Data from: Trophic niche changes associated to habitat fragmentation in a Neotropical bat species

Habitat fragmentation could alter ecological traits including species
trophic habits. Here, we used carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios to
establish differences in isotopic niche width and food resource use
between forest fragments and the continuous forest for the phyllostomid
frugivorous bat Artibeus lituratus. Using mist nests, we captured bats
from two forest fragments and two sites in continuous forest, and sampled
from each individual captured three body tissues with contrasting turnover
rates (skin, muscle and liver). Samples were collected between
February-March (austral summer) and between August-September (austral
winter). In addition, in each sampling site and season we collected
potential food resources (fruits and insects) consumed by our A.
lituratus. Our findings indicate that A. lituratus had a predominantly
omnivorous diet, with high consumption of insects during summer in forest
fragments. The increasing consumption of insects in these fragments seems
to have led to a wider isotopic niche, in relation to the continuous
forest. Because A. lituratus is typically a seed disperser, changes in
trophic habits in the forest fragments from frugivory to insectivory may
diminish their role in forest regeneration.