Tent‐making bats modify leaves to build refuges. Leaf modification involves energetic and defense costs that should be balanced by the benefits of tent‐roosting. The alteration of the leaf's vascular system reduces the tent's life expectancy, so to obtain a benefit, bats are expected to use tents regularly as long as they remain functional and not modify more leaves than necessary. Over 2 yr, we documented the dynamics of tent construction and use by Uroderma convexum and other bat species in the palm Sabal mauritiiformis in a Colombian transitional dry forest. We also assessed tent condition and compared it to nonmodified leaves of approximately the same age in focal palms. Probability of tent use by U. convexum varied between 57 percent during a reproductive period and 4 percent outside of this period. Bats cut the main vein of folioles, partially affecting water transport in the leaf. However, there were no differences between tents and nonmodified leaves in deterioration scores or deterioration rates over 1 yr. During 2 yr, 48 tents were lost for different causes, but this loss was balanced by the construction of 51 new tents. Thus, bats maintained an excess of usable tents. Palm leaves are long‐lived and seem preadapted to sustain damage and remain viable, particularly in species growing in dry environments. We present several hypotheses to explain the advantage of maintaining a tent surplus.
Se adelantó la caracterización de la vegetación en la reserva natural La Hondonada, integrando las actividades de docencia e investigación en el programa de Biología en la PUJ Cali. A través de las actividades de campo de la cátedra de Diversidad Vegetal y las actividades de laboratorio y campo del grupo de estudio en Diversidad Vegetal (2013-2016), se adelantó un muestreo de 1000 m2 en un remanente de bosque subandino dentro de una matriz de cultivos y potreros. Se censaron todas las plantas (hierbas, arbustos y árboles) en diez transectos en banda de 50*2 m, documentando la riqueza y abundancia, además de las medidas dasométricas a todos los árboles con DAP mayor o igual a 10 cm. Se recolectaron muestras vegetales para herborización y determinación con bibliografía especializada y comparación con herbarios locales y virtuales (CUVC, COL, JBB). Se encontraron 131 especies pertenecientes a 45 familias botánicas; la familia más diversa Araceae, con 33 especies; las especies más abundantes, Selaginella geniculata en el estrato herbáceo, Faramea occidentalis en el estrato arbustivo; Nectandra macrophylla, Gustavia speciosa y Ocotea caracasana en el estrato arbóreo. Para los árboles se encontró relación entre la abundancia y la dasometría ya que las especies con mayor IVI e IPF son también Gustavia speciosa y Nectandra macrophylla. Se encontró un bosque muy diverso, con una composición y dominancia de especies heredera de la conservación en paisajes fragmentados, se reportan familias botánicas con algún grado de protección y amenaza como Orchidaceae y Lecythidaceae, Nuestros resultados subrayan la importancia de la reserva natural de la sociedad civil La Hondonada, que aportan argumentos a la conservación con base la caracterización de la diversidad vegetal.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.