Seasonal variation and food deprivation in common vampire bats (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of seasonal variation and fasting on fat reserves of the common vampire bat Desmodus rotundus. Plasma free fatty acids (FFA), along with lipid content of the liver and muscles, and fatty acids from the carcass were obtained from bats fed bovine bl...

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Main Authors: M. B. Freitas, A. F. Welker, E. C. Pinheiro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Instituto Internacional de Ecologia
Series:Brazilian Journal of Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1519-69842006000600012&lng=en&tlng=en
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author M. B. Freitas
A. F. Welker
E. C. Pinheiro
author_facet M. B. Freitas
A. F. Welker
E. C. Pinheiro
author_sort M. B. Freitas
collection DOAJ
description The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of seasonal variation and fasting on fat reserves of the common vampire bat Desmodus rotundus. Plasma free fatty acids (FFA), along with lipid content of the liver and muscles, and fatty acids from the carcass were obtained from bats fed bovine blood and from whom food was subsequently withheld for 24 and 48 h. Animals were caught during both dry and rainy seasons. In general, fat tissue stores were not significantly influenced by seasonal variation. Lipid content of liver, muscles, and carcass decreased during some food deprivation periods, although the concomitant increase expected in plasma FFA was not observed. Lipid metabolism is hypothesized as being continued by the tissues themselves. In addition, free access to food sources (e.g., domestic livestock) throughout the year is believed to contribute to the low seasonal variations in fat reserves observed in the common vampire bat.
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spelling doaj.art-a35eb4c47398430cb5c048c41e3f47ef2022-12-22T00:56:00ZengInstituto Internacional de EcologiaBrazilian Journal of Biology1678-43756641051105510.1590/S1519-69842006000600012S1519-69842006000600012Seasonal variation and food deprivation in common vampire bats (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)M. B. Freitas0A. F. Welker1E. C. Pinheiro2Universidade de BrasíliaUniversidade de BrasíliaUniversidade de BrasíliaThe aim of this study was to investigate the effects of seasonal variation and fasting on fat reserves of the common vampire bat Desmodus rotundus. Plasma free fatty acids (FFA), along with lipid content of the liver and muscles, and fatty acids from the carcass were obtained from bats fed bovine blood and from whom food was subsequently withheld for 24 and 48 h. Animals were caught during both dry and rainy seasons. In general, fat tissue stores were not significantly influenced by seasonal variation. Lipid content of liver, muscles, and carcass decreased during some food deprivation periods, although the concomitant increase expected in plasma FFA was not observed. Lipid metabolism is hypothesized as being continued by the tissues themselves. In addition, free access to food sources (e.g., domestic livestock) throughout the year is believed to contribute to the low seasonal variations in fat reserves observed in the common vampire bat.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1519-69842006000600012&lng=en&tlng=enseasonsfood deprivationlipidsmetabolismDesmodus rotundus
spellingShingle M. B. Freitas
A. F. Welker
E. C. Pinheiro
Seasonal variation and food deprivation in common vampire bats (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)
Brazilian Journal of Biology
seasons
food deprivation
lipids
metabolism
Desmodus rotundus
title Seasonal variation and food deprivation in common vampire bats (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)
title_full Seasonal variation and food deprivation in common vampire bats (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)
title_fullStr Seasonal variation and food deprivation in common vampire bats (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)
title_full_unstemmed Seasonal variation and food deprivation in common vampire bats (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)
title_short Seasonal variation and food deprivation in common vampire bats (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)
title_sort seasonal variation and food deprivation in common vampire bats chiroptera phyllostomidae
topic seasons
food deprivation
lipids
metabolism
Desmodus rotundus
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1519-69842006000600012&lng=en&tlng=en
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AT ecpinheiro seasonalvariationandfooddeprivationincommonvampirebatschiropteraphyllostomidae