Sturnira Parvidens Research Articles

Bat cellular immunity varies by year and dietary habit amidst land conversion.

Monitoring the health of wildlife populations is essential in the face of increased agricultural expansion and forest fragmentation. Loss of habitat and habitat degradation can negatively affect an animal's physiological state, possibly resulting in immunosuppression and increased morbidity or mortality. We sought to determine how land conversion may differentially impact cellular immunity and infection risk in Neotropical bats species regularly infected with bloodborne pathogens, and to evaluate how effects may vary over time and by dietary habit. We studied common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus), northern yellow-shouldered bats (Sturnira parvidens) and Mesoamerican mustached bats (Pteronotus mesoamericanus), representing the dietary habits of sanguivory, frugivory and insectivory respectively, in northern Belize. We compared estimated total white blood cell count, leukocyte differentials, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and infection status with two bloodborne bacterial pathogens (Bartonella spp. and hemoplasmas) of 118 bats captured in a broadleaf, secondary forest over three years (2017-2019). During this period, tree cover decreased by 14.5% while rangeland expanded by 14.3%, indicating increasing habitat loss and fragmentation. We found evidence for bat species-specific responses of cellular immunity between years, with neutrophil counts significantly decreasing in S. parvidens from 2017 to 2018, but marginally increasing in D. rotundus. However, the odds of infection with Bartonella spp. and hemoplasmas between 2017 and 2019 did not differ between bat species, contrary to our prediction that pathogen prevalence may increase with land conversion. We conclude that each bat species invested differently in cellular immunity in ways that changed over years of increasing habitat loss and fragmentation. We recommend further research on the interactions between land conversion, immunity and infection across dietary habits of Neotropical bats for informed management and conservation.

Hemotropic mycoplasmas in bats from forest fragments, state of Paraná, southern Brazil

The order Chiroptera is the second largest group of mammals with bats being identified as reservoir of several viral zoonoses, although, little is known about their role in other groups of pathogens, including hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. To date, hemoplasma species have been found infecting several species of bats with high genetic diversity between 16S rRNA gene sequences. On this study, we aimed to identify the occurrence and characterize 16S and 23S rRNA genes of hemoplasma species in four bats species (Artibeus lituratus, Carollia perspicillata, Sturnira lilium and Sturnira tildae) from forest fragments in Paraná State, southern Brazil, using PCR-based assays. Spleen tissue samples were collected, DNA extracted and further screened by a pan‑hemoplasma PCR assay. All samples consistently amplified the mammal endogenous gapdh gene. One out of 15 (6.66%; 95% CI: 0.2-31%) bats tested positive for hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. by the PCR assay targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene fragment from the hemoplasma-positive bat showed 99.14% identity with hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. detected in Sturnira parvidens from Belize. Sequencing of the 23S rRNA gene fragment from the hemoplasma-positive bat showed 86.17% identity with ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemosphiggurus’ detected in orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupines (Sphiggurus villosus) from Southern Brazil.

A genomic portrait of Sturnira parvidens: mitochondrial chromosome, repetitive elements, and microsatellite discovery

Abstract The yellow-shouldered bat, Sturnira parvidens (Phyllostomidae), is an abundant and widespread species in southern North America and Mesoamerica. Despite its important ecological role, no genomic resources exist for this species. Using low-coverage short Illumina 150 bp pair-end reads sequencing, this study reports the mitochondrial chromosome and nuclear repetitive elements, including microsatellites, in S. parvidens. The mitochondrial genome of S. parvidens is 16,612 bp in length and is comprised of 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 22 transfer RNA genes. Repetitive elements constituted ~67% of the nuclear genome while ~33% of the genome represented single- or low-copy sequences. A moderate proportion of repetitive sequences (31% putative families) could not be assigned to known repeat element families. Considering only annotated repetitive elements, the most ubiquitous repetitive elements belonged to Class I-LINE and Satellite DNA, which were considerably more abundant than Class I-LTR elements and Class II-DNA transposons (TcMar-Mariner and hAT-Charlie). A total of 193 microsatellites were identified.

