Olfaction in the fruit-eating bats Artibeus lituratus and Carollia perspicillata: an experimental analysis
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Data
2015-12-01
Autores
Parolin, Lays C. [UNESP]
Mikich, Sandra B.
Bianconi, Gledson V.
Título da Revista
ISSN da Revista
Título de Volume
Editor
Acad Brasileira De Ciencias
Resumo
Studies suggest that frugivorous bats search and select fruit mainly by olfaction so that they can be attracted by smell alone. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in captivity, the behavioural response (number of foraging attempts) of Artibeus lituratus and Carollia perspicillata offered essential oils extracted from ripe fruit of Ficus insipida (Moraceae) and Piper hispidum (Piperaceae) as well as intact fruit wrapped in gauze to attract bats with reduced visual stimuli. Based on previous reports, we hypothesized that A. lituratus would exhibit preference for Ficus fruits/oil while C. perspicillata would prefer Piper fruit/oil. Four arrangements of these attractants were tested in triplicate: P hispidum fruit vs. F insipida fruit, P hispidum oil vs. F insipida oil, P hispidum oil vs. F insipida fruit and P hispidum fruit vs. F insipida oil. As expected, in all tests, A. lituratus showed the highest number of foraging attempts in F. insipida while C. perspicillata in those of P. hispidum. Based on the number of foraging attempts both species exhibited a positive response to their favorite fruit genera, though the differences were not always statistically significant. The results confirm the importance of smell in fruit choice by these species.
Descrição
Palavras-chave
bats, essential oils, food preference, fruits, smell
Como citar
Anais Da Academia Brasileira De Ciencias. Rio Janeiro: Acad Brasileira De Ciencias, v. 87, n. 4, p. 2047-2053, 2015.