Does Moonlight Change Vertical Stratification of Activity by Forest-Dwelling Insectivorous Bats?

Hecker, Kerry R.; Brigham, R. Mark

doi:10.2307/1383170

Cited by 67 publications

(51 citation statements)

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“…Esta respuesta se expresa en un aumento de la abundancia de murciélagos en función del aumento de la cobertura del dosel y disminución de la densidad arbórea. Previamente se ha encontrado que la cobertura de dosel es un elemento determinante en la abundancia y actividad de murciélagos (Ford et al 2005;Castro-Luna et al 2007) y se ha interpretado como una respuesta al riesgo de depredación o la disponibilidad de alimento (Estrada et al 1993;Hecker & Brigham 1999;Medellín et al 2000;Kalko & Handley 2001;Castro-Luna et al 2007). Posiblemente la abundancia sea el resultado de la interacción de estos dos elementos, sin embargo consideramos que la disponibilidad alimenticia podría ser la causa más importante, ya que la densidad y cobertura del dosel son elementos asociados a ella (Castro-Luna et al 2007), principalmente por la abundancia de plantas típicas de vegetación secundaria, un recurso alimenticio potencial para murciélagos filostómidos (Charles-Dominique 1986;Fleming 1988;Tschapka, 2004;Vargas-Contreras et al 2009).…”

Section: Discussionunclassified

Efectos de la estructura del paisaje y de la vegetación en la diversidad de murciélagos filostómidos (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) de Oaxaca, México

García-García

Santos‐Moreno

2014

RBT

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Effects of landscape and vegetation structure on the diversity of phyllostomid bats (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in Oaxaca, Mexico. The tropical forest fragmentation is known to affect the spatial structure of the landscape and habitat. These alterations can modify the attributes of bat assemblages, however, this phenomenon has been little studied and understood. In this work we evaluated the structure of landscape (i.e. composition and configuration) and vegetation, and its relationship with assemblage-and population-level characteristics of phyllostomid bats in a tropical rainforest of Southeastern Mexico. For this, we previously selected 12 sites located in continuous and fragmented forests, where bats were captured using mist nets during a two years sampling effort (144 nights). Bats relative abundance, species richness (diversity of order 0, 0 D), Shannon diversity index ( 1 D) and Simpson index ( 2 D) were evaluated in all sites, and their relationship with seven measures of landscape structure and seven measures of vegetation structure was described using a Hierarchical Partitioning Analysis. A total of 1 840 individuals of 29 species of phyllostomid bats were captured in this period. Differences in the assemblages were manifested only in the relative abundance and not in the richness of the species. The assemblages of fragmented forest exhibited greater variation in species composition and a greater abundance of frugivorous and nectarivorous bats in comparison with the assemblages of continuous forest. The landscape configuration was related to the assemblage-and population-level attributes, contrasting with previous studies where the composition was a key element. At habitat level, tree density and canopy cover determined the abundance of bats. Nectarivorous and frugivorous bats were mostly found in disturbed vegetation landscapes, primarily due to landscape configuration (e.g. edge density). This phenomenon could be a response to the availability of food in primary and intermediate successional stages, which are characterized by an abundance of food value. Rev. Biol. Trop. 62 (1): 217-239. Epub 2014 March 01.

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Section: Discussionunclassified

Efectos de la estructura del paisaje y de la vegetación en la diversidad de murciélagos filostómidos (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) de Oaxaca, México

García-García

Santos‐Moreno

2014

RBT

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“…Some studies suggest that insectivorous bats change foraging habitats in concert with moon phase (Hecker and Brigham 1999;Reith 1982), while several others found no correlation between light levels and activity patterns (Karlsson et al 2002;Negraeff and Brigham 1995;Waiping and Fenton 1988).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

