Fruit digestion time,integrity and germination of seeds defecated by Artibeus lituratus (Olfers, 1818) (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) |
| |
| Authors: | Lucas Henrique Xavier Henrique Ortêncio Filho Gledson Vigiano Bianconi Herick Soares de Santana |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Programa de Pós-Gradua??o em Biologia Comparada, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazillucas.h.xavier@gmail.com;3. Programa de Pós-Gradua??o em Biologia Comparada, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazil;4. Instituto Federal do Paraná. Campus Pinhais, Pinhais, Brazil;5. Instituto Neotropical: Pesquisa e Conserva??o, Curitiba, PR, Brazil;6. Programa de Pós-gradua??o em Ecologia de Ambientes Aquáticos Continentais, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Limnologia, Ictiologia e Aquicultura, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazil |
| |
| Abstract: | We evaluated the effects on the integrity, germinability and mean germination time of three Ficus species eaten by Artibeus lituratus in captivity. The passage of seeds through the digestive tract of the animal did not interfere in the germinability and the mean germination time of F. organensis; however, it increased the germination of F. guaranitica and reduced the mean germination time of F. glabra. The mean time of digestion of A. lituratus presented no significant difference for Ficus species. The results showed that A. lituratus has a good potential for dispersal and can modify the germination of some Ficus species. |
| |
| Keywords: | Bats Frugivory Ficus organensis Ficus guaranitica Ficus glabra |
|
|
