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Age estimation methods in the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus ) were compared on 81 individuals from a natural cave in Ampascachi, Salta province (Argentina). Age was assessed by counting incisor growth lines in the root cementum. This estimation was compared with forearm and tibia lenght and dentinecementum and percentage of dentine attrition índices. Age estimation by both forearm and tibia lenght were less reliable (Pe8ISon r = 0.29 and 0.33 respectively) than dentine attrition and dentine-cementum indices (r = -0.90 and 0.88 respectively). McNemarand Cohen-Kappa tests showed that dentine attrition index had the best fit with aging by growth lines El objetivo del trabajo fue evaluar métodos para la determinación de edad en el vampiro común (Desmodus rotundus). Se trabajó con 81 individuos de una cueva de Ampascachi, provincia de Salta (Argentina). La edad se estim6 a partir del recuento de líneas de crecimiento en el cemento de la raíz de los incisivos. Esta estimación se comparó con las medidas de longitud de antebrazo y tibia, el índice dentina-cemento y el de porcentaje de desgaste de dentina en los incisivos. Las estimaciones de edad basadas en la longitud del antebrazo y tibia son poco confiables (Pearson, r = 0.29 y 0.33 respectivamente). Si bien las correlacioenes con el indice de desgaste de dentina como con el de dentina cemento fueron altamente significativas y similares (e = -0.90 Y 0.88 respectivamente), las pruebas de McNemar y Cohen-Kappa indican un mejor ajuste entre la edad (por recuento de lineas de crecimiento) y el índice de desgaste de dentina.

The chiropteran reproductive parterns in tropical zones have been associated with food seasonality by synchronization between parturition time and the lrighest environmental productivity. In the common vampire ba, (Desmodus rotundus) whose food (catde blood), is widely available year round, reproductive seasonality mus! be absent. In order 10 test (his hypothesis, a natural cave colony in the Salta Province (Argentina), was studied. The vampire bate were captured with a mist let placed al the cave enlrance. Reproductive condition in females (pregnancy, absence of pregnancy or lactation) and in males (abdonrinal or serotal tests) was seasonalty assessed with respect to temperature (surnmer, autom.n, winter, spring) anó hmnidíty (dry and wet seasons). Association between female reproductive condition and seasonality was detected. Tbe proportion of pregnancy and lactation were higher during spring and summer as well as al !he wet season. In males, there was no association between these variables. Although reproduction is continuous througout ¡he year, ir shows a marked seasonality. This pattern can be considered a result of environmcntal conditions (temperature anó hunridity) instead of food availability The chiropteran reproductive parterns in tropical zones have been associated with food seasonality by synchronization between parturition time and the lrighest environmental productivity. In lhe common vampire ba, (Desmodus rotundus) whose food (catde blood), is widely available year round, reproductive seasonality mus! be absent. In order 10 test (his hypothesis, a natural cave colony in lhe Salta Province (Argentina), was studied. The vampire bate were captured with a mis! !le! placed al lhe cave enlrance. Reproductive condition in females (pregnancy, absence of pregnancy or lactation) and in males (abdonrinal or serotal tests) was seasonalty assessed with respect to temperature (surnmer, autom.n, winter, spring) anó hmnidíty (dry and wet seasons). Association between female reproductive condition and seasonality was detected. Tbe proportion of pregnancy and lactation were higher during spring and summer as well as al !he wet season. In males, there was no association between these variables. Although reproduction is continuous througout ¡he year, ir shows a marked seasonality. This pattern can be considered a result of environmcntal conditions (temperature anó hunridity) instead of food availability