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Activity levels of bats and katydids in relation to the lunar cycle

et al. 2005

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Animals are exposed to many conflicting ecological pressures, and the effect of one may often obscure that of another. A likely example of this is the so-called ''lunar phobia'' or reduced activity of bats during full moon. The main reason for lunar phobia was thought to be that bats adjust their activity to avoid predators. However, bats can be prey, but many are carnivorous and therefore predators themselves. Thus, they are likely to be influenced by prey availability as well as predation risk. We investigated the activity patterns of the perchhunting Lophostoma silvicolum and one of its main types of prey, katydids, to assess the influence of the former during different phases of the lunar cycle on a gleaning insectivorous bat. To avoid sampling bias, we used sound recordings and two different capture methods for the katydids, as well as video monitoring and radiotelemetry for the bats. Both, bats and katydids were significantly more active during the dark periods associated with new moon compared to bright periods around the full moon. We conclude that foraging activity of L. silvicolum is probably influenced by prey availability to a large extent and argue that generally the causes of lunar phobia are species-specific.

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“…No entanto, morcegos insetívoros não alteraram o comportamento em noites com maior luminosidade (NEGRAEFF & BRIGHAM, 1995;HECKER & BRIGHAM, 1999;KARLSSON et al, 2002) ou usaram locais mais sombreados (REITH, 1982).…”

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Influência do ciclo lunar na captura de morcegos Phyllostomidae

Esbérard

2007

Iheringia, Sér. Zool.

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ABSTRACT. Influence of moon cycle in phyllostomid bat capture. The influence of moonlight on the activity patterns of bats has been reported to some species. In general, bats react to the increase of nocturnal illumination by reducing the use of open spaces, by limiting foraging activity or by shortening the activity periods. To determine the influence of moon cycle on the efficiency of bat netting, captures of 28 night-samplings were analyzed in southeastern Brazil. The capture rate and species richness were inversely related to the moonlight intensity. Among the most frequently netted species, only two showed significant and negative relation with increasing moonlight. The highest variation in species richness was observed in gleaners and nectarivorous species. The days following new moon were the most productive in terms of capture rate and species richness. The local species richness was not archived when sampling was restricted to any single period of the moon cycle. Bat community studies may benefit from samplings spanning the entire moon cycle.KEYWORDS. Lunar phobia, sampling methods, southeastern Brazil, bats. RESUMO.A influência da luz da lua no padrão de atividade de morcegos já foi documentada em algumas espécies. Geralmente os morcegos reagem ao aumento da iluminação reduzindo o uso de espaços abertos e restringindo a atividade de forrageio ou a duração do período de atividade. Para estabelecer a influência do ciclo lunar na eficiência de captura de morcegos, foi realizada uma análise com 28 noites de capturas no sudeste do Brasil. A taxa de captura e a riqueza de espécies apresentaram relação linear inversa com a porção iluminada pela lua. Das espécies mais freqüentemente capturadas, apenas duas apresentaram relação significativa e negativa com o aumento da iluminação pela lua. Maiores variações na riqueza de espécies foram observadas em morcegos catadores e nectarívoros. Os dias após a lua nova são os mais produtivos em relação a capturas e riqueza. A riqueza local não pode ser totalmente amostrada se a amostragem for restrita a qualquer período do ciclo lunar. Para estudar a comunidade de morcegos é mais apropriado realizar amostragem durante todo o ciclo lunar. PALAVRAS-CHAVE.Fobia lunar, métodos de amostragem, sudeste do Brasil, morcegos.

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Does Moonlight Change Vertical Stratification of Activity by Forest-Dwelling Insectivorous Bats?

Cited by 67 publications

References 20 publications

Efectos de la estructura del paisaje y de la vegetación en la diversidad de murciélagos filostómidos (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) de Oaxaca, México

Efectos de la estructura del paisaje y de la vegetación en la diversidad de murciélagos filostómidos (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) de Oaxaca, México

Activity levels of bats and katydids in relation to the lunar cycle

Influência do ciclo lunar na captura de morcegos Phyllostomidae

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