The role of extrinsic and intrinsic factors in Neotropical fruit bat-plant interactions

Understanding the structure and evolution of ecological communities requires an examination of the factors that influence plant-animal mutualistic interactions. These interactions are affected by factors that are both extrinsic and intrinsic to the animals. We used a meta-analysis technique to examine such factors affecting the interactions between frugivorous animals and the plants they feed upon, using 3 common Neotropical frugivorous bat genera (Carollia, Sturnira, and Artibeus) as a model. We assessed whether latitude, altitude, ecoregion, and bat body size were related to the proportions of the most important plant genera in the diet of the bats. Our results show that extrinsic factors did not affect the proportion of Piper in the diet of Carollia. The proportion of Solanum in the diet of Sturnira was positively correlated with latitude and decreased in the mountain, moist, and bahia interior ecoregions. The proportion of Ficus and Cecropia in the diet of Artibeus decreased in high-elevation ecoregions and was negatively correlated with altitude. The large Artibeus species featured more Ficus and Cecropia in their diets compared to the small species of this genus. Our work demonstrates that mutualistic interaction between Neotropical bats and their core plant taxa is mediated by geographic and morphological factors. © 2013 American Society of Mammalogists