Dispersal patterns of large-seeded plants and the foraging behaviour of a frugivorous bat

Villalobos‐Chaves, David; Melo, Felipe P. L.; Rodríguez‐Herrera, Bernal

doi:10.1017/s0266467420000036

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…However, there is still little empirical data about bat seed dispersal distances, especially in open formations such as grasslands or urban areas, where these distances can be greater due to the larger distance between trees (Abedi‐Lartey et al., 2016). Studies that find feeding roosts using radio tracking tend to find larger dispersal distance values (Morrison, 1978; Villalobos‐Chaves et al., 2020), which can be related to minimal dispersal distance underestimation due to feeding roosts sampled through active searches (Seltzer et al., 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of feeding roosts in seed dispersal service bats provide in urban areas

da Silveira,

Silveira,

Medeiros

et al. 2024

Biotropica

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In urban ecosystems, bats play an essential role in seed dispersal, which is facilitated by their use of feeding roosts. However, there are several knowledge gaps in this ecosystem service that bats provide in urban areas. We aimed to describe the fruits consumed by bats in an urban area, the selection and use of feeding roosts, and the patterns of seed dispersal by fruit bats in a Brazilian city. We collected and identified the seeds deposited under feeding roosts and tested for differences in the size of the seed of fruits consumed by bats and the seeds of fruits available in the study area. We also captured and identified bats feeding near roosts using mist nets and assessed the vegetation structure and urban variables that might influence the bats' tree choice for roosts. We found that Artibeus lituratus, Artibeus planirostris, and Platyrrhinus lineatus potentially used feeding roosts and preferred the tallest trees, which were located further away from artificial light. The average distance of seed dispersal was 105.5 meters, and the average size of the dispersed seeds did not differ from the seeds of the fruits available in the area, suggesting that bats are not limited to dispersing only tiny seeds. However, the prevalence of exotic seeds raises concerns that bats may spread exotic species, especially in surrounding protected areas. These results highlight the importance of frugivorous bats as significant seed dispersers in urban areas and emphasize the need for further research to understand their role in shaping urban ecosystems.Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of feeding roosts in seed dispersal service bats provide in urban areas

da Silveira,

Silveira,

Medeiros

et al. 2024

Biotropica

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“…Clump‐dispersal of cashew and areca was commercially more valued by people than scatter‐dispersal. Dispersal of large seeds (like that of cashew and areca) by bats at high densities occurs typically at short distances from feeding sites (Seltzer et al 2013, Villalobos‐Chaves et al 2020), which would have facilitated effective tracking of seeds and easy collection by people. In isolated plantations, this effect could be magnified both due to short dispersal distances and concentrated bat densities, which reflected in the more positive perceptions of respondents associated with isolated plantations in our study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forbidden fruits? Ecosystem services from seed dispersal by fruit bats in the context of latent zoonotic risk

Deshpande

Vanak

Devy

et al. 2022

Oikos

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Old world fruit bats are important seed dispersers of forest plants as well as of commercial fruit crops. Bats scatter seeds across landscapes and also aggregate (clump) seeds under feeding and roosting trees. In agroforestry landscapes, bat frugivory and seed dispersal can result in simultaneous accrual of socio-economic benefits and costs to humans, which may be further affected by human health risks from zoonotic spillover through human-bat interactions. In our study, we used an integrated approach to assess socioeconomic benefits (from seed dispersal) and costs (from frugivory) from bats, in relation to latent zoonotic risk. We carried out the study in five agroforestry landscapes along India's Western Ghats, for selected commercial fruit crops (cashew, areca, banana and other pulpy/fleshy fruits). Specifically, we hypothesized that people's perceptions of benefits from fruit bats would be correlated with measured extents of clumped seed dispersal in fruit plantations. We conducted ecological studies to investigate the effects of fruit crop type and plantation attributes on clump-dispersal, and in turn, on perceived 'net benefits' assessed from interviews with plantation-associated people. We then explored associations between perceived socio-economic net benefits and spatial data on disease risk factors for fruit bat-linked henipavirus transmission. We found that the extent of bat-mediated clump-dispersal was highest for cashew, especially in isolated plantations. People's perceptions of benefits from fruit bats matched the measured extents of clump-dispersal of cashew and areca. These benefits came with some costs from scatter-dispersal and damage to other fleshy fruits from frugivory by bats. Interestingly, we did not detect tradeoffs between perceived net benefits from bats and disease risk, which is of significance for bat conservation and its implications for human well-being. Overall, our results highlight that bat-mediated seed dispersal needs to be sustained as an important ecosystem service, despite some latent zoonotic risk, in the Anthropocene

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“…Several studies reported that flying foxes or fruit bats (Djossa et al, 2008;Corlett, 2017;Villalobos-Chaves et al, 2020) and primates (Stevenson et al, 2005;Corlett, 2017;Tsuji, Su, 2018) are seed dispersers for a large number of plant species across the world. They eat large quantities of fruit and disperse seeds.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Seed Processing by Flying Foxes and the Patas Monkey on the Germination Success of the African Ebony (Diospyros mespiliformis)

Toni

Djossa

Fandohan

2023

Ekológia (Bratislava)

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Animals deliver an important ecosystem service by dispersing plant seeds. Seed dispersers have different effects on the germination success of seeds. This study aimed at examining the effect of seed processing by the patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas) and two flying foxes (Micropteropus pusillus and Epomophorus gambianus) on the germination success of African ebony (Diospyros mespiliformis). Flying foxes and patas monkeys were kept in cages and fed ad libitum with African ebony fruits. Seeds processed were collected, measured, and germinated. Seeds processed by monkeys and flying foxes were compared to control seeds which were removed by hand from fruits. Our results showed that the patas monkey and flying foxes preferably processed smaller seeds. Flying foxes improved the germination success from 6.67 to 72.5%. They also reduced the mean germination time up to 5 days. The patas monkey also improved the germination success from 6.67 to 52.5% and reduced the mean germination time up to 4 days. The effect of flying foxes and the patas monkey on the seed germination and its implication for the African ebony plantation dynamic should be explained to communities for their conservation.

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Dispersal patterns of large-seeded plants and the foraging behaviour of a frugivorous bat

Cited by 8 publications

References 41 publications

The role of feeding roosts in seed dispersal service bats provide in urban areas

The role of feeding roosts in seed dispersal service bats provide in urban areas

Forbidden fruits? Ecosystem services from seed dispersal by fruit bats in the context of latent zoonotic risk

Effect of Seed Processing by Flying Foxes and the Patas Monkey on the Germination Success of the African Ebony (Diospyros mespiliformis)

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