High similarity between a bat-serviced plant assemblage and that used by humans

Scanlon, Annette; Petit, Sophie; Tuiwawa, Marika; Naikatini, Alivereti

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2014.03.023

Cited by 33 publications

(49 citation statements)

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“…The plants served by pteropodids overlap extensively with those valued by humans for medicinal, cultural and economic uses (Scanlon et al . ). Moreover, some plants (e.g., Durio zibethinus and Parkia speciosa ) depend on pteropodids as their primary pollinator (Bumrungsri et al .…”

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confidence: 97%

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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confidence: 97%

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

et al. 2017

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“…With restricted dispersal ability, a diverse resource community (including sturdy D. biflora ) enables N. macdonaldi to persist in cyclone‐prone forests. Five of six N. macdonaldi captured in April 2010, immediately after the cyclone, had visited D. biflora flowers (Scanlon et al., ). In Samoa, folivory and use of storm‐resistant lianas ( Freycinetia reineckei ) were factors associated with increased cyclone survival rates for P. samoensis compared with P. tonganus , whose dramatic decline was connected to loss of Syzygium inophylloides flowers (Pierson et al., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…to be cyclone‐resistant, but unlike in Samoa (Cox, ) P. tonganus readily used this resource and all bat species used Syzygium flowers. P. tonganus has the greatest dietary breadth of all Fijian bat species (Scanlon & Petit, ; Scanlon et al., , ) and more capacity to switch resources, even tracking resources among islands (McConkey & Drake, ). The dramatic cyclone‐related population declines recorded for Pteropus spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The hypanthium of S. oblongifolium bears numerous pink stamens and a nectar reward; flowers are 1–2 cm diameter, and are bat‐ and moth‐pollinated (based on observations of Syzygium at the site; e.g. Scanlon & Petit, ; Scanlon, Petit, & Sternberg, ; Scanlon et al., ). Gironniera celtidifolia has short, dense, many‐flowered panicles (~4–5 cm diameter) with no corolla (Whistler, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The loss of pteropodid bats would have catastrophic implications for rainforest functions in the Pacific (i.e. for pollination and seed dispersal; Fujita & Tuttle, ; Rainey, Pierson, Elmqvist, & Cox, ; Scanlon et al., ); decreased population densities of flying foxes threaten their function as seed dispersers (McConkey & Drake, ). We separated pteropodid bat resources from overall NF resources to examine the impact of the cyclone specifically on plant‐servicing bats.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Response of primary and secondary rainforest flowers and fruits to a cyclone, and implications for plant‐servicing bats

Scanlon

Petit

Tuiwawa

et al. 2018

Global Change Biology

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The response of primary (PF) and secondary (SF) rainforests to cyclones has broad implications for servicing fauna and the resilience of forest functions. We collected fine-scale data on the reproductive phenology of plant communities in Fijian PF and SF in 12 monthly surveys before and after Cyclone Tomas (2010). We generated a resource index from the reproductive loads of 2218 trees and 1150 non-trees (>190 species) and trunk and stem diameter to assess patterns in resource abundance for nectarivores and frugivores (hereafter NF resources). We aimed to determine (i) whether species richness of NF resources differed between forests; (ii) the patterns of resilience of NF resources at community level in both forests after a cyclone; and (iii) the effect of response on NF resources for plant-servicing bats (Pteropodidae). In 12 months preceding the cyclone, NF resources were greater in PF trees; non-tree resources fluctuated and were greater in SF. Lower species richness of NF resources in SF indicated that fewer opportunities exist there for exploitation by a diverse fauna. More resources were available for bats in PF. In 12 months following the cyclone, PF flowers and fruits, and SF fruits specifically used by pteropodid bats decreased for trees. Non-tree resources were especially susceptible to the cyclone. No universal pattern of decline was associated with the cyclone; instead, some NF resources declined and others were resilient or responded rapidly to a post-cyclone environment. Both PF and SF demonstrated resilience at the community level via increased flower survival (PF) and rapid flower production (SF). Reduced species richness of NF resources in SF will compromise future resilience and response to disturbance, including for threatened pteropodid bat species. These findings are critical for long-term management of forests, given predicted increases in cyclone frequency and intensity associated with anthropogenic climate change.

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Dillenia (Dilleniaceae) pollen heteromorphy and presentation, and implications for pollination by bats

Petit,

Scanlon,

Naikatini

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

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Bat pollination of Dillenia in Fiji, a genus that was presumed to be pollinated by bees, posits that other Dillenia species may be bat‐pollinated, with implications for conservation and the understanding of angiosperm evolution. Botanical descriptions of some corolla behaviours (‘falling as a whole’) suggest bat removal of permanently closed corollas, as in D. biflora. Considering the remoteness of species of interest, we reviewed some Dillenia floral traits to hypothesise what they may mean for bat pollination of the genus. We investigated D. biflora pollen grains apertures and reviewed Dillenia literature concerning corolla behaviour and colour, and pollen apertures and presentation, including pores and staminodes. Our samples had dramatically different ratios of tricolpate to tetracolpate pollen grains, a trait that does not exclude pollination by bees. Petal colour polymorphism occurs, with mixed colours proportionately less common in flowers with corollas that open. The proportion of species with staminodes did not differ between those presumed to be pollinated by bats and others, but anthers of the former were significantly more likely to have apical pores, and stamens all had similar length or were slightly longer in the middle, whereas stamens in two distinct groups occurred in 55% of bee‐pollinated species. Pollen heteromorphy may facilitate pollination by different taxa in tropical environments. However, anther apical pores and stamen uniformity are more likely to be associated with bat‐pollinated species than are other morphologies. Dillenia could be a useful model to examine evolutionary aspects of colour, heteranthery, staminodes and pollen heteromorphy. Only field work will verify bat pollination and the implications of bat dependence for Dillenia species.

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High similarity between a bat-serviced plant assemblage and that used by humans

Cited by 33 publications

References 50 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

Response of primary and secondary rainforest flowers and fruits to a cyclone, and implications for plant‐servicing bats

Dillenia (Dilleniaceae) pollen heteromorphy and presentation, and implications for pollination by bats

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