Cyclone‐induced Shift in Foraging Behavior in Flying Foxes in American Samoa 1

Tropical cyclones pass over or near American Samoa on average about once every 3 years. Because many trees may be stripped of leaves, flowers, and fruit, cyclones exert a major impact on the feeding ecology of nectivorous and frugivorous flying foxes. We examined search time and in‐tree time immediately postcyclone (3–6 weeks) and during a recovery period (15–16 months after the last cyclone). Both Pteropus tonganus and P. samoensis increased search time and decreased tree time (an indication of less food available per tree) immediately after the passage of cyclone Ofa.