Fig Fruit Consumption and Seed Dispersal by Artibeus jamaicensis in the Llanos of Venezuela

(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) Fruitingphenologyof Ficus trigonataand foragingecologyof Artibeusjamaicensis were examined in the lianos of Venezuela. Data indicatethatfruitmaturationin F. trigonatais characterizedbyat leasta three-weekperiodduringwhichunripe fruitsincreasein size and hardness.Ripening per se is abrupt and involvessofteningof fruits.A. jamaicensis forages more at fig treescontainingripe fruitsthan at treeswith unripe fruits.The apparent preferencefor ripe fruitsby A. jamaicensispossiblyinvolvesmaximizingnet energyand nutritionalyield.A. jamaicensistransportsviable fig seeds to primegerminationsites (palm canopies) and is the mostreliabledispersalagentin theVenezuelan llanos. Visual similarity betweenripe and unripeF. trigonatafruitsmay be an adaptation to minimize fruitconsumptionby birds, thus leaving more fruitsfor bats. By transportingfig seeds to palms, A. jamaicensismayplay an importantrole in llanos savanna succession.FruitproductionbyF. trigonatais bestdescribedby theModel II or Model III fruitingstrategiesof Howe and Estabrook (1977) and Howe (1979). Avian dispersalof figs is best describedby Model II, whereasA. jamaicensis representsa Model III disperser.The apparentplasticityby Ficus in making fruitsavailable to eitherbirds or bats may be an adaptationto ensuremaximal seed dispersionunder differentgermination-sitreestrictions.