Abstract
In tropical ecosystems, environmental conditions are often less constraining, leading to an increase in the reproductive potential of several species of mammals. One of the strategies to enhance this reproductive potential is to exhibit postpartum oestrus, which is common among different bat families. In the Yucatan Peninsula, we observed for over 2 years two colonies of marked individuals of the Jamaican fruit–eating bat, Artibeus jamaicensis to determine their reproductive activity. Females presented postpartum oestrus that allows them to have a second annual parturition. During the peak period of parturition, a marked increase in attempts and successful mating events were observed among the bats roosting within the caves. Births were recorded but in lower proportion in the remaining months of the year; however, no copulation attempts or matings were recorded from October to January in both caves and in both years. A delayed embryonic development after the second birth might explain the continuous parturition events recorded for A. jamaicensis in Yucatan.
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Acknowledgements
In the loving memory of T. H. Kunz, whose masterpieces on bats inspired several generations of biologists. Special thanks to F. Vargas for his comments and suggestions to the manuscript. We are thankful to R. Juárez for his invaluable contribution to the first draft of the manuscript. EGG was awarded a grant by the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACyT 891943) from 2018 to 2020. We greatly thank the two anonymous reviewers whose comments and suggestions helped improve and clarify this manuscript.
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EGG was awarded a grant by the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACyT 891943) from 2018 to 2020.
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JOR performed the experimental design, fieldwork, analyzed the data, and wrote the manuscript. EGG collaborated in analyses and writing the manuscript. DDMS and MCMG wrote the manuscript.
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We followed the guidelines for the use of wild mammal species in research as recommended by the American Society of Mammalogists (Sikes and The Animal Care and Use Committee of the American Society of Mammalogists 2016). This project used collection permits issued by the Mexican Ministry of the Environment to H. T. Arita.
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Ortega, J., Gutiérrez, E.G., Moreno-Santillán, D.D. et al. Seasonal reproductive synchrony in colonies of the Jamaican fruit–eating bat (Artibeus jamaicensis) in southeast Mexico. Mamm Res 66, 627–634 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-021-00582-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-021-00582-7