Diego J. Lizcano

Uso de refugios por tres especies de murciélagos filostómidos (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) en el Área Natural Única Los Estoraques, Norte de Santander, Colombia

La ecología del refugio es importante en la evolución de los murciélagos y su biología. Describimos el uso de refugios en un bosque seco en el nororiente de Colombia. Se determinó la relación entre variables ambientales en refugios (temperatura, humedad relativa, velocidad del viento, luz, altura de percha, altura máxima del refugio y altitud) y abundancia relativa de Artibeus jamaicensis, Carollia brevicauda y Anoura geoffroyi en la época seca y lluviosa. Se determinaron diferencias entre variables ambientales de refugios con un análisis de varianza y Kruskal-Wallis. Se determinó la relación entre variables ambientales y abundancia con un análisis de correspondencia canónica (ACC). Se encontraron ocho refugios naturales y tres artificiales. Para la variable luz, se encontraron diferencias entre los refugios. La altura máxima del refugio también mostró diferencias, así como la altura de percha. Velocidad del viento, humedad relativa y temperatura no variaron entre refugios. Con el ACC se determinaron asociaciones entre A. jamaicensis y humedad relativa, velocidad del viento, luz, altura de percha y altura máxima del refugio. Para C. brevicauda la asociación fue con temperatura y para A. geoffroyi fue con altitud. Se encontraron diferencias en la abundancia de A. jamaicensis en seis de los siete refugios entre épocas. C. brevicauda y A. geoffroyi no mostraron diferencias en la abundancia entre épocas.

Roost use by bats (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in the Natural Area Los Estoraques, Norte de Santander, Colombia. Roost ecology is important for bats evolution and biology. We described roost use in a dry forest of north eastern Colombia. Relations between roost environmental variables (temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, light, perch height, maximum height of roost and altitude) and relative abundance of Artibeus jamaicensis, Carollia brevicauda and Anoura geoffroyi during dry and rainy seasons were determined. Differences between environmental variables of roosts using variance analysis and Kruskal-Wallis tests were determined. The relation between environmental variables and abundance was assessed with a canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). Eight natural and three artificial roosts were found. Regarding environmental variables, light, maximum height of roost and perch height showed significant differences among roosts, while wind speed, relative humidity and temperature presented no variation. Associations between A. jamaicensis and relative humidity, wind speed, light, perch height and maximum height of roost were found through CCA. For C. brevicauda and A. geoffroyi, an association with temperature and altitude, respectively, was found. Abundance of A. jamaicensis varied in six of seven roosts between seasons, while C. brevicauda and A. geoffroyi showed no seasonal differences.

Características químicas de salados y hábitos alimenticios de la danta de montaña (Tapirus pinchaque Roulin, 1829) en los Andes centrales de Colombia

Chemical characteristics of salt licks and feeding habits of mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque) in the central Andes of Colombia. The chemical composition of salt licks and the diet of the mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque) were studied in the upper montane rain forests (2900–3700 m), in the Parque Regional Natural Ucumari and Parque Nacional Natural Los Nevados, Colombia. We collected water samples from the salt licks, 28 feces and voucher specimens of plants with tapir browsing sign. The chemical analysis of the water from salt licks showed higher concentrations of Na, N-NH₄ y N-NO₃ when compared to the water of a nearby stream used as control. The nitrogen of the water at the salt lick is probably being fixed by Nostoc, a Cyanobacteria associated with Gunnera manicata and G. magnifolia, two plants located in the upper part of the rocky cliff from where the water drains to the salt lick. It is likely that the tapirs are drinking these waters to complement their diet, especially in an environment like tropical montane forests where nitrogen is in low concentration. A total of 35 plant species showed browsing signs. The plant families that the tapir consumed the most were ferns (seven species), Melastomataceae (six species) and Rubiaceae (five species). In the feces there were mostly leaves and twigs and no fruits or seeds. Germination experiments should be carried out to determine if the mountain tapir is a seed dispersal as suggested in Ecuador.