Parasitism by Bat Flies on an Urban Population of Cynopterus brachyotis in Singapore

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Main Authors: Lee, Vivien Naomi, Mendenhall, Ian H., Lee, Benjamin P. Y.-H., Posa, Mary Rose C.
Format: Recurso digital
Published: Zenodo 2018
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_version_ 1866901176701681664
author Lee, Vivien Naomi
Mendenhall, Ian H.
Lee, Benjamin P. Y.-H.
Posa, Mary Rose C.
author_facet Lee, Vivien Naomi
Mendenhall, Ian H.
Lee, Benjamin P. Y.-H.
Posa, Mary Rose C.
contents (Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) This study characterizes the patterns of bat fly parasitism on Cynopterus brachyotis, the most common fruit bat in the tropical urban environment of Singapore. Mist netting was conducted over a period of five months in two secondary forest sites, where 211 unique individuals were captured and examined for ectoparasites. The relative density, prevalence and mean intensity of parasitism by the wingless nycteriibid Leptocyclopodia ferrarii ferrarii were compared with respect to sex, age and reproductive status of captured bats. The overall prevalence of parasitism was 40.3% and analyses revealed no significant differences in the three parameters when comparisons were made between demographic subgroups. However, adults, females and pregnant females had a higher prevalence of infestation, while juveniles, males and non-pregnant females had higher mean intensity of bat flies. Roosting behavior is likely to be the driving factor for parasite transmission, as bat flies are more likely to encounter females because of C. brachyotis' harembased social structure. No correlation was found between bat body condition and parasite load, even when the relationship was examined for juveniles and adults separately. The observation of a re-infestation within 46 days suggests that there is high intraindividual and intra-roost parasite transmission. Research into roost group size, distribution, site fidelity, and connectivity is needed to better understand the patterns and dynamics of parasitism on bats living in the urban environment.
format Recurso digital
id zenodo_https___doi_org_10_5281_zenodo_13454724
institution Zenodo
language
publishDate 2018
publisher Zenodo
record_format zenodo
spellingShingle Parasitism by Bat Flies on an Urban Population of Cynopterus brachyotis in Singapore
Lee, Vivien Naomi
Mendenhall, Ian H.
Lee, Benjamin P. Y.-H.
Posa, Mary Rose C.
Biodiversity
Mammalia
Chiroptera
Chordata
Animalia
bats
bat
(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) This study characterizes the patterns of bat fly parasitism on Cynopterus brachyotis, the most common fruit bat in the tropical urban environment of Singapore. Mist netting was conducted over a period of five months in two secondary forest sites, where 211 unique individuals were captured and examined for ectoparasites. The relative density, prevalence and mean intensity of parasitism by the wingless nycteriibid Leptocyclopodia ferrarii ferrarii were compared with respect to sex, age and reproductive status of captured bats. The overall prevalence of parasitism was 40.3% and analyses revealed no significant differences in the three parameters when comparisons were made between demographic subgroups. However, adults, females and pregnant females had a higher prevalence of infestation, while juveniles, males and non-pregnant females had higher mean intensity of bat flies. Roosting behavior is likely to be the driving factor for parasite transmission, as bat flies are more likely to encounter females because of C. brachyotis' harembased social structure. No correlation was found between bat body condition and parasite load, even when the relationship was examined for juveniles and adults separately. The observation of a re-infestation within 46 days suggests that there is high intraindividual and intra-roost parasite transmission. Research into roost group size, distribution, site fidelity, and connectivity is needed to better understand the patterns and dynamics of parasitism on bats living in the urban environment.
title Parasitism by Bat Flies on an Urban Population of Cynopterus brachyotis in Singapore
topic Biodiversity
Mammalia
Chiroptera
Chordata
Animalia
bats
bat
url https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13454724