Title
Disparate feeding strategies used by syntopic Antillean nectarivorous bats to obtain dietary protein
Date Issued
16 August 2010
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Mancina C.A.
Herrera L.G.M.
Abstract
Protein is essential for growth and reproduction. We used nitrogen stable isotope analysis to reconstruct protein (i.e., nitrogen) dietary origin in 2 Antillean nectarivorous bats with contrasting morphology of the masticatory apparatus: the Greater Antillean long-tongued bat (Monophyllus redmani, Glossophaginae) and Poey's flower bat (Phyllonycteris poeyi, Phyllonycterinae). M. redmani has a masticatory apparatus that is more adapted to feed on flowers, whereas P. poeyi has a feeding structure that resembles the structure of frugivorous bats. M. redmani relied on a mixture of nitrogen derived from insects and plants, and P. poeyi depended more on plant nitrogen. Based on previous findings in fecal contents, we concluded that M. redmani obtained plant nitrogen mainly from pollen, and P. poeyi obtained it predominantly from fruits. Our study suggests that jaw morphology plays a major role in dietary diversification among nectarivorous bats to obtain protein. © 2010 American Society of Mammalogists.
Start page
960
End page
966
Volume
91
Issue
4
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Ecología Zoología, Ornitología, Entomología, ciencias biológicas del comportamiento
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-77955907229
Source
Journal of Mammalogy
ISSN of the container
15451542
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus