COMPARISON OF FRUIT SYNDROMES BETWEEN THE EGYPTIAN FRUIT-BAT (ROUSETTUS-AEGYPTIACUS) AND BIRDS IN EAST MEDITERRANEAN HABITATS

This study analyses the fruit syndrome of the Egyptian fruit-bat, Rous ettus aegyptiacus, the only fruit-bat found in East Mediterranean habi tats. Two different sets of bat-fruit syndromes were revealed. One fol lows the general bat-fruit syndrome and one represents a special case of bat-dispersed fruit syndrome only found in East Mediterranean habit ats. The latter syndrome is characterized by dry fruits with a relativ ely high protein content. Fruit species that belong to this syndrome a re available mostly in winter (when the fruit-bat faces a severe short age in fruit availability and inadequate fruit quality). The fruit syn dromes and dietary overlap between frugivorous birds (based on the lit erature) and the fruit-bat were also studied. Features associated with each set of fruit species generally follow the known bat and bird syn dromes. Bird-dispersed fruits tend to be small, with a high seed mass to pulp mass, variable in fat content and characterized by a high ash content. However, when the shared fruit species were included in the a nalysis, no significant differences were found in fruit features betwe en the bird-dispersed and bat-dispersed fruit syndromes. A limited and asymmetrical dietary overlap was observed between these two taxa, mai nly between introduced and cultivated fruits. (C) Elsevier, Paris.