Natural infection with Trypanosoma cruzi in bats captured in Campeche and Yucatán, México.

Introduction: Bats have been reported as hosts of the Trypanosoma cruzi protozoan, the etiologic agent of American trypanosomiasis, an endemic zoonotic disease in México. Objective: To describe T. cruzi infection in bats from the states of Campeche and Yucatán, México.Materials and methods: Captures were made from March to November, 2017 at three sites in Yucatán and one in Campeche. Up to four mist nets on two consecutive nights were used for the capture. The bats' species were identified and euthanasia was performed to collect kidney and heart samples for total DNA extraction. Trypanosoma cruzi infection was detected by conventional PCR with the amplification of a fragment belonging to the T. cruzi DNA nuclear. Results: Eighty-six bats belonging to five families (Vespertilionidae, Noctilionidae, Mormoopidae, Phyllostomidae, and Molossidae) and 13 species (Rhogeessa aeneus, Noctilio leporinus, Pteronotus davyi, P. parnellii, Artibeus jamaicensis, A. lituratus, A. phaeotis, Glossophaga soricina, Carollia sowelli, Chiroderma villosum, Uroderma bilobatum, Sturnira parvidens, and Molossus rufus) were captured. Infection frequency by PCR was 30,2% (26/86) detected only in the renal tissue. The infected species were P. parnellii, G. soricina, A. lituratus, A. jamaicensis, S. parvidens, C. villosum, and R. aeneus.Conclusions: Our results confirmed the participation of several bat species as hosts in the T. cruzi transmission cycle in the region. Further studies are necessary to establish the importance of these animals in the zoonotic transmission of T. cruzi.

Olfactory tracking strategies in a neotropical fruit bat.

ABSTRACTMany studies have characterized olfactory-tracking behaviors in animals, and it has been proposed that search strategies may be generalizable across a wide range of species. Olfaction is important for fruit- and nectar-feeding bats, but it is uncertain whether existing olfactory search models can predict the strategies of flying mammals that emit echolocation pulses through their nose. Quantitative assessments of how well echolocating bats track and localize odor sources are lacking, so we developed a behavioral assay to characterize the olfactory detection and tracking behavior of crawling northern yellow-shouldered bats (Sturnira parvidens), a common neotropical frugivore. Trained bats were presented with a choice between control and banana-odor-infused solutions in a series of experiments that confirmed that bats are able to locate a reward based on odor cues alone and examined the effect of odor concentration on olfactory search behaviors. Decision distance (the distance from which bats made their change in direction before directly approaching the target) was distinctly bimodal, with an observed peak that coincided with an inflection point in the odor concentration gradient. We observed two main search patterns that are consistent with both serial sampling and learned route-following strategies. These results support the hypothesis that bats can combine klinotaxis with spatial awareness of experimental conditions to locate odor sources, similar to terrestrial mammals. Contrary to existing models, bats did not display prominent head-scanning behaviors during their final approach, which may be due to constraints of nasal-emitted biosonar for orientation.

Borrelia in neotropical bats: Detection of two new phylogenetic lineages

The genus Borrelia encompasses 50 spirochetal species, several of which are pathogenic and have been detected in a wide range of mammals, especially rodents and cervids. Although the order Chiroptera is the second most diverse mammalian order, and borreliosis represents a human and veterinary health problem in endemic countries, few studies have previously reported infections of Borrelia in these flying mammals. For this reason, the aim of the present study was to detect the presence of, and to analyze the diversity of Borrelia species in several bat species from Mexico. A total of 69 bats belonging to 11 species were collected and molecular detection of Borrelia was performed by amplifying three genes using specific primers. Only five individuals of four bat species (Saccopteryxbilineata, Choeroniscus godmani, Sturnira parvidens and Lasiurus cinereus) tested positive for Borrelia DNA. We now show the first Borrelia record in Mexican bats from two different ecosystems, where previously several potential vector species of the genus Ixodes and Ornithodoros had been reported. The Borrelia sequences obtained from the bats revealed two new putative lineages, one from the relapsing fever group and the second one belonging to the Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. complex, both of which are related to zoonotic species. These results highlight the importance of bats as potential hosts of Borrelia, and the imperative need of active surveillance in flying mammals in order to understand their potential role in the life cycle of this bacteria genus.

