Frugivory by Artibeus jamaicensis (Phyllostomidae) bats in the Pantanal, Brazil

Abstract

We studied the assemblage of seed species and other food items defecated by juvenile and adult male and female individuals of Artibeus jamaicensis (Phyllostomidae) in three habitats in the Pantanal wetlands. The most frequent item in A. jamaicensis fecal samples were seeds (65%), followed by fruit pulp (30%), insects (20%), leaves (8%), and pollen (7%). Seeds of Ficus pertusa, F. gomelleira, Ficus sp., and Cecropia pachystachya were recorded in fecal samples from all three habitats while seeds of Banara arguta were exclusive to riparian forests. The relative occurrence of seed species in the fecal samples did not differ among sex or different‐aged individuals. Ficus pertusa was the most common seed species and presented fast germination after passing through bats. Seeds of C. pachystachya which passed through A. jamaicensis had a lower germination rate than those uneaten. Overall results support that A. jamaicensis feeds on a relatively poor assemblage of fruits in the Pantanal.