Temperature and resource availability drive the seasonal abundance of Artibeus lituratus (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in Atlantic Forest remnants of southeastern Brazil

Abstract

The great fruit-eating bat (Artibeus lituratus) is a large-sized bat in the New World family Phyllostomidae. It is widely distributed and sometimes very abundant in different Brazilian biomes, in natural and anthropic environments. Studies in the tropics have found evidence of a decrease in A. lituratus captures during the winter, a dry and cold season with low fruit availability, especially in higher latitudes. However, the causes for the decrease in captures are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to test the influence of temperature and fruit availability on capture rates of A. lituratus in a fragmented Atlantic Forest landscape. Results indicate that temperature is the main variable that explains the changes in the number of captures of A. lituratus throughout the year, and that fruit availability plays only an adjacent role. In addition, we highlight possible negative consequences of climate change on the survival of this species.