How Nectar-Feeding Bats Localize their Food: Echolocation Behavior of Leptonycteris yerbabuenae Approaching Cactus Flowers

ABSTRACTEvery day nectar-feeding animals face an energetic challenge during foraging: they must locate and select flowers that provide nectar with adequate amounts of sugar to cover their very high energy needs. To understand this decision-making process, it is crucial to know how accurately sugar concentration differences can be discriminated. In a controlled laboratory setting, we offered the nectar-specialist bat Leptonycteris yerbabuenae the choice between different sugar solutions covering the entire concentration range of bat-pollinated plants (3–33%). When feeding on solutions below 10% sugar concentration, L. yerbabuenae were unable to cover their energetic demands because of physiological constraints. Their ability to discriminate sugar concentrations was better than that of any other nectar-feeding animal studied to date. At sugar concentrations below 15%, L. yerbabuenae can discriminate solutions differing by only 0.5%. The bats may utilize this fine-tuned ability to select nectar from flowers with reward qualities that provide them with the necessary amount of energy to survive.

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Genetic diversity distribution among seasonal colonies of a nectar-feeding bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae) in the Baja California Peninsula

Mammalian Biology ◽

10.1016/j.mambio.2018.04.008 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 92 ◽

pp. 78-85 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Maria Clara Arteaga ◽

Rodrigo A. Medellín ◽

Patricia Astrid Luna-Ortíz ◽

Paul A. Heady ◽

Winifred F. Frick

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Baja California ◽

Baja California Peninsula ◽

Nectar Feeding ◽

Leptonycteris Yerbabuenae

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Finding flowers in the dark: nectar-feeding bats integrate olfaction and echolocation while foraging for nectar

Royal Society Open Science ◽

10.1098/rsos.160199 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 3 (8) ◽

pp. 160199 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Tania P. Gonzalez-Terrazas ◽

Carlos Martel ◽

Paulo Milet-Pinheiro ◽

Manfred Ayasse ◽

Elisabeth K. V. Kalko ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Floral Scent ◽

Terminal Group ◽

Acoustic Properties ◽

Floral Nectar ◽

Floral Scents ◽

Nectar Feeding ◽

Exact Position ◽

Leptonycteris Yerbabuenae ◽

First Time ◽

Olfactory Cue

Nectar-feeding bats depend mainly on floral nectar to fulfil their energetic requirements. Chiropterophilous flowers generally present strong floral scents and provide conspicuous acoustic echoes to attract bats. While floral scents are assumed to attract bats over long distances, acoustic properties of flower structures may provide detailed information, thus supporting the localization of a flower at close ranges. So far, to our knowledge, there is no study trying to understand the relative importance as well as the combination of these generally coupled cues for detection (presence) and localization (exact position) of open flowers in nature. For a better comprehension of the significance of olfaction and echolocation in the foraging behaviour of nectar-feeding bats, we conducted two-choice experiments with Leptonycteris yerbabuenae . We tested the bats' behaviour in three experimental scenarios with different cues: (i) olfaction versus echolocation, (ii) echolocation versus echolocation and olfaction, and (iii) olfaction versus echolocation and olfaction. We used the floral scent of the bat-pollinated cactus Pachycereus pringlei as olfactory cue and an acrylic paraboloid as acoustic cue. Additionally, we recorded the echolocation behaviour of the bats and analysed the floral scent of P. pringlei . When decoupled cues were offered, bats displayed no preference in choice for any of the two cues. However, bats reacted first to and chose more often the coupled cues. All bats echolocated continuously and broadcast a long terminal group before a successful visit. The floral scent bouquet of P. pringlei is composed of 20 compounds, some of which (e.g. methyl benzoate) were already reported from chiropterophilous plants. Our investigation demonstrates for the first time to our knowledge, that nectar-feeding bats integrate over different sensory modes for detection and precise localization of open flowers. The combined information from olfactory and acoustic cues allows bats to forage more efficiently.

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New records on distribution and habitat of the lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae) in Honduras

Neotropical Biology and Conservation ◽

10.3897/neotropical.15.e57376 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 521-531

Author(s):

José M. Mora ◽

Mario R. Espinal ◽

Lucia I. López

Keyword(s):

Central America ◽

New Records ◽

Dry Forest ◽

Nectar Feeding ◽

Key Species ◽

Moist Forest ◽

Forest Remnants ◽

New Localities ◽

Production Area ◽

Leptonycteris Yerbabuenae

The lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae Martínez & Villa-R, 1940) is a specialized nectar feeding species found from southern USA to Nicaragua in Central America, mostly in dry forest. We sampled bats using mist nets and Anabat detectors, and also looked for them at refuges and other sites in Honduras from 2011 to 2016. The lesser long-nosed bat is known in Honduras from only two localities in the southern dry forests below 100 m elevation, and there are no recent records of this species in the country. Our objective is to report new records on distribution and habitat of the lesser long-nosed bat in Honduras. We found eight lesser long-nosed bats at Cerro de Hula, Francisco Morazán department in 2012, and 10 at La Anonilla, Choluteca department, southern Honduras in 2015. Based on these 18 individuals of the lesser long-nosed bat, we report two new localities in Honduras, an altitude record, and the use of another habitat other than the dry forest. The highest point registered was at 1710 m a.s.l. in pastureland with forest remnants in an area heavily impacted by human activities. The new localities are found in the Subtropical Moist Forest. Populations of long-nosed bats in Honduras are probably resident and may include altitudinal movements. Although this species has been described widely in North America, its behavior in Honduras is practically unknown. It is a key species for the tequila and mezcal industry, but its range extends beyond the tequila production area, where it maintains a key role as a pollinator and link between habitats. As a result, research and conservation efforts should be an international goal.

