Abstract
We estimated the population sizes of the three species of columnar cacti that grow on the island of Curaçao using ground and aerial transects, and we examined the island’s carrying capacity for two species of nectar‐feeding bats that depend on nectar from the flowers of these cacti. We calculated carrying capacity based on the daily availability of mature flowers between January and December 1993 and the field energy requirements of bats as estimated from an equation for eutherian mammals (low estimate) and one for passerine birds (high estimate) based on body mass. Additional energy requirements of pregnancy and lactation were taken into account. We estimated that 461,172 columnar cacti were present on Curaçao (38% Subpilocereus repandus , 51% Stenocereus griseus , and 11% Pilosocereus lanuginosus ). May through September are the critical months when bats rely most heavily on cactus for food. July 1993 was a bottleneck with the smallest number of mature flowers per day. July and August were months of greatest energy demand because females were lactating. We estimate that the carrying capacity for Glossophaga longirostris in July, when the bat ( Leptonycteris curasoae ) population was 900, was near 1200, an estimate that fits the observed population size of nectar‐feeding bats on the island. We suggest that the extensive removal of native vegetation occurring on Curaçao be strictly regulated because further destruction of the cacti will result in a decrease and potential loss of the already low populations of nectar‐feeding bats.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Columnar cacti were present on Curaçao at 461,172 individuals.
Verbatim
t0“Survey of Columnar Cacti”
e1“We estimated that 461,172 columnar cacti were present on Curaçao”
Claim · model-written summary
The critical months for bats relying on cactus food on Curaçao were May through September.
- Taxon
- columnar cactit0
- Interactor
- batsChiropterae2pollinator
- Outcome
- critical monthse2
- Qualifier
- when bats rely most heavily on cactus for foode2
Verbatim
t0“Survey of Columnar Cacti”
e2“May through September are the critical months when bats rely most heavily on cactus for food”
Claim · model-written summary
July 1993 had the smallest number of mature cactus flowers per day of the year.
Verbatim
t0“Survey of Columnar Cacti”
e3“July 1993 was a bottleneck with the smallest number of mature flowers per day”
Claim · model-written summary
July and August were the months of greatest energy demand for bats, because females were lactating.
Verbatim
t0“Survey of Columnar Cacti”
e4“July and August were months of greatest energy demand because females were lactating”
Claim · model-written summary
The carrying capacity for Glossophaga longirostris in July was near 1200 bats.
- Taxon
- columnar cactit0
- Interactor
- Glossophaga longirostrisGlossophaga longirostrise5pollinator
- Outcome
- carrying capacitye5
- Value
- near 1200e6
Verbatim
t0“Survey of Columnar Cacti”
e5“We estimate that the carrying capacity for Glossophaga longirostris in July, when the bat”
e6“was near 1200”
Claim · model-written summary
The estimated carrying capacity fits the observed population size of nectar-feeding bats on the island.
Verbatim
t0“Survey of Columnar Cacti”
e7“an estimate that fits the observed population size”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend strict regulation of native vegetation removal on Curaçao to protect the cacti.
Verbatim
e6“further destruction of the cacti will result in a decrease and potential loss of the already low populations”
e0“We suggest that the extensive removal of native vegetation occurring on Curaçao be strictly regulated”
Claim · model-written summary
Further destruction of the cacti is expected to decrease the already low bat populations.
Verbatim
e6“further destruction of the cacti will result in a decrease and potential loss of the already low populations”