Observations of lesions in Sturnira parvidens from Central México

Las observaciones sobre las condiciones de salud de los organismos son útiles para comprender la biología de las especies, particularmente porque las enfermedades y lesiones son poco conocidas en los murciélagos filostómidos, a pesar de la alta diversidad de este grupo en el neotrópico. Reportamos dos anomalías físicas encontradas en el murciélago norteño de charreteras (Sturnira parvidens) en una localidad del noroeste del estado de Hidalgo, México. El muestreo de murciélagos se realizó en febrero de 2020 utilizando tres redes de niebla (46.8 m2 red / noche) en una localidad del municipio de Nicolás Flores. Los individuos capturados fueron medidos e identificados a nivel de especie y se determinaron las medidas somáticas convencionales, además del sexo y su condición reproductiva. De una muestra de 29 individuos capturados de Sturnira parvidens, dos de ellos mostraron anomalías físicas; un macho presentó una lesión en el hueso metacarpiano del segundo dedo del ala derecha y otro macho exhibió síndrome alopécico en la espalda. En murciélagos, las fracturas óseas son menos comunes en comparación con otros tipos de daños en sus alas, pero es difícil establecer las causas de estas lesiones. El síndrome alopécico puede ser una condición rara en S. parvidens, pero aún es necesario identificar los agentes etiológicos que producen esta enfermedad.

Sturnira parvidens (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

AbstractThe little yellow-shouldered Mesoamerican bat, Sturnira parvidens Goldman, 1917, is a medium-sized yellow-shouldered bat with no tail, a vestigial uropatagium, and reddish or yellowish patches on the shoulders. It lives in tropical habitats associated with lower and mid-elevations from northern Costa Rica to Mexico, and it is one of 24 described species in the genus Sturnira. Although S. parvidens is more common in disturbed areas because it mainly feeds on pioneer plants, it uses day roosts located in mature forest or in areas with advanced successional stages. It is an abundant species and is listed as “Least Concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

Glucocorticoid Profiles in Frugivorous Bats on Wind Farms in the Mexican Tropics

The urgent need for alternative methods of obtaining clean energy has accelerated wind farm development worldwide. To determine the effects of these facilities on the biodiversity of resident species, we conducted a spatio-temporal measurement on the glucocorticoid contents of four species of frugivorous bats (Artibeus lituratus, A. jamaicensis, Sturnira parvidens, and S. hondurensis) in Oaxaca, Mexico to test for physiological stress. Bats were captured at two sites: one with wind farms and the other without. Blood and feces were collected and cortisol and corticosterone were measured by immunoassay. Glucocorticoid contents were not significantly different between sites with or without wind turbines for any of the four species, although they averaged higher at wind turbine sites. However, cortisol and corticosterone concentrations were different between the dry and rainy seasons. The elevated glucocorticoid levels during the dry season are possibly due to the high degree of physiological stress generated by their reproductive activity. In general, the four phyllostomid bat species found at the wind farms in Oaxaca seem to tolerate or are not adversely affected physiologically by the presence of wind turbines.

Distinct Patterns of Genetic Connectivity Found for Two Frugivorous Bat Species in Mesoamerica

Sturnira parvidens and Sturnira hondurensis are two frugivorous bat species distributed throughout the Mesoamerican region. Sturnira parvidens inhabits tropical lowland forests and S. hondurensis montane cloud forests. Their populations are respectively separated by the intervening highlands or lowlands. We used mitochondrial DNA control region sequences to compare genetic structure among the populations of these two species in the region of the Gulf of Mexico. We also measured genetic connectivity among their populations and assessed the distribution model for each species. We found high genetic diversity in both species: the FST comparisons values were low to high in S. hondurensis and low in S. parvidens. For S. hondurensis, we found isolation by landscape resistance (IBR) where the highland habitat heterogeneity may have restricted gene flow among the populations of the Sierra Madre Oriental, Sierra de Los Tuxtlas, Chiapas and Guatemala. For S. parvidens, the isolation is explained by geographic distance rather than by landscape heterogeneity.