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First record of the Lesser Long-nosed Bat, Leptonycteris yerbabuenae Martinez & Villa-R., 1940 (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae), in Nicaragua

Check List ◽

10.15560/16.2.451 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 451-456 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Octavio A. Saldaña Tapia ◽

Milton Ñamendy ◽

José G. Martínez-Fonseca

Keyword(s):

New Record ◽

First Record ◽

North Central ◽

Previous Record ◽

Nectar Feeding ◽

Leptonycteris Yerbabuenae

We report the first record of the Lesser long-nosed Bat, Leptonycteris yerbabuenae Martinez & Villa-R., 1940 in Nicaragua based on a specimen from San Nicolas, Estelí Department, north-central Nicaragua. The new record extends the known range of this large, migratory, nectar-feeding species 100 km southeast from the closest previous record in western Honduras.

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Seasonal changes in species composition, resource use and reproductive patterns within a guild of nectar-feeding bats in a west Mexican dry forest

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467410000714 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 133-145 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Ellen B. Sperr ◽

Luis Antonio Caballero-Martínez ◽

Rodrigo A. Medellin ◽

Marco Tschapka

Keyword(s):

Resource Use ◽

Seasonal Changes ◽

Niche Overlap ◽

Dry Season ◽

Dry Forest ◽

Diet Analysis ◽

Reproductive Pattern ◽

Wet Season ◽

Nectar Feeding ◽

Leptonycteris Yerbabuenae

Abstract:Seasonal changes in resource use and reproduction within a guild of nectar-feeding phyllostomid bats were studied between 2002 and 2004 in a west Mexican dry forest using mist-net captures and diet analysis over 82 nights during both dry and wet seasons. The local guild consisted of three resident species,Glossophaga soricina,Leptonycteris yerbabuenae,Musonycteris harrisoni, and ofAnoura geoffroyi, which was mostly captured during the wet season. The proportion ofL. yerbabuenaefemales more than doubled during the dry season. Diet was accessed by identifying the pollen collected from the bats' bodies and by analysis of faecal material. Bats used at least 28 different nectar plants over the year. In the dry season, 91.9% of all bats carried pollen while only 54.6% did so in the wet season. Bat individuals used the highest number of plant species during the dry season, mainly the cactusPachycereus pecten-aboriginum, various Bombacaceae and the CapparaceaeCleome spinosa. Niche overlap was higher in the dry season than in the wet season.Musonycteris harrisoniandLeptonycteris yerbabuenaeshowed the largest overlap and both relied heavily on cactus flowers, whereasG. soricinasupplemented its nectar diet with fruits. While reproductive females of most species were found only in the flower-rich dry season,G. soricinashowed a bimodal reproductive pattern.

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Discordance in maternal and paternal genetic markers in lesser long-nosed bat Leptonycteris yerbabuenae, a migratory bat: recent expansion to the North and male phylopatry

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.12168 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. e12168

Author(s):

Roberto-Emiliano Trejo-Salazar ◽

Gabriela Castellanos-Morales ◽

DulceCarolina Hernández-Rosales ◽

Niza Gámez ◽

Jaime Gasca-Pineda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Haplotype Diversity ◽

Divergence Times ◽

Cyt B ◽

Southern Mexico ◽

Tissue Samples ◽

Mexican Pacific ◽

Mitochondrial Markers ◽

Nectar Feeding ◽

D Loop ◽

Leptonycteris Yerbabuenae

Leptonycteris yerbabuenae, the lesser long-nosed bat is an abundant migratory nectar-feeding bat found in most of Mexico, and in some areas of northern Central America and small sections of southwestern USA. We analyzed the distribution of the maternal and paternal lineages of this species with phylogeographic methods based on two mitochondrial markers, Cyt-b and D-loop, and a marker located in the Y chromosome, DBY. We obtained tissue samples from 220 individuals from 23 localities. Levels of genetic diversity (haplotype diversity, Hd) were high (Cyt-b = 0.757; D-loop = 0.8082; DBY = 0.9137). No clear patterns of population genetic structure were found for mitochondrial markers, while male genetic differentiation suggested the presence of two lineages: one from Mexican Pacific coast states and another from central-southern Mexico; in accordance to strong male philopatry and higher female migration. We used genealogical reconstructions based on Bayesian tools to calculate divergence times, and to test coalescent models to explain changes in L. yerbabuenae historical demography. Our results show that recent demographic changes were consistent with global climatic changes (∼130,000 kyr ago for Cyt-b and ∼160,000 kyr for D-loop) and divergence times dated from molecular genealogies exhibited older divergence times, Cyt-b (4.03 mya), D-loop (10.26 mya) and DBY (12.23 mya). Accordingly, the female lineage underwent demographic expansion associated to Pleistocene climate change, whereas the male lineage remained constant.

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