Nectar-Feeding Bat, Cynopterus Sphinx Pollinate Parkia Speciosa Flowers and Increase Fruit Production
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Science Vision www.sciencevision.org Science Vision www.sciencevision.org Science Vision www.sciencevision.org Science Vision www.sciencevision.org www.sciencevision.org Sci Vis Vol 14 Issue No 2 April-June 2014 Original Research ISSN (print) 0975-6175 ISSN (online) 2229-6026 Nectar-feeding bat, Cynopterus sphinx pollinate Parkia speciosa flowers and increase fruit production C. Vanlalnghaka Department of Zoology, Government Serchhip College, Serchhip 796181, India Received 10 March 2014 | Revised 14 May 2014 | Accepted 20 May 2014 ABSTRACT A study was carried out to establish the relationship between Parkia speciosa (local name Ṭah-lim) and nectar-feeding bat, Cynopterus sphinx with respect to pollination, and effects on fruit produc- tion. Eight flowering trees of P. speciosa from Lengteng Wildlife Sanctuary were selected for ex- perimentation. During the flowering season of stink bean from August to November, 2013 visual observations were made twice a week during the night at 18:00 to 05:00 h. C. sphinx visits the capitulum and collects the nectar by landing on the capitulum. Duration of nectar collection by bat is around one second, and then visited the next flower to collect nectar simultaneously. To ascertain the pollination by bats, we captured the bats using mist nets. The yellow cream colour pollen was attached on their facial, neck region, abdomen and wings. This reveals that this bat provides a vital reciprocal service to P. speciosa flowers in terms of pollination. The present study also revealed that seasonality and availability of flowers influenced the frequency of bats. Also compared the average number of fruit production between frequently and randomly visit of P. speciosa trees by bats and observed that frequently visited trees by bats produced more fruits than randomly visited trees (P > 0.05). Key words: Parkia speciosa; Cynopterus sphinx; Lengteng; nectar-feeding; pollination. INTRODUCTION interaction appeared to be an important factor in terms of reproduction and population structure 2 Bats are very important pollinating agents. of plants. Flowers visited by bats are observed in wide Many species of Parkia flowers are visited by range of geographical areas. Bats pollinated nectar-feeding bats which helped in pollination. more than 500 species of plants including many Nectarivorous bat Eonycteris spealaea visits flow- economically important species.1 Bat and flower ering plant of Parkia speciosa and Parkia timori- ana. It is found that this bat is the most effective 3 Corresponding author: Vanlalnghaka pollinator when compared to other pollinators. Phone: +91-9862799668 Pollination of Parkia biglandulosa by Cynopterus E-mail: [email protected] Science Vision © 2014 MAS. All rights reserved 67 Nectar-feeding bat, Cynopterus sphinx pollinate Parkia speciosa flowers sphinx was studied.4 Nectar-feeding bat, Pteropus the research. This sanctuary is situated in Cham- giganteus visiting capitula and feeding on nectar phai district in the eastern part of the state of from P. biglandulosa was also reported.5 During Mizoram, adjacent to the Murlen National the flowering seasons, flowers of Parkia nitida Park. The wildlife sanctuary is located around was visited and pollinated by nectarivorous 200 km east of the state capital Aizawl. The bats.6 Flowers of Parkia bicolor were visited by sanctuary covers an area of 60 sq km. The alti- nectar-feeding bat Megaloglosus and helped in tude of the sanctuary varies from 400 to 2300 pollination.7 Parkia biglobosa flower was polli- meters above sea level. The important fauna nated by bat.8 The capitula of Parkia pendula species found in the Lengteng Wildlife Sanctu- were visited by four species of phyllostomid bats ary are tiger, leopard, sambar, ghoral, serow, and helped in pollination.9 Bat-pollination of barking deer, wild boar, hoolock gibbon, Rhesus Parkia velutina flowers has been reported in macaque and nine species of bats. This sanctuary Southeast Asia.10 Observations were made on host sub tropical semi-evergreen forest in which two bats Epomorphorus gambianus and different species of timber trees are naturally Nanonycteris veldkampii visiting Parkia clapperto- growing including Parkia speciosa. niana flowers and both bats appeared to be im- portant pollen-vectors.11 Flowers of Parkia spe- Plant species cies were visited and pollinated by nectar- feeding bat, Eidolon helvum.12 P. speciosa commonly known as stink bean is Pollination is one of the most important fac- a plant of the genus Parkia in the family Fa- tors in fruit production. Reproductive success baceae. This tree is found in tropical Southeast and fruit production of different species of trees Asia including north-east India. The trunk of the by bat were reported. In Mexico, the reproduc- tree appears straight with smooth bark that