Studies on bat richness and diversity in coastal sand dunes (‘restinga’) are still scarce. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were to estimate bat richness in the restinga of Praia das Neves (state of Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil) and to analyze species abundance. Ten sampling nights were carried out in May and July 2008, resulting in a sampling effort of 21,847.5 h.m2. We captured 125 individuals from 17 bat species. In this study, Tonatia saurophila was recorded for the first time not only in the state of Espírito Santo but also in the restinga ecosystem. The most abundant species was Artibeus lituratus with 32% of all captures. Surveys in coastal restingas are urgently needed in order to obtain more information about the bats living in this environment.

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In the present study, we investigated the prevalence and intensity of Hectopsylla pulex infection inEsbérard (2001) fleas from 29 bats and determined a prevalence of 8.14% with fleas attached preferably to the bats' heads. Parasite intensity sorted by host gender was 1.57 in males and 2.87 in females, with a maximum number of six fleas on males and nine on females. Despite the existence of 176 other chiropterans belonging to four other species (including Molossus rufus E. Geoffroy, 1805) found in the same roost, the presence of this parasite was only observed in M. molossus.Hosts that are vulnerable to parasitism are likely to be in a poor nutritional state. Alternatively, parasites may favour the exploitation of high-quality hosts, which would provide better single meals. Christe et al. (2003) demonstrated that parasite density was significantly higher on individual hosts in good nutritional condition when compared with poorly fed hosts.Thus, the objectives of the present study were to investigate the prevalence and intensity of H. pulex in M. rufus and M. molossus, to determine the parasite's choice of attachment site and to determine whether this hostparasite system varies with bat condition. MATERIALS AND METHODSSince 2007, efforts have been made to characterise the biota of Praia das Neves (Southeastern Brazil) to support the Management Plan of "Lagartixa da Praia" (Liolaemus lutzae Mertens, 1938), and a campaign was carried out to analyse the local bat fauna. Located on the shore of the Itabapoana river, at the boundary of the states of Espírito Santo and RJ, Praia das Neves, Presidente Kenedy municipality (21°05'56"S 41°02'48"W) still exhibits remnants of restinga (costal shrub land) and other typical vegetation of the Atlantic Forest ecoregion.A mixed colony of M. molossus and M. rufus was found in a ceiling cavity of approximately 6 m 2 in one of the houses in Praia das Neves. Bats of both species were roosting between the cistern and the wall, in a space that varies from 2-10 cm. Both bat species had constant contact. Hectopsylla pulex as a parasite of bats • Júlia Lins Luz et al. 568From an estimated total of 30 individuals on 10 May 2008, 24 bats were captured by hand. Ectoparasites were removed with forceps and fixed in 92.4% alcohol. Bats were measured, weighed, marked with plastic bead neckplastic bead necklaces with colored cylinders, and released at the same place. Bats were analysed to determine parasite prevalence, intensity (Margolis et al. 1982) and flea attachment site. Attachment sites were divided into nine categories: ear, tragus, shoulder blade, tibia, anus, wing, axilla, mouth and dactylopatagium. In order to calculate the mean intensity, non-infested individuals were not considered.A Pearson correlation was used to test whether the variation of the body size and the number of ectoparasites were correlated, considering both bat species. For this analysis, we considered all individuals, including the non-infested ones. Statistical tests were performed using Systat 8.0 software. RESULTS...

ABSTRACT. Various studies have focused on the richness and abundance of bats in tropical forests and how the composition of these forests affects bat assemblages, but there are few studies on the relationship of bats with riparian forests.The aim of this study was to ascertain the differences among bat assemblages of three riparian forest areas of the Tinguá region, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. These areas were: I) an agricultural area (Takume); II) a reforested area in primary succession (Canavarro); and III) an area with late secondary vegetation (Tinguá Biological Reserve). Assessments of bat species composition in these areas may shed light on how anthropogenic modifications in riparian forests can influence local bat assemblages. Bats were captured with mist nets during 72 sampling nights. Total bat abundance was 1,511 individuals in 26 species. The three areas differed in their species composition. The Tinguá Biological Reserve was the richest area, Canavarro presented the lowest diversity and the highest abundance of individuals, and the evenness index was highest in Takume. The differences found in the composition and ecological indices indicate that bat assemblages have distinct characteristics in the three areas studied, with varied degrees of transformation and anthropization.

ResumoO presente estudo registrou as espécies de morcegos que ocorrem na Fazenda Santo Antônio dos Ipês, Jaú, SP, Brasil, com a inalidade de identiicar os itens alimentares consumidos por esses animais e avaliar a presença do vírus rábico. Vinte e uma noites de captura, distribuídas em cinco áreas da fazenda, foram realizadas utilizando-se redes de neblina entre novembro de 2009 e julho de 2011. Após um esforço de captura de 18217,5 m 2 .h, 580 morcegos de 16 espécies foram capturados. Sturnira lilium (n = 184), Artibeus lituratus (n = 134) e Carollia perspicillata (n = 126) foram as espécies mais abundantes. Dois indivíduos de Lasiurus ega foram adicionados ao inventário por meio de observação em abrigo, totalizando assim 17 espécies amostradas. Os itens alimentares mais consumidos foram os frutos de Solanaceae e de Piperaceae, e os frutos de Muntingia calabura, os menos consumidos. Nenhum dos 132 indivíduos analisados para o vírus rábico apresentou resultado positivo. A Fazenda Santo Antônio dos Ipês é uma importante área, pois abriga a Reserva Ecológica Amadeu Botelho (uma Unidade de Conservação), que é o último resquício de Floresta Estacional Semidecidual da região de Jaú e que serve como refúgio para animais silvestres incluindo morcegos.

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Normally, the Phyllostomidae bat community varies in number of individuals depending on food availability, which in turn varies with changes in annual rainfall. The aims of this study were to list species of Phyllostomidae bats in Curió Municipal Natural Park located in the municipality of Paracambi, state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil, and determine possible differences in species richness, abundance and composition between rainy and dry seasons. Sampling was carried out between September 2011 and August 2012 with the use of mist nets. The total sampling effort was 51,840 m 2 h, and 745 individuals of 18 bat species were caught. Myotis riparius (Vespertilionidae) was the only non-Phyllostomidae species caught. Artibeus lituratus and Carollia perspicillata were the most abundant species. The collector curve did not become stabilized, with 21 ± 2 phyllostomid species being estimated for the park. No significant difference in species richness or change in the community composition was found between seasons; however a higher number of individuals was captured in the rainy season. The occurrence of specie indicator of goodquality habitats (Chrotopterus auritus, Micronycteris microtis and Trachops cirrhosus) and species threatened with extinction (Chiroderma doriae and Dermanura cinerea) indicate that the park is an important forest remnant for the conservation of bats and needs to be monitored.

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