An investigation to determine if fig distribution drives Bat distribution
Introduction:
Fig trees (Ficus spp. Moraceae) are groups of species-rich plants that are tropical and subtropical in nature. They are exclusively pollinated by host-tree specific wasps (Compton et al., 1996); figs have been considered to be “keystone plant resources” in many tropical forest habitats for frugivorous animals including fruit bats (Bleher et al., 2003 & Kalko et al., 1996). Fig trees have about 800 species distributed worldwide, having one of the largest genera of woody plants. Ficus are one of the most diverse groups with regards to habitat selection, growth forms and life forms (Kalko et al., 1996). The fruits that are produced by the fig trees are primary food resource for many frugivory mammals; these fruit eating mammals regurgitate, defecate, spit out or otherwise drop undamaged seeds away from the parent plant (Jordano, 2000). This relationship between the seed dispersers and the trees has formed a dynamic link in natural communities (Jordano, 2000). Therefore frugivory is a fundamental practise in plant population dynamics which are strongly dependent upon seed propagation by animals. However this is not always the case, recent studies on frugivory have rarely linked this dependent propagate of animals with the demographic patterns of plant populations (Jordano, 2000). Reviews on seed dispersal and frugivory ecology have shown that most frugivory fruit consumption is a non-exclusive food resource, which in most cases is supplemented with animal prey. Fig consumption by bats is about 28kg dry weight per hectare a year (Kalko et al., 1996), these bats ingests large numbers of seeds and defecate them while travelling between fig trees and roosts (Kalko et al., 1996).
More than 20 % of all mammal species are bats, a number of major threats faced by them in the past decade has seen these numbers decrease (Mickleburgh et al., 2002). Habitat loss or modification, roosts site loss and disturbance through the removal of dead trees or decaying branches have reduced the availability of potential roosting sites. These threats have seen the distributional range of fruit bats narrowed, especially in Southern Africa (Mickleburgh et al., 2002). Bats belong to the order Chitoptera, at present they are approximately 950 recognized species worldwide. Chiroptera
Reproduction and passing on genetic and behavioral traits to an offspring is a common fundamental to all the species on this planet. When studying forest ecology, it is crucial to study the proportion of individuals surviving at each stage of their growth as the lives and mortality experienced in a species population describes a characteristic of the species in question. In the case of American beech and sugar maple, their attempt to produce seeds is analogous to entering lottery, where every seedling has a potential chance of becoming a canopy but only some will survive and reach the canopy size; thus, becoming the fit ‘winners’. Our information shows that together, based on size class distribution, both the species display a ‘winner takes all’ pattern, which supports our hypothesis. The results showed a greater count for seedlings and short saplings than for tall saplings, sub-canopies and canopies. This is evident for a Type III survivorship curve. In Type III curve all individuals initially having a very low chance of survival. However, once the individuals pass their threshold age and survive, they live an advanced age. Only some individuals out the mast seeding production mature to become fully fit canopy trees. On the other hand, our hypothesis of canopy trees representing the bulk of the biomass was supported as the basal areas decreased going from growth stages of canopy to seedlings. This is evidence that once the individuals survive the bottleneck where there is high mortality of young individuals (seedlings), who are then considered as ‘losers’, will allow for the other larger size class individuals to flourish. Here, having considerable amount of dbh (diameter at breast height) accounts for greater surfac...
The population of bats in the United States is facing a serious threat of extinction due to the outbreak of a deadly fungus called Deomyces destructans. The fungus is nicknamed White-Nose Syndrome, after the white fungus that typically appears on the infected bats noses and wings. Other signs and symptoms of White Nose Syndrome are white fungus on the ears and tail as well, bats flying during the day in the middle of winter, bats clustered near the entrance to a hibernacle or cave, and general abnormal behavior for a hibernating bat. Scientifically the fungus has been identified as, Deomyces destructans. The fungus itself causes damage to their connective tissues, muscles, and skin. It also can disrupt many of their physiological processes. Typically during a hibernation period bats will wake up on average every 10 to 20 days. An infected bat on the other hand will wake up every 3 to four days which causes them to burn up their fat stores twice as fast. When they wake up they are both dehydrated and hungry, around 90% of the bats actually die from starvation due to a lack of insects for food in the winter season. WNS is transmitted from bat to bat and that is why any contact between an infected bat from one cave population with a non-infected bat from another population has serious consequences.