var- tive success of bombaceous tree Ceiba grandiflora ies in colour from light grey to brown or dark was depending on bat.13 Casas and coworkers brown and umbrella shaped crown. A mature also reported that nectar-feeding bat is responsi- tree can grow up to a magnificent 40 m (130 ble for fruit production of Stenocereus stellatus.14 feet) tall, although 20 m (65 feet) or less is more Other bat biologists also observed that plants in common and bears flower of cream coloured, cultivation were pollinated more effectively, per- consisting of multiple florets in a light-bulb haps by receiving genetically diverse pollen from shaped mass at the end of long stalks during the nectar-feeding bats, and therefore set more fruit months of August and November. The flowers when compared to plants in wild and managed secrete nectar that attracts bats, wasps, moths, in situ in La Mixteca Baja, Central Mexico.15 etc. These tiny flowers mature and die. Long, The objective of the present study was under- twisted, translucent pods emerged in a cluster in taken to evaluate the role of pollination of C. an average of 5 to 25 pods. When these pods sphinx on P. speciosa, to determine effect of flow- become mature, within them will reside the ering seasonality on magnitude of foraging, and petai beans or seeds. Mature pods are about 40 to assess the effects on fruit production of this cm (15 inch) long, light green in color, contain tree by nectar-feeding bat. up to 15 seeds and looked like twisted ribbons. MATERIALS AND METHODS OBSERVATIONS Study site During the flowering season of P. speciosa from August to November, 2013 visual observa- Lengteng Wildlife Sanctuary (23°50’31.99”N tions of bats visit to flowers were made twice a to 93°12’35.39”E) was selected for carrying out week at every alternate night from 18:00 h to 68 Science Vision © 2014 MAS. All rights reserved Vanlalnghaka 05:00 h. Observations were made throughout ondary forest while other four trees are growing the entire flowering season. Duration of nectar in land clearing near the village. The four trees collection, behaviour and visitation frequency of growing in the secondary forest ( ~1120 m alti- bats were done by visual observations with the tude) grow at the average of 15 m distance away help of cell-four battery torch-lights (Andslite of each tree. These trees are located near the DMRX4X), headlamps (Andslite RHL-1), digi- dense wild banana forest in which a large num- tal SLR camera (Canon DS126291), and video ber of C. sphinx are roosting. Whereas four other camera (Sony HDR-XR350V). Apart from this, trees are planted by farmers close to the human the total number of capitula available was deter- inhabitant ( ~ 600 m altitude) near Selam village mined by cluster sampling method.16 During and only few C. sphinx bats are found roosting each observation, the number of foraging flights under the palm leaf. The distance between the and feeding strategies of bats were recorded trees growing in the secondary forest and every hour throughout the night. Bats were cap- planted near the village is 8 km. When the fruits tured by mist-nets (Avinet-Dryden NY 13053- get mature for harvesting during January, we 1103) other than observation nights, to ascertain visually counted the number of fruits and com- the pollens stuck in the body of bats. Pollens pared the fruit products of each tree. Statistical were carefully collected using paint brushes and comparison of fruit production between fre- kept in the test-tubes for further identification. quently visits and randomly visits by bats to this Bats were released immediately after identifica- plant was done by Student’s t-test. tion and collection of the pollens from the body parts. RESULTS Observations on effects of fruit production of P. speciosa were made till the fruits were ready These studies reveal that during the flowering for harvest. Eight flowering trees of P. speciosa season from August to November, nectar pro- were selected for carrying out this experiment: duction emerged in the nectar ring of capitula of four trees are growing along the edge of the sec- P. speciosa. The visitor C. sphinx directly land on Figure 1. (A) Cynopterous sphinx landing on the capitula of Parkia speciosa, trips to lick on the nectar (pointed at arrow mark). (B) cream coloured capitula, bearing a multiple florets in a light bulb shape mass at the end of long stalk. Science Vision © 2014 MAS. All rights reserved 69 Nectar-feeding bat, Cynopterus sphinx pollinate Parkia speciosa flowers Figure 2. Average number of bat visits to the flowers during foraging bout. capitula to feed on the nectar for a duration of randomly visited trees by bats. Four of fre- one second (Figure 1). One bat visits an average quently visited trees by bats are growing along number of five capitulum in one foraging bout, the edge of secondary forest, whereas other four then rested in the adjacent trees to digest the of randomly visited trees by bats are planted nectar.