Chemical characterisation of potential pheromones from the shoulder gland of the Northern yellow-shouldered-bat, Sturnira parvidens (Phyllostomidae: Stenodermatinae).

Bats of the genus Sturnira (Family Phyllostomidae) are characterised by shoulder glands that are more developed in reproductively mature adult males. The glands produce a waxy secretion that accumulates on the fur around the gland, dyeing the fur a dark colour and giving off a pungent odour. These shoulder glands are thought to play a role in their reproductive behaviour. Using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, we analysed solvent extracts of fur surrounding the shoulder gland in the northern-shouldered bat, Sturnira parvidens to (i) characterise the chemical composition of shoulder gland secretions for the first time, and (ii) look for differences in chemical composition among and between adult males, sub-adult/juvenile males and adult females. Fur solvent extracts were analysed as liquids and also further extracted using headspace solid-phase microextraction to identify volatile components in the odour itself. Odour fingerprint analysis using non-metric multidimensional scaling plots and multivariate analysis revealed clear and significant differences (P < 0.001) between adult males vs both juvenile males and adult females. The chemical components of the shoulder gland secretion included terpenes and phenolics, together with alcohols and esters, most likely derived from the frugivorous diet of the bat. Many of the compounds identified were found exclusively or in elevated quantities among adult (reproductive) males compared with adult females and non-reproductive (juvenile) males. This strongly suggests a specific role in male–female attraction although a function in male–male competition and/or species recognition is also possible.

Ocular Lesions and Diseases in Bats from Jalisco and Oaxaca, Mexico

Ocular diseases are common in pets and other domestic mammals, as well as in wild mammals, but there are few reports for bats. A review of multiple mortality events in bats and examination of bat carcasses from several species revealed that principal causes of death were traumas, bacterial infections, and attacks by domestic cats. Relatively little is known concerning ocular lesions or diseases in bats with only two papers reporting ocular anomalies. We describe ocular lesions or diseases detected in bats of Jalisco and Oaxaca, Mexico. From January 2008 through March 2017, we captured 8,718 bats, nine of these had ocular lesions or diseases. These nine were collected in five localities. Bats were captured with mist nets; six with ocular anomalies were released after recording the basic biological information and three were preserved as museum specimens. Eyes of the affected bats were photographed in the field. Of nine bats with ocular lesions or diseases, two had corneal opacity, four had eye injuries or infections, one had microphthalmia or nanophthalmia, and two had anophthalmia. No other evidence of trauma, disease, or reduced fitness was noted. The bats with anomalies were from two families (Phyllostomidae and Molossidae) and six species (Desmodus rotundus, Glossophaga soricina, Artibeus jamaicensis, Artibeus lituratus, Sturnira parvidens, and Tadarida brasiliensis). The paucity of reports of ocular anomalies in bats suggests that those with ocular problems have low survival probability in natural settings. However, given the small size of the eye in many bat species, the rarity of such reports could be in part due to field researchers missing such anomalies even when they occur. Also, we suspect that researchers at times encounter such anomalies but simply do not report their observations in the literature.

Fruit traits and temporal abundance shape plant-frugivore interaction networks in a seasonal tropical forest.

Interactions between fleshy fruited plants and frugivores are crucial for the structuring and functioning of biotic communities, particularly in tropical forests where both groups are diverse and play different roles in network organization. However, it remains poorly understood how different groups of frugivore species and fruit traits contribute to network structure. We recorded interactions among 28 plant species and three groups of frugivores (birds, bats, and non-flying mammals) in a seasonal forest in Mexico to determine which species contribute more to network structure and evaluate the importance of each species. We also determined whether fruit abundance, water content, morphology traits, and fruiting phenology are related to network parameters: the number of interactions, species contribution to nestedness, and species strength. We found that plants did not depend on a single group of frugivores, but rather on one species of each group: the bird Pitangus sulphuratus, the bat Sturnira parvidens, and the non-flying mammal Procyon lotor. The abundance, size, and water content of the fruits were significantly related to the contribution to nestedness, number of interactions, and species strength index of plant species. Tree species and birds contributed mainly to the nested structure of the network. We show that the structure of plant-frugivore networks in this seasonal forest is non-random and that fruit traits (i.e., abundance, phenology, size, and water content) are important factors shaping plant-frugivore networks. Identification of the key species and their traits that maintain the complex structure of species interactions is therefore fundamental for the integral conservation of tropical forests.