Once the gray wolf population had declined in the National Park, many ecological impacts were observed. Without a sustainable wolf population in the park, the elk population began to take over and increase in size. Due to this increase in elk, many of the deciduous woody species began to become overgrazed. With the e...
...le would be more than that of American beech because sugar maple produce more seeds than American beech. Furthermore, we study whether the two species co-exist via reciprocal replacement, habitat preference or merely by chance. We believe that habitat preference may be the mechanism of coexistence here and therefore we hypothesize that there will be more American beech tree neighbors as they may represent the most biomass as per our third hypothesis. Thereafter, root sprouting is effective in American beech to give them a greater horizontal growth than sugar maple. Hence, we hypothesize that sugar maple canopies will be less asymmetrical than American beech. Finally, because a nearby canopy may restrict a tree canopy growth in the same direction, we hypothesize that a tree will grow its respective canopy away from its neighboring canopy to receive maximum sunlight.
... al., eds (2009) (PDF). Primates in Peril: The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates 2008–2010. Illustrated by S.D. Nash. Arlington, VA.: IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group (PSG), International Primatological Society (IPS), and Conservation International (CI). pp. 1–92. ISBN 978-1-934151-34-1.
The communities of various native plants have been significantly minimized as a result of ...
Nicolson, S. W., & Fleming, P. A. (2003). Nectar as food for birds: the physiological consequences of drinking dilutesugar solutions. Plant Systematics & Evolution, 238(1-4), 139-153. doi:10.1007/s00606-003-0279-7
One of the species I chose to center my research paper on is the Tufted Capuchin Monkey. The Tufted Capuchin Monkey’s scientific name is the Cebus Apella Apella, yet they are also known as brown capuchin, black-capped capuchin, or even pin monkey. The Tufted Capuchin is most commonly found east of the Andes from Colombia and Venezuela to Paraguay and Northern Argentina. We find these unendangered monkeys to be living in rain forests, low montane forests, and semi-deciduous lowlands. Also, Capuchin Monkeys are found to have the widest range and broadest habitat tolerances of any other Cebus species.
Once this is figured out, a person can implement some "do-it-yourself" strategies to get rid of bats. One way to accomplish this is to bat-proof your home. For example, you can remove all the outside water sources, turn off or remove outdoor lighting, close up any obvious entry and exit points that bats can use, or choose to install a bat house on the exterior of your property to give bats an alternative option for roosting.
Works Cited Bates, D. (1957, December 17). Letter from Roy Wilkins. Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America. Beals, M. P. (1994). The Species of the World.
The sloth population in South America is being decimated by deforestation. If the deforestation is not stopped sloths will lose their habitat and become extinct. Deforestation, if not controlled, will destroy not only sloths but countless other unique species indigenous to the South American rainforests. If the current rate of deforestation continues the worlds rainforests will be completely destroyed in one hundred years. The problem of deforestation needs to be addressed now in order to preserve the worlds rainforests. Steps must be taken in order to insure the survival of the worlds rainforests and preservation of the Earth's bio-diversity.
The relationships between plants and pollinators play a key role in our ecosystems. Pollinators are animals, such as bees, butterflies, moths, bats, flies, wasps, and birds, that transfer pollen from one flower to another. Pollination is the movement of pollen to the male or female part of the plant. This leads to fertilization and the production of seeds and flowers. They maintain and establish ecosystems. “Pollinators are an integral part of our environment and our agricultural systems; they are important in 35% of global crop production” (NCRS 2013). “Pollinator declines can result in loss of pollination services which have important negative ecological and economic impacts that could significantly affect the maintenance of wild plant diversity,
A.According to the article "Why Birds Need native Trees" by Laura Tangley published January, 15, 2015, trees provide shelter and food for a variety of birds and small animals. When we destroy trees we destroy the lives of living organisms. Many animals live in trees and eat off trees. Birds, for example, use trees for nesting, food, and shelter. Increasing growth diversity, trees create an environment that allows the growth of plants that otherwise would not be there. Trees also provide shade, reduce water and air temperatures. It might be easier to list which parts of trees don’t provide food! In spring and summer, birds and small mammals chow on tree flower buds. Tree leaves are eaten by caterpillars and by many other insects and insect larvae. Cherry and plum trees provide berries in late summer, nourishing migratory birds for their
Shah, Anup. Loss of Biodiversity and Extinctions. Global Issues, 19 Jan. 2014. Web. 19 May 2014.