The conservation status of bats in Fiji

Abstract

Bats provide important ecosystem services throughout the South Pacific but many species are threatened. The Fiji archipelago has a rich bat fauna yet few arrangements exist to promote the conservation of this group. From July 2008 to March 2011 we visited important sites identified in previous surveys for bats on Vanua Levu, Taveuni, Viti Levu and the Yasawa Islands. We netted and recorded five of Fiji's six bat species (Pteropus tonganus, Pteropus samoensis nawaiensis, Notopteris macdonaldi, Chaerephon bregullae and the Critically Endangered Mirimiri acrodonta). This was only the sixth recorded capture of M. acrodonta. P. tonganus is widespread in Fiji and exploits many different environments. P. samoensis nawaiensis mostly uses forested areas, and large tracts of forest are required for its long-term protection. Cave protection is vital for the two insectivorous species (C. bregullae and Emballonura semicaudata) and N. macdonaldi. In particular, the Nakanacagi maternity site remains globally significant for C. bregullae. E. semicaudata was not caught or detected during our surveys. It appears to be extinct from most large islands in Fiji and has abandoned the only large cave roost (Yaqeta) observed 10 years ago. This species has disappeared from or declined dramatically on Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga and Fiji. We recommend that the category of E. semicaudata semicaudata on the IUCN Red List be changed to Critically Endangered. Management priorities should focus on community engagement and education, and improved cave and forest management and protection.

Response of primary and secondary rainforest flowers and fruits to a cyclone, and implications for plant‐servicing bats

“…Three plant‐visiting bats from the family Pteropodidae occurred at the site ( Pteropus tonganus , P. samoensis , and Notopteris macdonaldi ; Scanlon et al., ). Unlike large Pteropus spp.…”

“…Unlike large Pteropus spp. that can fly great distances ( P. tonganus can travel >40 km in a single evening: Banack & Grant, ; P. samoensis foraging areas may exceed 8 km 2 : Brooke, ), N. macdonaldi is a small (50–89 g) cave‐obligate species with strong fidelity to forest sites (Scanlon et al., ). With restricted dispersal ability, a diverse resource community (including sturdy D. biflora ) enables N. macdonaldi to persist in cyclone‐prone forests.…”

“…However, resources decreased after the cyclone and resilience may break down as forests become increasingly fragmented and threatened. For example, high-altitude cloud forests are expected to contract with climate change (Wardell-Johnson, Keppel, & Sander, 2011), isolating further the Critically Endangered cloud forest bat of Fiji Mirimiri acrodonta (Scanlon et al, 2014a). Climate change is also likely to increase the intensity and disturbance frequency of tropical cyclones in the southwest Pacific (Leslie, Karoly, Leplastrier, & Buckley, 2007;Webster, Holland, Curry, & Chang, 2005) with potential for disastrous consequences (i.e.…”

“…SF can have important roles in sustaining fauna (e.g. Gascon et al., ; McConkey, Drake, Franklin, & Tonga, ; Scanlon, Petit, & Bottroff, ; de Solar et al., ; Sayer, Bullock, & Martin, ; reviewed by Dunn, ), but the ability to exploit these habitats varies among taxa (Barlow et al., ; Rocha et al., ). The consequence of a widespread shift from PF to SF on resources for servicing fauna (here pollinators and seed dispersers) in cyclone‐prone systems is poorly known.…”

“…Starving bats in resource-poor environments reportedly become more diurnal and forage more closely to villages and near the ground, where they are killed by people and pets (e.g. Craig et al, 1994;Esselstyn, Amar, & Janeke, 2006;Pierson et al, 1996;Scanlon et al, 2014a;Stinson et al, 1992). The loss of pteropodid bats would have catastrophic implications for rainforest functions in the Pacific (i.e.…”