Composition of bat assemblages (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in tropical riparian forests

Abstract

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.

Influence of abiotic variables on the bat fauna of a granitic cave and its surroundings in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

“…Bats from Gruta do Riacho Subterrâneo and its surroundings were classified into five trophic guilds with predominance of the frugivore guild, a fact that is corroborated in other studies that indicate that there is a predominance of this guild in the Neotropical Region (Sipinski & Reis 1995, Ribeiro-Mello 2009, Stevens & Amarilha-Stevens 2012, Bobrowiec et al 2014, Lourenço et al 2014. The predominance of frugivorous could, at least in part, be influenced by the sampling method used (mist nets) which is more effective for this guild, but less effective for insectivores due to their more refined echolocation system (Handley 1967, Trajano 1985, Arita 1993, Sipinski & Reis 1995.…”

“…This fact was evidenced for bat assemblages from the Amazonian forest (Bobrowiec et al 2014) and from Atlantic Rainforest (Ribeiro-Mello 2009, Ortêncio-Filho et al 2010, Stevens & Amarilla-Stevens 2012, Stevens 2013, Lourenço et al 2014. For cave bats from Atlantic Rainforest in the Alto Ribeira region, São Paulo state, Trajano (1985) and Arnone (2008) suggested the existence of seasonality, at least for some species.…”

Morcegos em área de restinga de unidade de conservação no estado do Rio de Janeiro, sudeste do Brasil

“…Sendo assim, indivíduos da família Phyllostomidae são mais bem representados com a utilização de redes montadas no nível do solo (e.g. Lourenço et al, 2014).…”

Do riparian forest strips in modified forest landscapes aid in conserving bat diversity?

“…Within agricultural landscapes, riparian forest strips may help conserve water resources, improve water quality, harbor animals that serve as bio‐control agents, provide connections between forest fragments, and act as physical barriers to destructive fires, radiation fluxes, winds, and pests (Muscutt, Harris, Bailey, & Davies, ; Saunders, Hobbs, & Margules, ; Zanuncio, Mezzomo, Guedes, & Oliveira, ). In recognition of these benefits, the maintenance of riparian forest strips is supported by legislation in several tropical countries (Barlow et al, ; McClain & Cossio, ; Pereira et al, ) and, in the case of Peru, by Law 29,338 “Hydric Resources Law.” However, the efficacy of riparian forest strips in maintaining biodiversity in cleared agricultural landscapes has been primarily examined in temperate areas (Chapman & Ribic, ; Cockle & Richardson, ; Darveau et al, ; Hagar, ; Machtans et al, ; but see de la Pena‐Cuellar, Benitez‐Malvido, Avila‐Cabadilla, Martinez‐Ramos, & Estrada, ; Lees & Peres, ; Lourenco, Gomes, Pinheiro, Patricio, & Famadas, ; Mitchell et al, ; Paolino et al, ). Given the biodiversity richness of tropical forests, especially lowland wet forests, and the rapid expansion of large‐scale agriculture in these areas, we need additional work to demonstrate the conservation value, if any, of riparian forest strips in tropical regions.…”