Nutritional Ecology of Carollia perspicillata (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae): Relationship between the Preference and the Nutritional Content of Fruits

Abstract

We assessed the degree of preference for food resources consumed by Carollia perspicillata from Macaregua cave (Santander, Colombia), and how these preferences were related to nutrient content. Between July and August of 2015, 160 bats were captured with a capture success of 7.04 individuals-night/hours-network. The fecal samples were processed in the laboratory and seeds that were found were identified taxonomically. The supply of fruit and nutritional value of ripe fruit collected from plant species identified in bat fecal samples were determined. The plant species, Myrsine sp., Neosprucea montana, Duranta repens and Maclura tinctoria accounted for over 85% of total food resources consumed, with nine additional species making up the rest of the sample. The diet was dominated by Myrcia popayanensis, M. tinctoria, Vismia glaziovii, Solanum mauritianum and N. montana. The nutrient contents (sugar, water, lipids, fiber, protein and ash) in their fruits varied significantly. Both male and female C. perspicillata preferred M. popayanensis and, to a lesser extent M. tinctoria. Food resource preferences were related (not linearly) to their nutritional content, with the preferred fruit being those showing intermediate nutrient concentrations. Maclura tinctoria and N. montana are new entries on the list of plant species consumed by C. perspicillata.