Food and feeding habit of insectivorous bats (Chiroptera) of Peechi-Vazhani wildlife sanctuary, western ghats, Kerala
By: Sachin K Aravind.
Contributor(s): P O Nameer(Guide).
Material type:
BookPublisher: Vellanikkara Department of Wildlife Sciences, College of Forestry 2014Description: 68p.Subject(s): Wildlife SciencesDDC classification: 634.9 Online resources: Click here to access online Dissertation note: MSc Abstract: A field study was conducted to understand the food, feeding habit and
food preferences of insectivorous bats (Microchiroptera) of Peechi-Vazhani
Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats, Kerala. The study was conducted from May
2013 to February 201~ in the selected roosts. Insectivorous bat species studied
were Rhinolophus rouxii, Hipposideros speoris and Hipposideros ater.
The method adopted were faecal matter analysis. Faecal matter were
collected for each species of insectivorous bats once in a month throughout the
study period. These pellets were analyzed in laboratory to identify food
components and percent volume. From the faecal matter analysis Rhinolophus
rouxii were found to be feeding on eleven insect orders (Lepidoptera,
Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Isoptera, Orthoptera, Odonata,
Mantodea, Neuroptera and Ephemeroptera) and spiders (Araneae),
Hipposideros speoris were found to be feeding on ten insect orders
(Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Isoptera,
Orthoptera, Odonata, Neuroptera and Ephemeroptera) and spiders (Araneae).
And the Hipposideros ater was found to be feeding on eight insect orders
(Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Isoptera,
Orthoptera and Odonata) and spiders (Araneae).
Lepidoptera was the most fed insect orders by all the three insectivorous
bats under study. Coleoptera was the second most fed insect order and Diptera
was the third most fed insect order by these bats. They also fed on the insects
belonging to the orders Hemiptera, Orthoptera and Isoptera. This points into the
immense capability of these insectivorous bats in insect pest suppression as
these insect orders include majority of the insect pests in forest, agricultural
land and urban areas. There was a significant bat species wise difference in the
consumption of Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera and Neuroptera, while there
was a seasonal difference in the consumption of Coleoptera and Isoptera. The
study also revealed that the Rhinolophus rouxii was a generalist predator and its
niche overlaps with both Hipposideros speoris and Hipposideros ater. There is
some niche overlap between Hipposideros ater and Hipposideros speoris but
less than that of with Rhinolophus rouxii. Insects of Hemiptera and Diptera
were more preferred by Hipposideros ater and Insects of Odonata, Coleoptera,
Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera were more preferred by Hipposideros speoris.
| Item type | Current location | Collection | Call number | Status | Date due | Barcode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Theses
|
KAU Central Library, Thrissur Theses | Reference Book | 634.9 SAC/FO (Browse shelf) | Not For Loan | 173428 |
Browsing KAU Central Library, Thrissur Shelves , Shelving location: Theses , Collection code: Reference Book Close shelf browser
MSc
A field study was conducted to understand the food, feeding habit and
food preferences of insectivorous bats (Microchiroptera) of Peechi-Vazhani
Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats, Kerala. The study was conducted from May
2013 to February 201~ in the selected roosts. Insectivorous bat species studied
were Rhinolophus rouxii, Hipposideros speoris and Hipposideros ater.
The method adopted were faecal matter analysis. Faecal matter were
collected for each species of insectivorous bats once in a month throughout the
study period. These pellets were analyzed in laboratory to identify food
components and percent volume. From the faecal matter analysis Rhinolophus
rouxii were found to be feeding on eleven insect orders (Lepidoptera,
Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Isoptera, Orthoptera, Odonata,
Mantodea, Neuroptera and Ephemeroptera) and spiders (Araneae),
Hipposideros speoris were found to be feeding on ten insect orders
(Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Isoptera,
Orthoptera, Odonata, Neuroptera and Ephemeroptera) and spiders (Araneae).
And the Hipposideros ater was found to be feeding on eight insect orders
(Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Isoptera,
Orthoptera and Odonata) and spiders (Araneae).
Lepidoptera was the most fed insect orders by all the three insectivorous
bats under study. Coleoptera was the second most fed insect order and Diptera
was the third most fed insect order by these bats. They also fed on the insects
belonging to the orders Hemiptera, Orthoptera and Isoptera. This points into the
immense capability of these insectivorous bats in insect pest suppression as
these insect orders include majority of the insect pests in forest, agricultural
land and urban areas. There was a significant bat species wise difference in the
consumption of Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera and Neuroptera, while there
was a seasonal difference in the consumption of Coleoptera and Isoptera. The
study also revealed that the Rhinolophus rouxii was a generalist predator and its
niche overlaps with both Hipposideros speoris and Hipposideros ater. There is
some niche overlap between Hipposideros ater and Hipposideros speoris but
less than that of with Rhinolophus rouxii. Insects of Hemiptera and Diptera
were more preferred by Hipposideros ater and Insects of Odonata, Coleoptera,
Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera were more preferred by Hipposideros speoris.
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