Abstract
In any ecosystem, fruits are resources that vary in time and space as well as in nutritional content. Coexistence of species from a trophic guild depends on the division and use of resources. Therefore, the organisms that depend on them as a food source, tend to show a certain degree of specialization. This way, understanding the factors that influence the dynamics of seed dispersal is important for the regeneration and conservation of tropical ecosystems. Our aim was to determine variation in consumption of Piper tuberculatum by fruit bat assemblages in the village of Robles (Jamundí, Valle del Cauca, Colombia). P. tuberculatum is a resource used not only by wildlife but also by people in the village of Robles. Bats were captured in mist nets between June and November 2014, their feces were collected, and the length of the forearm, wing area, leg length and mass were recorded. At the Universidad del Valle seed laboratory, fecal samples were washed, and their content determined. Of the 14 species captured, Sturnira lilium, Carollia brevicauda, Carollia perspicillata and Artibeus lituratus showed signs of having consumed P. tuberculatum. Sturnira lilium was the main consumer of P. tuberculatum fruits, with the greatest number of consumption events of fruit from this plant species, whereas the other bats showed more diversified consumption events. The greatest niche overlap was recorded between C. brevicauda and C. perspicillata, species that showed similar sizes (i.e., wing area and forearm length) followed by S. lilium and C. perspicillata. In contrast, A. lituratus showed the least niche overlap with the other three fruit bats captured. In conclusion, Sturnira lilium showed an interaction Sturnira-Piper, which is the result of low Solanum availability, and this bat species was the largest consumer of P. tuberculatum in the region.
Highlights
How coexisting animal populations divide resources is a key determinant of species richness in a particular area (Pianka, 1974)
Phyllostomidae is the most diverse family of neotropical bats, consisting of 44 genera and more than 140 species among its South American representatives (Feldhamer et al, 2003; Gardner, 2007a). Sixteen of those genera are frugivorous, among which, Carollia and Sturnira stand out due to their wide geographic distribution, great local abundance, and important roles they play during successional stages in neotropical forests (Gardner, 2007b; Gardner, 2007c; McLellan & Koopman, 2007; Muscarella & Fleming 2007)
Those factors include the intrinsic characteristics of the fruits, such as smell, shape and hardness (Thies, Kalko, & Schnitzler, 1998; Dumont, 1999), as well as characteristics of the bats, such as body size, behavior, circadian cycle, reproduction and food handling behavior (Fleming 1991; Bonaccorso et al, 2006; Mello, Schittini, Selig, & Bergallo, 2004). Those studies initially compared Piper use only among Carollia spp., eventually including other species that consume these fruits and could coexist, such as bats from the genus Sturnira (Saldaña-Vázquez, Sosa, Iñiguez-Dávalos, & Schondube, 2013). It includes a great variety of fruits, the diet of Sturnira is generally dominated by fruits of the genus Solanum (Marinho-Filho, 1991; Mello, Kalko, & Silva, 2008; Saldaña-Vázquez et al, 2013)
Summary
How coexisting animal populations divide resources is a key determinant of species richness in a particular area (Pianka, 1974). Those factors include the intrinsic characteristics of the fruits, such as smell, shape and hardness (Thies, Kalko, & Schnitzler, 1998; Dumont, 1999), as well as characteristics of the bats, such as body size, behavior, circadian cycle, reproduction and food handling behavior (Fleming 1991; Bonaccorso et al, 2006; Mello, Schittini, Selig, & Bergallo, 2004) Those studies initially compared Piper use only among Carollia spp., eventually including other species that consume these fruits and could coexist, such as bats from the genus Sturnira (Saldaña-Vázquez, Sosa, Iñiguez-Dávalos, & Schondube, 2013). These interactions have been so commonly found that it has been suggested as a mechanism of resource partitioning between these organisms, allowing their coexistence by reducing the level of potential competition (Fleming, 1979; Marinho-Filho, 1991)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
