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1 June 2011 Noctilio albiventris (Noctilionidae), a Potential Seed Disperser in Disturbed Tropical Dry Forest Habitats
Carla I. Aranguren, José A. González-Carcacía, Helios Martínez, Jafet M. Nassar
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Abstract

The lesser bulldog bat, Noctilio albiventris, is a species widely distributed in Tropical America that feeds mainly on insects; however, a few studies have revealed that this bat can have broader dietary habits, including plant items. In this study we examined the feeding habits of N. albiventris in a dry forest in the Central Llanos of Venezuela, and determined variations in its diet across a successional gradient. We analyzed fecal samples from 28 out of 41 individuals captured during two years of sampling. Most samples came from pastures and early successional growth plots (88.9%), the rest came from samples obtained in intermediate (3.7%) and advanced (7.4%) successional stages. About 74.1% of the samples contained only insects, 18.5% a combination of insects and fruit remains with seeds, and 7.4% only fruit and seeds. Three species of plants were identified in the feces: Ficus sp., Maclura tinctoria, and Piper sp. Our results suggest that N. albiventris can be considered a potential seed dispersal agent in disturbed areas close to dry forests in the Neotropics. Temporal adoption of plant-feeding habits in a member of the Noctilionoidea linage is concordant with the close phylogenetic relationship demonstrated for bat species within the families Noctilionidae, Mystacinidae and Phyllostomidae.

© Museum and Institute of Zoology PAS
Carla I. Aranguren, José A. González-Carcacía, Helios Martínez, and Jafet M. Nassar "Noctilio albiventris (Noctilionidae), a Potential Seed Disperser in Disturbed Tropical Dry Forest Habitats," Acta Chiropterologica 13(1), 189-194, (1 June 2011). https://doi.org/10.3161/150811011X578732
Received: 8 July 2010; Accepted: 1 January 2011; Published: 1 June 2011
KEYWORDS
frugivory
Noctilio albiventris
pastures
seed dispersal
Succession
Venezuela
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