioneiras através da dispersão de sementes, o que auxilia nos mecanismos de regeneração e sucessão secundária em áreas tropicais. Devido a esta relação entre os morcegos e a flora, torna-se necessário apresentar informações sobre frutos quiropterocóricos, tais como análises nutricionais destes frutos que compõe a dieta dos morcegos. Este estudo teve como objetivo a análise nutricional de frutos consumidos por morcegos no Pantanal da Nhecolândia. As análises visaram avaliar o teor de proteínas, carboidratos totais e redutores destas espécies quiropterocóricas. Verificou-se a partir das análises realizadas que existe grande variação intraespecífica, interespecífica e sazonal, sendo que Ficus luschnathiana foi a espécie com maior concentração de açúcar total (51,2 %); Dipterix alata apresentou os maiores índices de açúcares redutores (5,7 %); Piper tuberculatum conteve a maior quantidade de proteína (3,3 %); Tocoyena formosa apresentou a maior atividade peroxidásica especifica (0,174 UAE/μg proteína). Verificamos uma grande variação nutricional interespecífica e intraespecífica dos frutos analisados neste trabalho. Houve predomínio de conteúdo de carboidratos com relação ao conteúdo proteico dos frutos. Este possibilita relacionar as preferências alimentares e partilha de recursos entre as espécies de morcegos frugívoros, enfatizando a importância destes frutos na regeneração florestal.

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Differential ingestion of fig seeds by a Neotropical bat, Platyrrhinus lineatus

Cited by 11 publications

References 15 publications

Preference of an insular flying fox for seed figs enhances seed dispersal of a dioecious species

Preference of an insular flying fox for seed figs enhances seed dispersal of a dioecious species

Bizarre Cecropia pachystachya (Urticaceae) hemiepiphytic growth on palms in the “Pantanal” wetland

Nutritional Determination of Fruit-Eating Bats of the Pantanal Wetland, Mato Grosso Do Sul, Brazil

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