Title
Population dynamics of a resident colony of Leptonycteris curasoae (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in Central México
Date Issued
01 January 2004
Access level
metadata only access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Galindo G. Cristobal
Sánchez Q. Adalinda
Quijano Ramon H
Herrera M L Gerardo
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Publisher(s)
Association for Tropical Biology Inc.
Abstract
We studied the population dynamics of the lesser long-nosed bat Leptonycteris curasoae in a cave in central Mexico for a two-year time. The population had substantial seasonal changes in size and composition during this time. Colony size was largest from February to July (22,000-27,000 adults) and contained equal numbers of males and females. In June and July, males had enlarged testes and presumably mated with females. In August, the population size began to decline and was mostly composed of pregnant females. Between September and December, the colony was composed exclusively of pregnant and lactating females and their young, and population size decreased to about one-third of the observed maximum size. In January, adult males returned to the roost and the population size increased. We also observed an increase in body mass and fat accumulation in both sexes, apparently related to reproductive activity. This is the first report of the continuous presence of a substantial female population of L. curasoae throughout the year in a single roost in Mexican tropics, indicating that some populations of L. curasoae in central Mexico complete their life cycle without having to migrate.
Start page
382
End page
391
Volume
36
Issue
3
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Ciencia animal, Ciencia de productos lácteos
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-4444306350
Source
Biotropica
Resource of which it is part
Biotropica
ISSN of the container
00063606
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus