ABSTRACT
Bats are the second-most diverse group of mammals in the world, and bat flies are their main parasites. However, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding these antagonistic interactions, especially since diverse factors such as seasonality and host sex can affect their network structures. Here, we explore the influence of such factors by comparing species richness and composition of bat flies on host bats, as well as specialization and modularity of bat-bat fly interaction networks between seasons and adult host sexes. We captured bats and collected their ectoparasitic flies at 10 sampling sites in the savannahs of Amapá State, northeastern region of the Brazilian Amazon. Despite female bats being more parasitized and recording greater bat fly species richness in the wet season, neither relationship was statistically significant. The pooled network could be divided into 15 compartments with 54 links, and all subnetworks comprised >12 compartments. The total number of links ranged from 27 to 48 (for the dry and wet seasons, respectively), and female and male subnetworks had 44 and 41 links, respectively. Connectance values were very low for the pooled network and for all subnetworks. Our results revealed higher bat fly species richness and abundance in the wet season, whereas specialization and modularity were higher in the dry season. Moreover, the subnetwork for female bats displayed higher specialization and modularity than the male subnetwork. Therefore, both seasonality and host sex contribute in different ways to bat-bat fly network structure. Future studies should consider these factors when evaluating bat-bat fly interaction networks.
ABSTRACT
The varzea forests of the estuary of the Amazon River cover 25,000 km2within the states of Pará and Amapá. The mammals of those forests, especially bats, are still poorly known. Hence, the present study aimed at inventorying the bat species from three localities of a varzea forest in the estuary of the Amazon River. Between November and December 2013, we selected 18 sampling sites in the mouths of three tributaries of the Amazon River: the rivers Ajuruxí, Maracá, and Mazagão. We set up ten mist nets (12 x 3 m) along a 150-m linear transect in each sampling site, in a total sampling effort of 38,888 m2.h. We captured 403 individual bats of 40 species and five families. We recorded the families: Phyllostomidae (n = 31 species), Emballonuridae (n = 6 species), Moormopidae (n = 1 species), Vespertilionidae (n = 1 species), and Thyropteridae (n = 1 species). Carollia perspicillata, Artibeus planirostris, andCarollia brevicauda comprised 45% of the records. We also made the first record of Glyphonycteris daviesi for Amapá state, and captured rare species, such as Dicludurus albus andMacrophyllum macrophylum. Our results show that the varzea forest of the estuary of the Amazon River harbors high bat diversity, and, hence, conservation policies should be considered for the region. Those policies should encourage the responsible management of açaípalm (Euterpe oleracea) and timber. They should also fight illegal timber exploitation that threatens the fauna and flora of those biodiverse forests.
As florestas de várzea do estuário do Rio Amazonas ocupam uma extensão 25. 000 km2, abrangendo os estados do Pará e Amapá. Os mamíferos destas florestas, especificamente morcegos ainda são pouco conhecidos. Este estudo visa apresentar uma lista de espécies de morcegos de três localidades em floresta de várzea no estuário do Rio Amazonas, contribuindo assim com o conhecimento da quiropterofauna desta fitofisionomia. Entre Novembro e Dezembro de 2013 foram selecionados 18 sítios de coletas na foz de três rios tributários do Rio Amazonas: Rio Ajuruxí, Rio Maracá e Rio Mazagão. Com o uso de dez redes de neblina (12 x 3 m) armadas ao longo de um transecto linear de 150 metros em cada sitio de coleta e totalizando um esforço amostral de 38,888 m2. h capturamos 403 indivíduos distribuídos em 40 espécies e cinco famílias. As famílias registradas foram Phyllostomidae (n=31 espécies), Emballonuridae (n=6 espécies), Moormopidae (n=1 espécie), Vespertilionidae (n=1 espécie) e Thyropteridae (n=1 espécie). Carollia perspicillata,Artibeus planirostris e Carollia brevicauda compreenderam 45 % dos registros. Nós documentamos o primeiro registro de Glyphonycteris daviesi para o estado do Amapá. Registramos também espécies raras como Dicludurus albus e Macrophyllum macrophylum. Os dados obtidos neste estudo revelam que as florestas de várzea do estuário do Rio Amazonas abrigam uma alta riqueza e diversidade de morcegos e que politicas de conservação devem ser consideradas para a manutenção desta diversidade. Tais politicas devem ser focadas no incentivo para o manejo responsável do cultivo do açaizeiro (Euterpe oleracea) e da exploração da madeira, além da redução da exploração madeireira ilegal que causa prejuízos a fauna e flora dessas florestas ricas em biodiversidade.
ABSTRACT
Durante estudos com morcegos em floresta de várzea na APA do Rio Curiaú, Amapá, Brasil, observamos três casos de predações oportunistas de morcegos frugívoros capturados em redes de neblina. Duas destas predações ocorreram por marsupiais e uma por anuro. Artibeus planirostris (Spix, 1823) (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) foi predado por Didelphis marsupialis Linnaeus, 1758 e Philander opossum (Linnaeus, 1758) (Didelphimorphia, Didelphidae). Carollia perspicillata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) foi predado por Leptodactylus pentadactylus (Laurenti, 1768) (Anura, Leptodactylidae). A vocalização dos morcegos provavelmente atraiu os marsupiais para a rede, onde estes os predaram aproveitando que estavam presos. Este tipo de interação pode ocorrer naturalmente, no entanto, com maior dificuldade de registro.
We observed three occasional predations of bats captured in mist nets by marsupials and a frog during studies in a várzea forest in the Amapá state. Artibeus planirostris (Spix, 1823) (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) was preyed upon by Didelphis marsupialis Linnaeus, 1758 and Philander opossum (Linnaeus, 1758) (Didelphimorphia, Didelphidae). Carollia perspicillata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) was preyed on by Leptodactylus pentadactylus (Laurenti, 1768) (Anura, Leptodactylidae). The bats vocalizations probably attracted the marsupials and a frog to the mist nets where they preyed. This interaction form can occur naturally, however, are more difficult to observed.
