Spatial activity and feeding ecology of the endangered northern
population of the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus)

J 2016

Spatial activity and feeding ecology of the endangered northern population of the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus)

LUČAN, Radek, Tomáš BARTONIČKA, Petr JEDLIČKA, Šimon ŘEŘUCHA, Martin ŠÁLEK et. al.

Basic information

Original name

Spatial activity and feeding ecology of the endangered northern population of the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus)

Authors

LUČAN, Radek (203 Czech Republic), Tomáš BARTONIČKA (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Petr JEDLIČKA (203 Czech Republic), Šimon ŘEŘUCHA (203 Czech Republic), Martin ŠÁLEK (203 Czech Republic), Martin ČÍŽEK (203 Czech Republic), Haris NICOLAOU (300 Greece) and Ivan HORÁČEK (203 Czech Republic)

Edition

Journal of Mammalogy, 2016, 0022-2372

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10600 1.6 Biological sciences

Country of publisher

United States of America

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Impact factor

Impact factor: 1.630

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/16:00088823

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyw014

UT WoS

000378152600014

Keywords in English

Chiroptera climate change Cyprus foraging behavior radiotracking Rousettus

Abstract

V originále

We studied ranging and feeding behavior of Cypriot fruit bats during the summer and winter, which are critical periods with limited food supply and adverse conditions. Seasonal changes in ranging behavior were characterized by a steep increase in the size of core feeding areas and home ranges from summer to winter. Males and females did not differ in the size of summer and winter core areas and home ranges, but they differed in the distance they traveled to summer feeding sites. Summer food consisted of fruits of Ficus carica and flowers of Agave americana. Winter food consisted of dates, fruits of Melia azedarach, Citrus reticulata, C. limon, Myrtus communis, and the flowers of Eucalyptus spp. Males and females differed as to the proportion of time they spent feeding on different food types, which may be explained by sexual differences related to food quality requirements. Summer foraging activity tended to be in areas with water bodies and larger fruit orchards. Winter foraging activity occurred more in areas with larger fruit orchards, a higher number of citrus plantations and date palms, typically located in built-up areas. The body condition of the bats was worse during the summer, which we assume was the result of their more limited diet during this period, making summer a more stressful period for them than winter. Active conservation management of Cypriot fruit bats should include the construction of artificial water sources in the vicinity of fruit orchards, but also controversial practices such as supporting the occurrence of particular nonnative plant species, thereby enhancing food availability in critical times of the year.

Links

IAA601110905, research and development project

Name: Evoluční biogeografie kaloně Rousettus aegyptiacus ve středozemní oblasti.

Investor: Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Evolutionary biogeography of a fruit-bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus, in the Mediterranean region

Citovat

LUČAN, Radek, Tomáš BARTONIČKA, Petr JEDLIČKA, Šimon ŘEŘUCHA, Martin ŠÁLEK, Martin ČÍŽEK, Haris NICOLAOU and Ivan HORÁČEK. Spatial activity and feeding ecology of the endangered northern population of the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus). Journal of Mammalogy. 2016, vol. 97, No 3, p. 815-822. ISSN 0022-2372. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyw014.

@article{1338798,
   author = {Lučan, Radek and Bartonička, Tomáš and Jedlička, Petr and Řeřucha, Šimon and Šálek, Martin and Čížek, Martin and Nicolaou, Haris and Horáček, Ivan},
   article_number = {3},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyw014},
   keywords = {Chiroptera climate change Cyprus foraging behavior radiotracking Rousettus},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0022-2372},
   journal = {Journal of Mammalogy},
   title = {Spatial activity and feeding ecology of the endangered northern population of the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus)},
   volume = {97},
   year = {2016}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1338798
AU  - Lučan, Radek - Bartonička, Tomáš - Jedlička, Petr - Řeřucha, Šimon - Šálek, Martin - Čížek, Martin - Nicolaou, Haris - Horáček, Ivan
PY  - 2016
TI  - Spatial activity and feeding ecology of the endangered northern population of the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus)
JF  - Journal of Mammalogy
VL  - 97
IS  - 3
SP  - 815-822
EP  - 815-822
SN  - 00222372
KW  - Chiroptera climate change Cyprus foraging behavior radiotracking Rousettus
N2  - We studied ranging and feeding behavior of Cypriot fruit bats during the summer and winter, which are critical periods with limited food supply and adverse conditions. Seasonal changes in ranging behavior were characterized by a steep increase in the size of core feeding areas and home ranges from summer to winter. Males and females did not differ in the size of summer and winter core areas and home ranges, but they differed in the distance they traveled to summer feeding sites. Summer food consisted of fruits of Ficus carica and flowers of Agave americana. Winter food consisted of dates, fruits of Melia azedarach, Citrus reticulata, C. limon, Myrtus communis, and the flowers of Eucalyptus spp. Males and females differed as to the proportion of time they spent feeding on different food types, which may be explained by sexual differences related to food quality requirements. Summer foraging activity tended to be in areas with water bodies and larger fruit orchards. Winter foraging activity occurred more in areas with larger fruit orchards, a higher number of citrus plantations and date palms, typically located in built-up areas. The body condition of the bats was worse during the summer, which we assume was the result of their more limited diet during this period, making summer a more stressful period for them than winter. Active conservation management of Cypriot fruit bats should include the construction of artificial water sources in the vicinity of fruit orchards, but also controversial practices such as supporting the occurrence of particular nonnative plant species, thereby enhancing food availability in critical times of the year.
ER  -

LUČAN, Radek, Tomáš BARTONIČKA, Petr JEDLIČKA, Šimon ŘEŘUCHA, Martin ŠÁLEK, Martin ČÍŽEK, Haris NICOLAOU and Ivan HORÁČEK. Spatial activity and feeding ecology of the endangered northern population of the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus). \textit{Journal of Mammalogy}. 2016, vol.~97, No~3, p.~815-822. ISSN~0022-2372. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyw014.

Detailed Information on Publication Record