Differential Ingestion ofFicusSeeds by Frugivorous Bats: A First Experimental Test inPtenochirus Jagori(Pteropodidae)

Effects of ingestion by neotropical bats on germination parameters of native free-standing and strangler figs (Ficus sp., Moraceae)

“…Additionally, the slippery cover of a viable seed from a free-standing Wgs as well as the gelatinous cover of a strangler Wg seed are likely to lead to preferential ingestion by bats, while they will spit damaged seeds out with the pellets (Reiter 2002;Utzurrum and Heideman 1991). We only very rarely found damaged seeds in the faeces of bats after the consumption of strangler or free-standing Wgs.…”

Proximate analysis of Indian flying fox’s (Pteropus giganteus) natural food, with a note on its roost variations in urban areas of Lahore, Pakistan

“…The fruits of Ficus species are 78% seeds; the tiny seeds were ingested and digested by flying foxes and a higher proportion of viable seeds was also found in guano as compared to bolus. This may render long-distance dispersal, which may occur through guano deposition more effectively, and also provide essential nutrients to flying foxes (Terborgh, 1986;Lambert and Marshall, 1991;Reiter, 2002). Seed predation can be considered an important way by which bats maximize nutritional intake, expanding our view of the trophic roles played by this group.…”

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

“…Based on this feeding behaviour and on records that fig seeds in the bat's faeces are predominantly viable rather than wasp-parasitized, it has been suggested that bats selectively ingest viable seeds and discard wasp-parasitized ones in the pellets (Janzen, 1978;Utzurrum and Heideman, 1991;Kalko et al, 1996;Hodgkison et al, 2003; but see Nogueira and Peracchi, 2003). However, such a differential jagori (Pteropodidae) fed with unidentified figs (Reiter, 2002). Thus multiple studies are still needed to demonstrate the occurrence of differential ingestion of fig seeds and to know variable patterns of seed ingestion by different bat species feeding on variable fig species.…”

“…It indicates that other bats (e.g. Morrison, 1980;Fleming, 1986;Kalko et al, 1996;Nogueira and Peracchi, 2003) On one hand, the presence of a slippery gelatinous coating might favour viable fig seeds to be ingested (Utzurrum and Heideman, 1991;Reiter, 2002;Heer et al, 2010) and, on the other hand, the attachment to fig tissues likely impels wasp-parasitized seeds to be discarded in the pellets (pers. obs.).…”

“…Ripe syconia ("fruits" of figs) of monoecious fig species present wasp-parasitized seeds originated from short-styled flowers mixed with viable seeds produced in long-styled flowers (Weiblen, 2002). However, the ingestion of parasitized seeds by the fig-eating fauna is likely disadvantageous for fig species because it can reduce the amount of viable seeds available for long-distance dispersal through faecal deposition (Utzurrum and Heideman, 1991;Reiter, 2002).…”