Resource partitioning in rhinolophoid bats revisited

摘要: We assessed the ecomorphological structure of a guild rhinolophoid bats in Malaysian rainforest first described by Heller and von Helversen (1989). These authors found that distribution echolocation call frequencies used 12 syntopic species was more even than expected from allometric relationships or randomly generated communities, observed minimal ratio greater chance alone. In this study we were able to expand their 15 species, but doing so it became apparent might be less evenly distributed across total frequency range previously proposed. replicated Helversen’s (1989) analyses with full 15-species complement unable support suggestion exhibit resource partitioning through differences bands. adopted multivariate approach incorporated measures body size wing morphology into analysis. phylogenetic autocorrelation ensure statistically independentand principal component analysis describe morphological space occupied community four additional representing extremes phenotypic variation. derived interspecific Euclidean distances tested mean values SDs these against those 100 guilds ”synthetic” created within space. The Rhinolophoidea not Instead evidence overdispersion most similar which suggests niche differentiation response competition. Less nearer expected, suggest is consequence ecological constraints on parameter combinations. Despite underdispersion, many distant neighbours rather spaced clumped morphospace, suggesting that, given environmental morphology, do experience limits similarity. Finally, influence relative abundance displacement, no abundant, spatially correlated reduce overlap