A mammal dilemma? Description of interspecific relationships in two threatened cacti from northern Honduras

Abstract

Pilosocereus chrysacanthus and the endemic Stenocereus yunckeri are two columnar cacti species documented in Refugio de Vida Silvestre Colibrí Esmeralda (RVSCEH). This site is home to several endemic species within Honduras's fauna and flora, yet it has been largely overlooked in studies of ecological interactions related to pollination, seed dispersal, and predation. To gather data, we strategically placed camera traps near the flowers and fruits of these cacti. Additionally, mist nets were set up at two locations between 2021 and 2023 to capture bats, and we performed on-site taxonomic identification to determine which bat species were visiting the cacti. In this document, we present the first records of bats visiting and pollinating both P. chrysacanthus and S. yunckeri during their flowering period, along with the first evidence of ecological interactions—specifically potential seed dispersal by marsupial mammals—and the phenological calendar for S. yunckeri.