Genetic and ecological processes promoting early diversification in the lowland Mesoamerican bat Sturnira parvidens (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

With 22 species, Sturnira is the most speciose genus of frugivorous Neotropical bats. Sturnira parvidens inhabits lowland tropical areas from Mexico to Central America. The elevation of this taxon to species level was recent, and discrepancies with respect to its geographic limits and phylogenetic position continue to exist. In order to identify genetic and ecological processes likely involved in the diversification and current distribution of S. parvidens, we evaluated relationships, researched phylogeographic and demographic history, and tested the divergence/conservatism of the climatic niche of this bat. We used data from mitochondrial loci (cytochrome b and the hypervariable D-loop region I) and the nuclear recombination activating gene 1, in 173 samples of S. parvidens and 77 samples of related species. We performed Bayesian analyses to infer phylogenetic relationships and analyzed phylogeographic structure, genetic diversity, divergence times and historical demography. Sturnira bakeri is the sister group of S. parvidens, and inhabits Western Ecuador. The two species diverged c. 1.84Ma, and their distributions are disjunct and separated by Sturnira luisi. Within S. parvidens there are two haplogroups with nearly allopatric distributions that are limited to the Sierra Madre del Sur, on the Mexican Pacific Slope. The divergence time between haplogroups was c. 0.423Ma and we detected signals of demographic expansion. We also analyzed 526 occurrence data of S. parvidens to test for changes in environmental niche of this species. We detected signals of divergence of climatic niche, mainly in temperature and seasonality variables. Likely, both genetic and ecological processes have shaped the evolutionary history of S. parvidens. Despite many climatic fluctuations during the Pleistocene, only the most intense oscillations had an impact on these bats. In addition, ecological differentiation prevents admixture of genetic lineages that are in contact and lack apparent geographical barriers at the southern Sierra Madre del Sur. We concluded that speciation in Sturnira was promoted by this taxon’s ability to colonize new geographical and environmental spaces and form genetically structured groups when populations become isolated.

The understory bat community in a fragmented landscape in the lowlands of the Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico

Bat species in Neotropical regions are known to reach a high diversity. The Chiropteran fauna contributes significantly to the ecological dynamics of tropical forests and are excellent indicators of the state of conservation. The Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz has suffered severe habitat degradation and forest fragmentation in the last four decades, mostly due to anthropogenic activities. The main objective of the present study was to describe in terms of species richness, feeding guild, biomass, and dominance, the little known bat community of the Parque de Flora and Fauna Silvestre Tropical (PAFFASIT) in the municipality of Catemaco, Veracruz. We expected that after nearly 30 years of ambient protection that this study site would maintain its functional diversity, as well as complexity in the bat understory assemblage. Since the relationship between richness and abundance is regulated by area size and the structural complexity of the vegetation, we hypothesize that in the PAFFASIT, a small number of species in the understory are dominant in terms of abundance and biomass. Fieldwork was conducted from November 2007 to November 2008. Sixteen mist nets were operated on four consecutive nights monthly from dusk until 0300 hours. All bats captured were processed and released in the field. We estimate the overall species diversity. A species accumulation curve over time was constructed. All species were assigned a feeding guild. Sampling effort totaled 1344 net/hours. We captured a total of 509 individuals, which represented 22 species. The Phyllostomidae family accounted for 98% of the total captures. Four species of this family, Sturnira parvidens, Carollia sowelli, Artibeus jamaicensis and Glossophaga soricina, alone accounted for 79 % of the total captures. The frugivore guild had the highest number of species (68 % of total captures). Two species, S. parvidens and C. sowelli, represented 57 % of the total gross biomass of the sample. The Shannon-Wiener Index value was 1.97 for the overall sample. New species were added slowly each month, but after nine months the accumulation curve tended to reach an asymptote. Nine species were added to the bat inventory for this site. In PAFFASIT due to the slow accumulation of species the number of bat species may increase as more surveys are carried out. In our study, we initially hypothesized a dominance by a few species. Our results concur with our prediction; as we found four species, S. parvidens, C. sowelli, A. jamaicensis and G. soricina that dominated the bat assemblage. In agreement with our hypothesis, results revealed the presence of a rich understory assemblage of bat species, which is similar to other findings in neotropical forests, but with a different species composition. The four species, belonging to the Phyllostomidae family accounted for 79 % of all captures, as well as 68 % of the total captures of the frugivore guild. The PAFFASIT forest reserve probably serves as an important link between two large areas of relatively well-preserved rainforest immersed in an anthropogenic landscape. The bat community, we observed at the PAFFASIT seems to be a simplification of that of mature rainforests in Los Tuxtlas, and it is noteworthy the absence of rare or sensitive animalivorous bat species such a as Chrotopterus auritus, Lophostoma evotis, Trachops cirrhosus and Vampyrum spectrum.

