Foraging movements are density-independent among straw-coloured fruit bats.

ABSTRACT: Intraspecific competition in large aggregations of animals should generate density-dependent effects on foraging patterns. To test how large differences in colony size affect foraging movements, we tracked seasonal movements of the African straw-coloured fruit bat (Eidolon helvum) from four colonies that range from 4000 up to 10 million animals. Contrary to initial predictions, we found that mean distance flown per night (9-99 km), number of nightly foraging sites (2-3) and foraging and commuting times were largely independent of colony size. Bats showed classic central-place foraging and typically returned to the same day roost each night. However, roost switching was evident among individuals in three of the four colonies especially towards the onset of migration. The relatively c

SUBMITTER: Calderon-Capote MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7277244 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature