Inventário de morcegos em uma área de Caatinga no Nordeste brasileiro, com uma nova ocorrência para o estado da Paraíba

Abstract

The Caatinga is a semi-arid ecosystem with a long history of anthropic impacts and scientific negligence. Since bats are the second most diverse group of mammals and have wide ecological roles, a well-based comprehension of their diversity for an area is important for management and conservationist actions. The goal of this study is to provide a list of the bat species found in Private Reserve of Natural Heritage Fazenda Almas, Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil. By sampling with mist nets and exploring roosts, we captured 126 specimens and recorded 19 species from 5 families. The most abundant species were Artibeus planirostris, Peropteryx macrotis, Myotis nigricans, and Carollia perspicillata. We registered high diversity of Phyllostominae, as well as the occurrence of the genus Histiotus in the state for the first time. Our results indicate that Caatinga areas can maintain bat assemblages with levels of diversity similar to moist tropical areas, which highlights the need to expand the network of protected areas in this threatened ecosystem.

Differences in the structure of bat assemblages among habitats in the Caatinga dry forest

“…Its superabundance in some areas and rarity in others might be related to the seasonality of food and capture probability, but these contrasting patterns along its geographic distribution need further investigation. On the other hand, Carollia perspicillata was extremely rare in the studied habitats, which is surprising since it is one of the most abundant species in other Caatinga regions (Beltrão et al 2015, Feijó and Rocha 2017, Gregorin et al 2008, Novaes and Laurindo 2014, Soares et al 2019, Willig 1983. In our studied sites, plants and fruits on which the species prefers to eat were never observed (e.g., Piperaceae) (Flemming 1988), likely explaining its rarity in this region of the Caatinga.…”

“…However, captures near water bodies and riparian vegetation can present a relatively high richness and abundance of insectivorous bats (Silva 2007, Beltrão et al . 2015, Novaes et al . 2015).…”

“…Sanguinivorous bats are common in disturbed areas (Gregorin et al 2008, Nogueira et al 2015, Rocha et al 2018, Soares et al 2019 and relatively less common in preserved caatinga forests (Vargas-Mena et al 2018a, Vargas-Mena et al 2020. As for open-space insectivorous bats, 50% of Caatingas' bats belong to this feeding guild but reportedly uncommon due to sampling bias regarding the wide use of mist netsthese bats can detect and avoid nets easily (Gregorin et al 2008, Novaes and Laurindo 2014, Beltrão et al 2015, Silva and Bernard 2017, Soares et al 2019. However, captures near water bodies and riparian vegetation can present a relatively high richness and abundance of insectivorous bats (Silva 2007, Beltrão et al 2015, Novaes et al 2015.…”

“…Gleaning insectivorous and carnivorous bats, referred to as animalivorous, are rich in species but found in low abundances and associated with more forested areas (Mares et al . 1981, Silva 2007, Beltrâo et al 2015, Sá-Neto and Marinho-Filho 2013, Nogueira et al . 2015, Silva et al .…”

Bats (Mammalia, Chiroptera) from an area of Caatinga in southwestern Bahia, Brazil

“…Even so, a reduced abundance of bats appears to be typical of the Caatinga biome (Silva et al 2004;Gregorin et al 2008;Novaes & Laurindo 2014;Beltrão et al 2015;Novaes et al 2015;Rocha et al 2017;Zeppelini et al 2017), where richness may typically be between 15 and 25 species (Novaes & Laurindo 2014). Surveys conducted at other sites in Bahia have also resulted in the capture of small numbers of bats.…”