Fruit Consumption and seed dispersal of wild banana Musa acuminata by Short-nosed fruit bat Cynopterus sphinx

摘要

Feeding behavior of the short-nosed fruit bat Cynopterus sphinx on fruits of wild banana Musa acuminata and seed dispersal were studied in the Tropical Rainforest Conservation Area, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Yunnan province from September to December in 2004 by observation, using mist net and seed collecting. C.sphinx began to visit M.acuminata about 30 min after sunset, they typically transported fruits to feeding roosts where they consumed fruit pulp and expelled fibrous spats and seeds beneath feeding roosts. Analysis of the temporal distribution of feeding behavior revealed two peaks of activity, one in 20:30 , and another in 22:30 before midnight , which was consistent with results obtained by sampling with mist net. The number of individuals of C.sphinx captured by mist nets were 2.2 ±0.3 /day and 1.4±0.3/day in rain season (sep.to Oct) and dry season(Dec.to Nov.),respectively, this difference was not significant. The number of seed pellets expelled was 9.0 ±1.1 /day, 7.2 ±1.4 /day in rain and dry seasons, respectively, but this difference was not significant. Seed dispersal differed significantly among habitats. We found the seed of M. acuminata can be dispersed by C. sphinx to a range of about 200 m, and C. sphinx may be an effective seed disperser of M. acuminata [ Acta Zoologica Sinica 51(4): 608–615, 2005].