COMMUNITY STRUCTURE OF BATS ALONG AN ALTITUDINAL GRADIENT IN TROPICAL EASTERN MEXICO

Contenido principal del artículo

Daniel Navarro López
Livia León Paniagua

Resumen

ABSTRACT. The changes in species richness, relative abundance, and biomass of bats were monitored along an altitudinal gradient (800 to 2,560 m) in the Sierra Madre Oriental in eastern Mexico. In general, species richness, density, and biomass were correlated with elevation, but the insectivorous bats were more numerous at mid-elevation sites. The frugivorous bats contributed with the majority of the biomass along the gradient. One migratory species (Tadarida brasiliensis) was only detected during the summer months. It is hypothesized that the observed changes are correlated to the amount of food availability and thermoregulatory abilities of bats.

 RESUMEN. Los cambios en riqueza de especies, abundancia relativa y biomasa de los murciélagos fueron monitoreados a lo largo de un gradiente altitudinal (800 a 2,560 m) en la Sierra Madre Oriental en el este de México. En general, la riqueza de especies, densidad y biomasa estuvieron correlacionadas con la altitud; sin embargo, los murciélagos insectívoros fueron más numerosos en altitudes intermedias. Las especies frugívoras contribuyeron con la mayor proporción de la biomasa. Una especie migratoria (Tadarida brasiliensis) sólo fue colectada en el verano. Se sugiere que los patrones observados están correlacionados con la disponibilidad de alimento y las habilidades termorregulatorias de los murciélagos.

 Key words: Chiroptera, community structure, altitudinal gradients, Queretaro.

Detalles del artículo

Biografía del autor/a

Daniel Navarro López, Centro de Investigaciones de Quintana Roo (CIQRO)

Mastozoologo

Livia León Paniagua, Museo de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, UNAM.

Mastozoologa

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