Journal article
Small Tent-Roosting Bats Promote Dispersal of Large-Seeded Plants in a Neotropical Forest
Biotropica, Vol.41(6), pp.737-743
2009
Abstract
In Neotropical regions, fruit bats are among the most important components of the remaining fauna in disturbed landscapes. These relatively small-bodied bats are well-known dispersal agents for many small-seeded plant species, but are assumed to play a negligible role in the dispersal of large-seeded plants. We investigated the importance of the small tent-roosting bat Artibeus watsoni for dispersal of large seeds in the Sarapiquà Basin, Costa Rica. We registered at least 43 seed species > 8 mm beneath bat roosts, but a species accumulation curve suggests that this number would increase with further sampling. Samples collected beneath bat feeding roosts had, on average, 10 times more seeds and species than samples collected 5 m away from bat feeding roosts. This difference was generally smaller in small, disturbed forest patches. Species-specific abundance of seeds found beneath bat roosts was positively correlated with abundance of seedlings, suggesting that bat dispersal may influence seedling recruitment. Our study demonstrates a greater role of small frugivorous bats as dispersers of large seeds than previously thought, particularly in regions where populations of large-bodied seed dispersers have been reduced or extirpated by hunting. © 2009 The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation.
Details
- Title
- Small Tent-Roosting Bats Promote Dispersal of Large-Seeded Plants in a Neotropical Forest
- Authors
- F P L Melo (Author) - Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, MexicoB Rodriguez-Herrera (Author) - Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, MexicoRobin L Chazdon (Author) - University of Connecticut, United StatesR A Medellin (Author) - Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, MexicoG G Ceballos (Author) - Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico
- Publication details
- Biotropica, Vol.41(6), pp.737-743
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Inc.
- Date published
- 2009
- DOI
- 10.1111/j.1744-7429.2009.00528.x
- ISSN
- 0006-3606
- Organisation Unit
- Tropical Forests and People Research Centre; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Forest Research Institute
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450478102621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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