FEEDING OF THE BAT, STURNIRA-LILIUM, ON FRUITS OF SOLANUM-RIPARIUM INFLUENCES DISPERSAL OF THIS PIONEER TREE IN FORESTS OF NORTHWESTERN ARGENTINA

The influence of fruit ingestion by the bat, Sturnia lilium, on germin ation of the seeds of the tree Solanum riparium was studied in a secon dary rain forest in northwestern Argentina. Bat frequencies in disturb ed areas were analyzed by mist net captures. Germination rates were de termined for seeds collected from trees and bat feces. S. lilium was t he most obundant fruit bat in the study area. Fruit digestion and the passage of seeds through the intestine did not significantly affect ge rmination in S. riparium. In this case the fruit bats, therefore, prob ably provide only seed dispersal.