The effect of ingestion by bat (Rousettus leschenaulti) on seed germination of Ficus racemosa and Ficus hispida (Moraceae)
棕果蝠取食对两种榕树种子萌发行为的影响

The fulvous fruit bat Rousettus leschenaulti (Pteropodidae) in Xishuangbanna,China consumes a variety of wild fruits,including several figs.The aim of this study was to determine the effect of manipulation by bats on seed germination of two fig species.Bats were fed using fresh fruits of Ficus racemosa and Ficus hispida under captive conditions and three groups of seeds were collected and seed germination were compared:(1) seeds defecated by bats;(2) seeds from ejecta spit out by bats;(3) control seeds,which were obtained from ripe fruits taken directly from parent trees,the pulp on them was cleared.Seed germinated significantly different among the different treatments for both fig species.F.racemosa seed passage through the gut of R.leschenaulti resulted in a decrease in final germination percentage(GP),but increase for F.hispida seeds.Gut treatment resulted in an increase in germination start(GS),minimum imbibition time(Tmin) and time necessary for reaching 50% germination capacity(T50) of 2 day for F.racemosa seeds,but a decrease in GS of 1 day,Tmin of 2 days,and had no effect on T50 for F.hispida seeds compared control seeds.F.racemose seeds from ejecta had a Tmin and T50 1 d longer than that of control seeds,but did not changed the GS.The treatment received by F.hispida seeds in ejecta resulted in a decrease in GS of 1 d,and Tmin of 3 d,but had no effect on T50.The bat served as seed dispersers which dispersed seeds mainly through fecal deposition,and changed seed germination behavior through ingestion.The foraging habits of the bat produced a population of seeds with considerable variability in their germinability,and this will likely ensure that only parts of seeds will germinate at any one given time,which can enhance the survival of seeds and spread germination relatively evenly over a long time period.