Preferences for Different Sugars in Neotropical Nectarivorous and Frugivorous Bats

Herrera, M; Gerardo, Luís

doi:10.2307/1383312

Cited by 29 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Physiology of the digestive system has been partly successful as an explanation of the preference patterns of birds (Martinez del Rio et al 1992). There are, however, some groups for which digestive physiology is not enough to understand preference patterns (Martinez del Rio 1990 ;Herrera 1999a). In this study, digestion physiology of different sugars by pteropodids was not determined but it is likely that they digest the three sugars equally well, as is the case in phyllostomid bats (Herrera, 1999a).…”

Section: Gustatory Thresholdsmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…Experimental tests of the relationship between preferences for different sugars and composition of food have been conducted with animals captured in the wild (Stiles 1976;Martinez del Rio 1990;Erhardt 1991;Martinez del Rio et al 1992;Herrera 1999a). Results of studies with wild animals, in general, allow discussing the significance of their finding in the evolution of the biochemical composition of plant rewards.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, preferences in New World passerine birds are associated with different assimilation efficiencies of sugars (Martinez del Rio et al 1992). In contrast, preferences by hummingbirds and phyllostomid bats do not seem to have apparent digestive basis (Martinez del Rio 1990;Herrera 1999a). A factor that has not been previously studied is the relative sweetness of the sugar and its relation with sugar preferences when there is no apparent digestive constraints.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sugar discrimination and gustatory thresholds in captive-born frugivorous Old World Bats

LeBlanc¹,

Nassar²

2000

Mamm

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In general, preference for different sugars in nectarivores and frugivores is related to the composition of their food. We determined individual preferences in Cynopterus brachyotis and Pteropus rodriccnsis, and group preferences in one group of P. rodricensis and two mixed groups of P. rodricensis, P. pumilus, P. vampyrus, and P. hypomelanus. Most bats were born in captivity and received a diet with a composition of sugars of sucrose = glucose > fructose during 1 to 6 years before the experiment. We tested the hypothesis that diet composition influences food preferences, and predicted that bats would not discriminate between sucrose and glucose, and would prefer sucrose and glucose over fructose. Individuals and groups consistently favored sucrose over glucose and fructose, and fructose over glucose. We also determined gustatory thresholds for (0.15 % weight/weight) than fructose (> 0.5 %) and glucose (0.5 %). Food preferences, in general, did not match the composition of the diet. Gustatory thresholds may be a valid proximate reason to explain preference for sucrose over glucose and fructose, but not for preference for fructose over glucose.Resume. -La preference pour differents sucres chez les nectarivores et frugivores depend en general de la composition de leur nourriture. Nous avons determine les preferences individuelles chez Cynopterus brachyotis et Pteropus rodricensis, la preference du groupe dans un groupe de P. rodricensis, et dans deux groupes melanges P. rodricensis, P. pumilus, P. vampyrus et P. hypomelanus. La plupart des chauves-souris sont noes en captivitee et elevees avec un regime alimentaire compose de sucre (saccharose = glucose + fructose) pendant l ä 6 annees avant 1'experience. Nous avons teste l'hypothesc que la composition du regime alimentaire des chauves-souris pent influencer leurs preferences alimentaires, que les chauves-souris ne discriminent pas entre saccharose ct glucose, et qu'elles preferent le saccharose ct le glucose au fructose. Les individus comme les groupes ont prefere le saccharose au glucose et au fructose, ou le fructose au glucose. Nous avons determine aussi les seuils gustatifs pour des solutions de saccharose, de glucose et de fructose dans trois groupes de chauves-souris. Le saccharose a eu un seuil gustatif inferieur (0.15 % poids/poids) ä celui de fructose (> 0.5 %) ou du glucose (0.5 %). Les preferences alimentaires en general ne concordent pas avec la composition du regime alimentaire. Le seuil gustatif peut expliquer la preference pour le saccharose ou le glucose et le fructose, mais ne pcrmet pas d'expliquer la preference pour le fructose sur le glucose.

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Section: Gustatory Thresholdsmentioning

confidence: 81%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sugar discrimination and gustatory thresholds in captive-born frugivorous Old World Bats

LeBlanc¹,

Nassar²

2000

Mamm

Self Cite

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“…Frugivorous bats affect seed and fruit set, thereby increasing the reproductive success of the plant species they feed on (Fleming and Sosa 1994;Whittaker and Jones 1994;Herrera 1999). Due to their mobility, feeding habits, species richness, and high biomass, fruit bats are important seed dispersers in tropical ecosystems (Dumont 2003) in that they have a significant role in the distribution of tropical plants (Schober 1984;Hodgkison et al 2003;Muscarella and Fleming 2007;Fleming and Kress 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Palatal and lingual adaptations for frugivory and nectarivory in the Wahlberg’s epauletted fruit bat (Epomophorus wahlbergi)

Mqokeli

Downs

2012

Zoomorphology

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Wahlberg's epauletted fruit bat (Epomophorus wahlbergi) feed on fleshy fruit and nectar of flowers and have an important role in pollination and seed dispersal. It was expected that their buccal morphological structures are adapted to this type of feeding. Consequently, buccal cavity and lingual structures of E. wahlbergi were examined by extended focus light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Morphology of the tongue of E. wahlbergi was similar to that of other fruitand nectar-feeding bats. The elongated tongue of these bats possessed filiform and conical papillae as mechanical papillae and fungiform and circumvallate papillae as gustatory papillae that varied in distribution. Epomophorus wahlbergi had five palatal ridges and one post-dental palatal ridge, and relatively wide, flattened molar teeth. A hard, papillae structure at the posterior end of the upper palate of the upper plate, which has not been previously described, was observed. It appears that this structure works together with the palatal ridges and teeth, so that the bats crush fleshy fruits during feeding and extract the juices before discarding the pulp. Consequently, lingual and particularly palatal structures of E. wahlbergi show morphological adaptations for efficiently feeding on fleshy fruit and nectar.

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“…Anoura geoffroyi prefers sucrose over glucose, fructose, and a glucose-fructose mixture (Herrera 1999). A. geoffroyi also is highly effective in extracting pollen grains from flowers (46-90% of all pollen present in a flower).…”

Section: Form and Functionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anoura Geoffroyi (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

Ortega¹,

Alarcón-D²

2008

Mammalian Species

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Preferences for Different Sugars in Neotropical Nectarivorous and Frugivorous Bats

Cited by 29 publications

References 19 publications

Sugar discrimination and gustatory thresholds in captive-born frugivorous Old World Bats

Sugar discrimination and gustatory thresholds in captive-born frugivorous Old World Bats

Palatal and lingual adaptations for frugivory and nectarivory in the Wahlberg’s epauletted fruit bat (Epomophorus wahlbergi)

Anoura Geoffroyi (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

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