Spatial networks differ when food supply changes: Foraging strategy of Egyptian fruit bats

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Authors

BACHOREC Erik HORACEK Ivan HULVA Pavel KONEČNÝ Adam LUCAN Radek JEDLICKA Petr SHOHDI Wael ŘEŘUCHA Šimon ABI-SAID Mounir BARTONIČKA Tomáš

Year of publication 2020
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source PLoS ONE
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Science

Citation
Web https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0229110
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0229110
Keywords female bechsteins bats; rousettus aegyptiacus; information transfer; social networks; habitat use; population; relatedness; evolution; dynamics; ecology
Description Animals are faced with a range of ecological constraints that shape their behavioural decisions. Habitat features that affect resource abundance will also have an impact, especially as regards spatial distribution, which will in turn affect associations between the animals. Here we utilised a network approach, using spatial and genetic data, to describe patterns in use of space (foraging sites) by free-ranging Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) at the Dakhla Oasis in Egypt. We observed a decrease in home range size during spring, when food availability was lowest, which was reflected by differences in space sharing networks. Our data showed that when food was abundant, space sharing networks were less connected and more related individuals shared more foraging sites. In comparison, when food was scarce the bats had few possibilities to decide where and with whom to forage. Overall, both networks had high mean degree, suggesting communal knowledge of predictable food distribution.
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