Seasonal variation in the diet of the bat Carollia perspicillata (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in an Atlantic Forest area in southeastern Brazil

Abstract

Carollia perspicillata feeds primarily on plants of the family Piperaceae, as reported in the literature. Although this preference occurs throughout this species’ geographic range, in some situations they may eat other items. This study analyzed variations in the feeding habits of this bat species over an 18-month period. Although C. perspicillata consumed mostly Piper plants, they also ate other fruits (e.g. Cecropia and Solanum plants), and insects as well. Food choice followed a seasonal pattern, related to the availability of Piper plants. The seasonal absence of these fruits may have necessitated bats to eat alternative items.

A Test of the Effects of Climate and Fruiting ofPiperSpecies (Piperaceae) on Reproductive Patterns of the BatCarollia perspicillata(Phyllostomidae)

“…Nevertheless, we could have found a more significant pattern, if we have identified Piper seeds to the species level, because we do not know for sure which of the seven Piper species of the area were consumed by C. perspicillata, and in which were the dominant species in its diet. Shifts in diet have been observed by other authors (Heithaus et al, 1975), as in the present study, when bats started eating fruits of the genus Solanum and insects during the dry season of 2000 when the availability of fruit of Piper fruits was very low (Mello et al, 2004). However this pattern was not repeated in 2001, for unknown reasons.…”

“…Heithaus et al (1975), Fleming (1985 and Thies and Kalko (2004) showed that different Piper species produce fruits at different times of the year, and that there is a difference between forest and gap guilds of Piper. Marinho-Filho (1991) and Mello et al (2004) also reported that C. perspicillata bats might undergo seasonal changes in diet, reacting to variations in Piper availability.…”

Experimental transmission of the parasitic flagellates Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli between triatomine bugs or mice and captive neotropical bats

“…by Rasweiler 1975, 1977, rev. by Gardner 1977, Zortea 2003, Mello et al 2004). This may be necessary to meet some of the bats' nutritional requirements (Rasweiler 1977).…”

Movements of bats (Mammalia, Chiroptera) in Atlantic Forest remnants in southern Brazil

“…Carollia perspicillata feeds mainly in the mid level of the forest ("understory frugivores", sensu BONACCORSO 1979) (FLEMING 1988, COSSON et al 1999, STOCKWELL 2001 where fruit-bearing shrubs such as the genus Piper L. (Piperaceae), its prefered food item (BONACCORSO 1979, FLEMING 1988, PALMEIRIM et al 1989, MELLO et al 2004) are usually common. In fact, at least nine Piper species occur in the study sites, and six of them are common or abundant in the understory.…”