Body-size dependent foraging strategies in the Christmas Island flying-fox: implications for seed and pollen dispersal within a threatened island ecosystem
Abstract Background Animals are important vectors for the dispersal of a wide variety of plant species, and thus play a key role in maintaining the health and biodiversity of natural ecosystems. On oceanic islands, flying-foxes are often the only seed dispersers or pollinators. However, many flying-...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Movement Ecology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-022-00315-8 |
| _version_ | 1828748866797699072 |
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| author | Christopher M. Todd David A. Westcott John M. Martin Karrie Rose Adam McKeown Jane Hall Justin A. Welbergen |
| author_facet | Christopher M. Todd David A. Westcott John M. Martin Karrie Rose Adam McKeown Jane Hall Justin A. Welbergen |
| author_sort | Christopher M. Todd |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Animals are important vectors for the dispersal of a wide variety of plant species, and thus play a key role in maintaining the health and biodiversity of natural ecosystems. On oceanic islands, flying-foxes are often the only seed dispersers or pollinators. However, many flying-fox populations are currently in decline, particularly those of insular species, and this has consequences for the ecological services they provide. Knowledge of the drivers and the scale of flying-fox movements is important in determining the ecological roles that flying-foxes play on islands. This information is also useful for understanding the potential long-term consequences for forest dynamics resulting from population declines or extinction, and so can aid in the development of evidence-based ecological management strategies. To these ends, we examined the foraging movements, floral resource use, and social interactions of the Critically Endangered Christmas Island flying-fox (Pteropus natalis). Methods Utilization distributions, using movement-based kernel estimates (MBKE) were generated to determine nightly foraging movements of GPS-tracked P. natalis (n = 24). Generalized linear models (GLMs), linear mixed-effect models (LMMs), and Generalized linear mixed-effects model (GLMMs) were constructed to explain how intrinsic factors (body mass, skeletal size, and sex) affected the extent of foraging movements. In addition, we identified pollen collected from facial and body swabs of P. natalis (n = 216) to determine foraging resource use. Direct observations (n = 272) of foraging P. natalis enabled us to assess the various behaviors used to defend foraging resources. Results Larger P. natalis individuals spent more time foraging and less time traveling between foraging patches, traveled shorter nightly distances, and had smaller overall foraging ranges than smaller conspecifics. Additionally, larger individuals visited a lower diversity of floral resources. Conclusions Our findings suggest that smaller P. natalis individuals are the primary vectors of long-distance dispersal of pollen and digested seeds in this species, providing a vital mechanism for maintaining the flow of plant genetic diversity across Christmas Island. Overall, our study highlights the need for more holistic research approaches that incorporate population demographics when assessing a species’ ecological services. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T05:45:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-da603775229f43b7854b4d80861c8b64 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2051-3933 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T05:45:52Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Movement Ecology |
| spelling | doaj.art-da603775229f43b7854b4d80861c8b642022-12-22T02:00:10ZengBMCMovement Ecology2051-39332022-04-0110111510.1186/s40462-022-00315-8Body-size dependent foraging strategies in the Christmas Island flying-fox: implications for seed and pollen dispersal within a threatened island ecosystemChristopher M. Todd0David A. Westcott1John M. Martin2Karrie Rose3Adam McKeown4Jane Hall5Justin A. Welbergen6The Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney UniversityCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)Taronga Institute of Science and Learning, Taronga Conservation Society AustraliaTaronga Institute of Science and Learning, Taronga Conservation Society AustraliaCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)Taronga Institute of Science and Learning, Taronga Conservation Society AustraliaThe Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney UniversityAbstract Background Animals are important vectors for the dispersal of a wide variety of plant species, and thus play a key role in maintaining the health and biodiversity of natural ecosystems. On oceanic islands, flying-foxes are often the only seed dispersers or pollinators. However, many flying-fox populations are currently in decline, particularly those of insular species, and this has consequences for the ecological services they provide. Knowledge of the drivers and the scale of flying-fox movements is important in determining the ecological roles that flying-foxes play on islands. This information is also useful for understanding the potential long-term consequences for forest dynamics resulting from population declines or extinction, and so can aid in the development of evidence-based ecological management strategies. To these ends, we examined the foraging movements, floral resource use, and social interactions of the Critically Endangered Christmas Island flying-fox (Pteropus natalis). Methods Utilization distributions, using movement-based kernel estimates (MBKE) were generated to determine nightly foraging movements of GPS-tracked P. natalis (n = 24). Generalized linear models (GLMs), linear mixed-effect models (LMMs), and Generalized linear mixed-effects model (GLMMs) were constructed to explain how intrinsic factors (body mass, skeletal size, and sex) affected the extent of foraging movements. In addition, we identified pollen collected from facial and body swabs of P. natalis (n = 216) to determine foraging resource use. Direct observations (n = 272) of foraging P. natalis enabled us to assess the various behaviors used to defend foraging resources. Results Larger P. natalis individuals spent more time foraging and less time traveling between foraging patches, traveled shorter nightly distances, and had smaller overall foraging ranges than smaller conspecifics. Additionally, larger individuals visited a lower diversity of floral resources. Conclusions Our findings suggest that smaller P. natalis individuals are the primary vectors of long-distance dispersal of pollen and digested seeds in this species, providing a vital mechanism for maintaining the flow of plant genetic diversity across Christmas Island. Overall, our study highlights the need for more holistic research approaches that incorporate population demographics when assessing a species’ ecological services.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-022-00315-8BatsEcosystem servicesForaging rangeFruit batsGPS telemetryPollination |
| spellingShingle | Christopher M. Todd David A. Westcott John M. Martin Karrie Rose Adam McKeown Jane Hall Justin A. Welbergen Body-size dependent foraging strategies in the Christmas Island flying-fox: implications for seed and pollen dispersal within a threatened island ecosystem Movement Ecology Bats Ecosystem services Foraging range Fruit bats GPS telemetry Pollination |
| title | Body-size dependent foraging strategies in the Christmas Island flying-fox: implications for seed and pollen dispersal within a threatened island ecosystem |
| title_full | Body-size dependent foraging strategies in the Christmas Island flying-fox: implications for seed and pollen dispersal within a threatened island ecosystem |
| title_fullStr | Body-size dependent foraging strategies in the Christmas Island flying-fox: implications for seed and pollen dispersal within a threatened island ecosystem |
| title_full_unstemmed | Body-size dependent foraging strategies in the Christmas Island flying-fox: implications for seed and pollen dispersal within a threatened island ecosystem |
| title_short | Body-size dependent foraging strategies in the Christmas Island flying-fox: implications for seed and pollen dispersal within a threatened island ecosystem |
| title_sort | body size dependent foraging strategies in the christmas island flying fox implications for seed and pollen dispersal within a threatened island ecosystem |
| topic | Bats Ecosystem services Foraging range Fruit bats GPS telemetry Pollination |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-022-00315-8 |
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