Search

Seed dispersal is an important process for the regeneration and maintenance of forests; This mechanism allows plants to colonize new sites and maintain the structure of the population. Bats have been recognized as effective dispersers of seeds in several tropical forest ecosystems, due to the ability to defecate in flight, fly over open areas and exert a germination effect on released seeds. In this study was to evaluate diet preference of fruit bats in a tropical dry forest in the department of Tolima. The analysis of 63 dietary records of 14 bat species allowed to identify 11 plant species, three genera and one morphospecies. Bidens pilosa, Piper crassinervium and Physalis peruviana L. showed the highest consumption. Artibeus lituratus had the widest niche breath, followed by Artibeus planirostris. Low overlays were present among these bat species, which could reflect a niche segregation as a strategy to avoid competition between sympatric species. The consumption of fruits in a successional shrubs state is highlighted, which reaffirms the key role of bats in the dispersion of pioneer species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Therya is the property of Asociacion Mexicana de Mastozoologia, A. C. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The northern Tolima has significant remnants of Tropical Dry Forest (TDF), strategic ecosystems that harbor a high diversity and endemism. However, human activities have produced substantial alterations, including reduction and transformation; therefore it is important to document the diversity of this environment and the response of wildlife to anthropogenic changes. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the diversity of mammals in a TDF fragment. Three habitats with structural differences at the level of vegetation were sampled: dense natural forest-fragmented natural forest, gallery and riparian forest and mosaic of crops, pastures and open spaces. Mammal species were recorded using capture techniques (mist nets, Sherman traps) as well as direct and indirect signs (walks, hunting trails, traps trace). We recorded 8 orders, 16 families, 35 genera and 39 species. Chiroptera was best represented with 24 species, followed by Carnivora with 5. The most abundant species were Heteromys anomalus (26 individuals), Carollia perspicillata (45) and Aotus griseimembra (7). The presence of Lontra longicaudis and A. griseimembra species considered at risk by Colombian law, makes these environments interesting sites for the region's biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]