Dietary flexibility of insectivorous bats, Eptesicus fuscus and Myotis lucifugus , during Magicicada spp. Brood X emergence.

Autor: Isenhour, Zackary W., Harris, Garrett L., Stewart, Richard L., Hampton, Ekaterina D., Scafini, Michael R., Turner, Gregory G., Bergsten, Sherri E.
Předmět:
Zdroj: Canadian Journal of Zoology; 2024, Vol. 102 Issue 11, p888-895, 8p
Abstrakt: Emergence of periodical cicadas, Magicicada spp. Davis, 1925, presents an ideal opportunity to study dietary flexibility and selective feeding behavior of bats. It is known that a wide array of taxa prey upon Magicicada spp., but few bat species have been documented to consume them. When larger than typical prey items, such as periodical cicadas, become abundant for a short time frame, insectivorous bats may exhibit alteration in dietary selection that provides insight into capacity and conditions for feeding. Evidence of Magicicada spp. consumption was detected in guano via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and physical detection in both Eptesicus fuscus (Palisot de Beauvois, 1796) and Myotis lucifugus (Le Conte, 1831), two bat species of different sizes and with different dietary profiles. The consumption of these larger prey items, when they are locally abundant, supports a display of opportunistic behavior and diet flexibility in these two bat species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Databáze: Complementary Index
Externí odkaz:
Nepřihlášeným uživatelům se plný text nezobrazuje