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers for Sturnira parvidens and cross-species amplification in Sturnira species.

BackgroundSturnira is one of the most species-rich genera in the Neotropics, and it is found from Mexico and the Lesser Antilles to Argentina. This genus forms a well-supported monophyletic clade with at least twenty-one recognized species, as well as several others under taxonomic review. Sturnira parvidens is a widespread frugivorous bat of the deciduous forests of the Neotropics, is highly abundant, and is a major component in fruit dispersal to regenerate ecosystems.MethodsWe used a technique based on Illumina paired-end sequencing of a library highly enriched for microsatellite repeats to develop loci for S. parvidens. We analyzed millions of resulting reads with specialized software to extract those reads that contained di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, and hexanucleotide microsatellites.ResultsWe selected and tested 14 polymorphic (di, tri, and tetra) microsatellites. All markers were genotyped on 26 different individuals from distinct locations of the distributional area of S. parvidens. We observed medium—high genetic variation across most loci, but only 12 were functionally polymorphic. Levels of expected heterozygosity across all markers were high to medium (mean HE = 0.79, mean HO = 0.72). We examined ascertainment bias in twelve bats of the genus, obtaining null/monomorphic/polymorphic amplifications.DiscussionThe Illumina paired-end sequencing system is capable of identifying massive numbers of microsatellite loci, while expending little time, reducing costs, and providing a large amount of data. The described polymorphic loci for S. parvidens in particular, and for the genus in general, could be suitable for further genetic analysis, including taxonomic inconsistencies, parentage/relatedness analysis, and population genetics assessments.

Potential Sympatric Vectors and Mammalian Hosts of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus in Southern Mexico.

Arboviruses are important zoonotic agents with complex transmission cycles and are not well understood because they may involve many vectors and hosts. We studied sympatric wild mammals and hematophagous mosquitoes having the potential to act as hosts and vectors in two areas of southern Mexico. Mosquitoes, bats, and rodents were captured in Calakmul (Campeche) and Montes Azules (Chiapas), between November 2010 and August 2011. Spleen samples from 146 bats and 14 rodents were tested for molecular evidence of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV), eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV), and West Nile virus (WNV) using PCR protocols. Bat ( Artibeus lituratus , Carollia sowelli , Glossophaga soricina , and Sturnira parvidens) and rodent ( Sigmodon hispidus and Oryzomys alfaroi ) species were positive for VEEV. No individuals were positive for WNV, EEEV, or WEEV. A total of 1,298 mosquitoes were collected at the same sites, and five of the mosquito species collected were known VEEV vectors (Aedes fulvus, Mansonia indubitans, Psorophora ferox, Psorophora cilipes, and Psorophora confinnis). This survey simultaneously presents the first molecular evidence, to our knowledge, of VEEV in bats and rodents from southern Mexico and the identification of potential sympatric vectors. Studies investigating sympatric nonhuman hosts, vectors, and arboviruses must be expanded to determine arboviral dynamics in complex systems in which outbreaks of emerging and reemerging zoonoses are continuously occurring.

