Diversity of Food Plants Utilized by Rousettus leschenaultii and Cynopterus sphinx

Abstract

Fruit bats are important ecological agents that contribute significantly to seed dispersal, pollination, and maintenance of tropical biodiversity. Among the common fruit bat species found in South Asia, Rousettus leschenaultii and Cynopterus sphinx exhibit diverse feeding habits and utilize a wide variety of food plants across natural and semi-urban ecosystems. The present study investigates the diversity of food plants utilized by these two fruit bat species with emphasis on dietary preference, seasonal variation, habitat utilization, and ecological significance. Field observations were conducted in orchards, forest edges, agricultural landscapes, and urban green spaces to document plant species consumed by bats and their feeding frequency. The study revealed that both bat species utilized a broad range of fruit-bearing plants including mango, guava, fig, banana, papaya, jamun, and silk cotton flowers. Rousettus leschenaultii predominantly preferred large canopy fruits such as mango and fig, whereas Cynopterus sphinx utilized smaller understory fruits and nectar resources. Seasonal variations strongly influenced food plant diversity, with maximum plant utilization observed during summer and monsoon seasons due to increased fruit availability. The findings indicate clear dietary overlap as well as resource partitioning between the two species, which reduces feeding competition and promotes coexistence within shared habitats. Fruit bats also contributed significantly to seed dispersal and pollination, thereby supporting forest regeneration and biodiversity conservation. However, habitat fragmentation, urbanization, and reduction in native fruiting plants negatively affected food resource availability and feeding behaviour. The study emphasizes the ecological importance of conserving diverse fruit-bearing vegetation and roosting habitats to maintain sustainable bat populations and ecosystem stability. Understanding dietary diversity and feeding ecology of fruit bats can contribute to effective conservation and habitat management strategies in tropical ecosystems.