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

PLoS One. 2020 Feb 25;15(2):e0229110. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229110. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animal Communication*
  • Animal Distribution / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Chiroptera / physiology*
  • Ecosystem
  • Egypt
  • Feeding Behavior / physiology*
  • Female
  • Food Supply / statistics & numerical data
  • Information Dissemination
  • Male
  • Seasons
  • Spatial Analysis

Associated data

  • figshare/10.6084/m9.figshare.11316560

Grants and funding

This work received support from: Grant Agency of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (# IAA601110905); Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (# 206/09/0888); Charles University Research Centre program (# 204069); Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic (# MUNI/A/1078/2017); Research aims of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (# RVO 68081766). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.