Bat community species richness and composition in a restinga protected area in Southeastern Brazil

Abstract

In Brazil, restingas are under severe human-induced impacts resulting in habitat degradation and loss and remain one of the less frequently studied ecosystems. The main objectives of the present study are to describe the bat community in a restinga in Paulo Cesar Vinha State Park, Guarapari municipality, state of Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil. Fieldwork was conducted twice a month from August 2004 to September 2005. A total sampling effort of 40,300 m 2 /h, represents the largest sampling effort for sampling bats in restingas to date. Bats were sampled in five different vegetational types in the area. Captured bats were processed recording information on species, sex, age, forearm length and weight. Shannon Diversity and Jaccard indexes were used to analyse diversity and similarity among habitats in the Park. A total of 554 captures belonging to 14 species and two families were obtained. Noctilio leporinus was recorded through direct observation and an ultra-sound detector also registered the presence of individuals from the family Molossidae, without being possible to distinguish it at specific level. Frugivores were the most representative guild. Richness was higher in Clusia shrubs (11 species) and Caraís lagoon (10 species). Shannon diversity index was estimated at H' = 1.43 for the overall sample, with Caraís lagoon representing the most diverse habitat (H' = 1.60). The greater similarity (J = 0.714) was observed for the two areas under high human influence.

Bat assemblages in conservation areas of a metropolitan region in Southeastern Brazil, including an important karst habitat

“…The numerical predominance of individuals and species of phyllostomid bats, as observed in this study, is a common pattern in the Neotropics (Kalko and Handley, 2001;Bernard and Fenton, 2002;Falcão et al, 2003;Zortéa and Alho, 2008;Oprea et al, 2009;Alho et al, 2011). The most abundant species recorded with mist-nets were the fruit-eaters; Artibeus lituratus was the most numerous species at two of the sites, PESRM and EEFechos, while P. lineatus and A. planirostris were the most abundant species in Carste LS.…”

Rapid surveys as a key tool for the inventory of the bat fauna of Brazil: New records for the coastal restinga

“…: Carvalho et al, 2009;Gomes et al, 2016;Luz et al, 2009 known to occur in the restinga and, despite being expected to occur in fluvial and marine environments, it has been recorded previously at only five locations (Oprea et al, 2009;Luz et al, 2009;Luz et al, 2011). The three new species recorded for the restinga (S. leptura, M. temminckii and E. brasiliensis) are rare in general, even in other Atlantic Forest systems, especially when sampled by mist-netting.…”

Morcegos de Paraíso do Tobias, Miracema, Rio de Janeiro

“…Apesar do Rio de Janeiro ser um dos estados brasileiros melhor amostrados quanto à fauna de morcegos (Bergallo et al 2003, Esbérard 2004a, Esbérard & Bergallo 2005, Peracchi & Nogueira 2008, muitas áreas e ambientes ainda carecem de informações (Esbérard & Bergallo 2005, Peracchi & Nogueira 2008, como as restingas, mangues e florestas estacionais semideciduais (Bergallo et al 2009, Oprea et al 2009. A maior parte dos levantamentos publicados foi realizada próximo à capital, pela facilidade de acesso, com ênfase às florestas ombrófilas densas em altitudes inferiores a 500 m (Esbérard & Bergallo 2005).…”