Columnar cacti as sources of energy and protein for frugivorous bats in a semi‐arid ecosystem

AbstractColumnar cacti constitute the dominant elements in the vegetation structure of arid and semi‐arid New World ecosystems representing a plethora of food resources for vertebrate consumers. Previous stable isotope analysis in Central Mexico showed that columnar cacti are of low importance to build tissue for frugivorous bats. We used carbon stable isotope analysis of whole blood and breath samples collected from four species of frugivorous bats (Sturnira parvidens, Sturnira ludovici, Artibeus jamaicensis, and Artibeus intermedius) to reconstruct the importance of cactus plants in their diet. Breath samples were collected within 10 min (B10) of bat capture and ~12 h after capture (B720), representing the oxidation of recently ingested food and of body reserves, respectively. We expected that bats relied primarily on non‐cactus food to construct tissues and fuel oxidative metabolism. Non‐cactus food strongly predominated for tissue building, whereas oxidative metabolism was supported by a moderate preponderance of non‐cactus food for B10 samples, and a moderate preponderance of cactus food or an equal contribution of both sources for B720 samples. Artibeus and Surnira species appear to cover a narrow part of the diet with cactus food, confirming that the incorporation of nutrients derived from these plants is not generalized among vertebrate consumers.

Richness, infestation and specificity of spinturnicid mites (Acari: Spinturnicidae) on bats in southern Oaxaca, Mexico.

Studies of mites on bats in the Mexican state Oaxaca are scarce. Our objective was therefore to evaluate the richness, infestation, and specificity of spinturnicid mites on bats in southern Oaxaca, Mexico. Bats were monthly captured from April 2010 to February 2011, in four sites using four mist-nets; also, we visited natural (crevices) and artificial roosts (tunnel). Of each bat we account the number of spinturnicid mites, considering the area of the body where they were collected. Mites were preserved in 70% ethanol and later they were mounted on microscope slides in Hoyer's medium. We captured bats of 15 species, of which eight species were infested. We recorded seven spinturnicid mites: five of the genus Periglischrus, one of the genus Cameronieta, and one of the genus Mesoperiglischrus. Periglischrus caligus, P. iheringi, and Periglischrus sp. are new records on Artibeus lituratus, Glossophaga soricina, and G. commissarisi, respectively. More infested bat species were Artibeus jamaicensis (93.8%), A. lituratus (88.9%), G. commissarisi and Sturnira parvidens (both 66.7%). Prevalence of A. jamaicensis and A. lituratus was significantly higher than most other bat species. Although prevalence percentage was high, mean and median intensity were low. Spinturnicid mites were recorded in particular areas of a bat's body; therefore, they could be an additional tool for the taxonomic identification of bats.

Coloración atípica en murciélagos: frecuencia y fenotipos en Norte y Centroamérica e islas del Caribe y nuevos casos para México y Costa Rica

The recording of bats with atypical coloration has been increased in the last years, and the terminology to recognize the phenotypes is confusing. The objectives of this work were: to compile, classify, and catalogue the cases of atypical phenotypes in North and Central America and the Caribbean islands between 1930 and 2014, and to report 9 additional cases in Mexico and Costa Rica. We obtained 317 cases, representing 25 species, 17 genera, and 4 families from 6 countries. The specimens were classified in 4 phenotypic categories; the most common was white spotting with 274 records, followed by albino with 23, non agouti with 11, and colorless with 4; 5 specimens had a combined phenotype. The additional cases for Mexico were 5 Artibeus lituratus, one Glossophaga soricina, and the first records for Sturnira parvidens and Nyctinomops femorosaccus. We documented the second record from Costa Rica, Molossus sinaloae. The causes and consequences of this phenomenon in bats remain unknown. Genetic and molecular studies are necessaries to understand its origin and possible impacts in bat populations.