Reproductive seasonality, sex ratio and philopatry in Argentina's common vampire bats
Common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) are a key rabies vector in South America. Improved management of this species requires long-term, region-specific information. To investigate patterns of demography and dispersal, we analysed 13 642 captures of common vampire bats in Northern Argentina from th...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Royal Society
2017-01-01
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| Series: | Royal Society Open Science |
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| Online Access: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.160959 |
| _version_ | 1818838911593480192 |
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| author | H. A. Delpietro R. G. Russo G. G. Carter R. D. Lord G. L. Delpietro |
| author_facet | H. A. Delpietro R. G. Russo G. G. Carter R. D. Lord G. L. Delpietro |
| author_sort | H. A. Delpietro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) are a key rabies vector in South America. Improved management of this species requires long-term, region-specific information. To investigate patterns of demography and dispersal, we analysed 13 642 captures of common vampire bats in Northern Argentina from the period 1969–2004. In contrast with findings from more tropical regions, we found reproductive seasonality with peak pregnancy in September and peak lactation in February. Curiously, sex ratios were consistently male-biased both in maternity roosts and at foraging sites. Males comprised 57% of 9509 adults caught at night, 57% of 1078 juveniles caught at night, 57% of 603 juveniles caught in roosts during the day, and 55% of 103 newborns and mature fetuses. Most observed roosts were in man-made structures. Movements of 1.5–54 km were most frequent in adult males, followed by young males, adult females and young females. At night, males visited maternity roosts, and non-pregnant, non-lactating females visited bachelor roosts. Males fed earlier in the night. Finally, we report new longevity records for free-ranging vampire bats: 16 and 17 years of age for a female and male, respectively. Our results are consistent with model predictions that sex-biased movements might play a key role in rabies transmission between vampire bat populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T03:45:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3ec9c6d58c844c84a2060374700ea9c7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2054-5703 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T03:45:55Z |
| publishDate | 2017-01-01 |
| publisher | The Royal Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Royal Society Open Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-3ec9c6d58c844c84a2060374700ea9c72022-12-21T20:37:07ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032017-01-014410.1098/rsos.160959160959Reproductive seasonality, sex ratio and philopatry in Argentina's common vampire batsH. A. DelpietroR. G. RussoG. G. CarterR. D. LordG. L. DelpietroCommon vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) are a key rabies vector in South America. Improved management of this species requires long-term, region-specific information. To investigate patterns of demography and dispersal, we analysed 13 642 captures of common vampire bats in Northern Argentina from the period 1969–2004. In contrast with findings from more tropical regions, we found reproductive seasonality with peak pregnancy in September and peak lactation in February. Curiously, sex ratios were consistently male-biased both in maternity roosts and at foraging sites. Males comprised 57% of 9509 adults caught at night, 57% of 1078 juveniles caught at night, 57% of 603 juveniles caught in roosts during the day, and 55% of 103 newborns and mature fetuses. Most observed roosts were in man-made structures. Movements of 1.5–54 km were most frequent in adult males, followed by young males, adult females and young females. At night, males visited maternity roosts, and non-pregnant, non-lactating females visited bachelor roosts. Males fed earlier in the night. Finally, we report new longevity records for free-ranging vampire bats: 16 and 17 years of age for a female and male, respectively. Our results are consistent with model predictions that sex-biased movements might play a key role in rabies transmission between vampire bat populations.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.160959desmodus rotundusdispersalrabiesreproductive seasonalitysex ratiovampire bats |
| spellingShingle | H. A. Delpietro R. G. Russo G. G. Carter R. D. Lord G. L. Delpietro Reproductive seasonality, sex ratio and philopatry in Argentina's common vampire bats Royal Society Open Science desmodus rotundus dispersal rabies reproductive seasonality sex ratio vampire bats |
| title | Reproductive seasonality, sex ratio and philopatry in Argentina's common vampire bats |
| title_full | Reproductive seasonality, sex ratio and philopatry in Argentina's common vampire bats |
| title_fullStr | Reproductive seasonality, sex ratio and philopatry in Argentina's common vampire bats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reproductive seasonality, sex ratio and philopatry in Argentina's common vampire bats |
| title_short | Reproductive seasonality, sex ratio and philopatry in Argentina's common vampire bats |
| title_sort | reproductive seasonality sex ratio and philopatry in argentina s common vampire bats |
| topic | desmodus rotundus dispersal rabies reproductive seasonality sex ratio vampire bats |
| url | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.160959 |
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