Influence of abiotic factors on populations of Carollia perspicillata (Linnaeus 1758) (Mammalia, Chiroptera)

Abstract

ä Abstract — The Amazon is a region of South America considered of vital importance due to its high biodiversity. It is considered as one of the most productive terrestrial ecosystems on the planet, due to its structural and landscape complexity. It harbors a great diversity of bats, being Carollia perspicillata (Phyllostomidae) one of the most commonly recorded, it is mainly frugivorous, foraging in the lowest stratum of the forest, there are few studies about its ecology and even less in the Amazon region; therefore, this study aims to evaluate the influence of abiotic factors (temperature, seasonality, illuminated phase of the Moon) on a population of the aforementioned species in the Brazilian Amazon. For the capture of bats, 8 mist nets were used in terra firme forest in the Brazilian central Amazon. The temperature data were provided by the National Institute of Meteorology (INMET-Brazil), while the percentage of illuminated phase of the Moon for each day of collection was obtained by Moontool version 2.0 Software. In total, 888 individuals were captured: 358 males and 530 females. A higher frequency of young individuals (for both sexes) was recorded in the rainy season, as well as lactating females and the total of individuals recorded. The weight of the bats does not seem to respond to the climate season. The temperature did not significantly influence the abundance of individuals, however the percentage of illuminated phase of the Moon does, as has already been demonstrated by other authors, responding to a phenomenon known as «moon phobia». Results suggest that abiotic factors may influence on populations of this bat species in the forests of the Brazilian Amazon.