DISPERSAL OF ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI BY BATS IN AN URBAN TROPICAL FOREST FRAGMENT

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17564/2316-3798.2021v8n3p458-469

Authors

  • Thais Martinez Rodrigues Jorge Universidade Estadual de Maringá
  • Henrique Universidade Estadual de Maringá
  • Rosilaine Carrenho Universidade Estadual de Maringá

Published

2021-11-27

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Abstract

Associations of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant species may occur in terrestrial and air environments and need an effective dispersal, which occurs mainly by biotic vectors. Studies on the influence of flying animals on this dispersal are scarce, thus, this study aimed to investigate the role of bats in AMF propagule dispersal and the most frequent means of transport. Analyses were performed in dorsoventral hairs and feces of bats in an urban tropical forest fragment in southern Brazil, from April to September 2018. The results were negative for the presence of spores in the hair, but spores of Glomus invermaium and Acaulospora scrobiculata were detected in feces of two bat species, evidencing that they can act as secondary spore dispersers. Efficient dispersal depends on the range extension of the dispersing species, so bats can be important dispersers of AMF, since they have the ability to fly and travel long distances.

Author Biography

Thais Martinez Rodrigues Jorge, Universidade Estadual de Maringá

Bióloga - Ecologia de Mamíferos

How to Cite

Rodrigues Jorge, T. M., Ortêncio Filho, H., & Carrenho, R. (2021). DISPERSAL OF ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI BY BATS IN AN URBAN TROPICAL FOREST FRAGMENT. Interfaces Científicas - Saúde E Ambiente, 8(3), 458–469. https://doi.org/10.17564/2316-3798.2021v8n3p458-469