Abstract

CASTILLO-FIGUEROA, Dennis. Fluctuating asymmetry of three bat species in extensive livestock systems from Córdoba department, Colombia. rev. colombiana cienc. anim. Recia [online]. 2018, vol.10, n.2, pp.143-153. ISSN 2027-4297.  https://doi.org/10.24188/recia.v10.n2.2018.623.

The aim of this study was to analyze the degree of fluctuating asymmetry in wing traits and digits of three common bat species (Artibeus lituratus, Artibeus planirostis and Carollia perspicillata) in extensive livestock systems from Córdoba department, Colombia. To do this, specimens from the Mammalian Collection at the Museo Javeriano de Historia Natural of Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Bogotá, Colombia) were analyzed. All specimens belonged to fragments of tropical dry-forest immersed in extensive livestock systems of Córdoba department. To parse out fluctuating asymmetry, 11 wing traits were used. To assess the existence of asymmetry, nonparametric U test was applied. Finally, to evaluate the existence of significant differences among digits, nonparametric one-way analysis of variance were carried out. In total, 114 specimens were analyzed (A. planirostris=40, A. lituratus=33, C. perspicillata=41). The results showed no statistical differences (p> 0.05) in most of wing traits. Little variation in wing traits was due to its relevance on flight performance and the high tolerance to perturbation of these bat species. "Differential-mortality" hypothesis and "Big Mother" hypothesis are discussed. Results from this work suggest that livestock systems do not severely affect these species. Further studies should consider the type of management to know which one provides better conditions for bats.

Keywords : Wing morphology; Artibeus planirostris; Artibeus lituratus; Carollia perspicillata; tropical dry-forest; sexual dimorphism.

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