Feeding behaviour of bats and the dispersal of Piper arboreum seeds in Brazil

Abstract

Phyllostomide bats are the most important consumers of Piper fruits in the Neotropics (Heithaus et al. 1975) and, in particular, Carollia perspicillata and Glossophaga soricina are the species which demonstrate distinct preferences for these fruits (Charles-Dominique 1991, Fleming 1981, Fleming et al. 1977, Marinho-Filho 1991, Palmeirim el al. 1989). This is also true of Piper arboreum Aubl. (Piperaceae) in the gallery forests of Central Brazil (Bizerril & Raw 1997).