TWO COSTA RICAN BAT-GENERATED SEED SHADOWS OF ANDIRA INERMIS (LEGUMINOSAE)

Abstract

Bat-generated seed shadows of two mature Andira inermis (W. Wright) DC. trees in the deciduous forest lowlands of Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica, are highly heterogeneous; very unequal numbers of seeds are deposited beneath the trees used as feeding roosts. It is calculated that a 45-g Artibeus jamaicensis bat may potentially obtain as many as 1,766 joules [= 422 calories] per Andira fruit per round trip of 270 m between the parent tree and the feeding roost. Seed predation by Cleogonus weevils was found to be highest below the parent tree, intermediate under bat feeding roosts, and lowest among fruits dropped accidentally by bats between the parent tree and the feeding roosts.