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

Kátia Maria Famadas,Michele Da Costa Pinheiro,Elizabete Captivo Lourenço,Priscilla Maria Peixoto Patrício,Luiz Antonio Costa Gomes

doi:10.1590/s1984-46702014000400007

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.

Highlights

Various studies have focused on the richness and abundance of bats in tropical forests and how the composition of these forests affect bat assemblages (ESTRADA et al 1993, ZANON & REIS 2007, BOBROWIEC & GRIBEL 2010)
The aim of this study was to analyze whether there are differences in the bat assemblages of three riparian forest areas in the Tinguá region, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: two areas inside the buffer zone of the Tinguá Biological Reserve, and a third area inside the reserve characterized by late secondary vegetation
The composition of bat species followed the same pattern found in other Neotropical areas, with the predominance of Phyllostomidae, a few dominant species and many rare species (ESTRADA et al 1993, STEVENS & WILLIG 2002, ZANON & REIS 2007, BOBROWIEC & GRIBEL 2010, ARRIAGA-FLORES et al 2012)

Summary

Introduction

Various studies have focused on the richness and abundance of bats in tropical forests and how the composition of these forests affect bat assemblages (ESTRADA et al 1993, ZANON & REIS 2007, BOBROWIEC & GRIBEL 2010). In the state of Rio de Janeiro, a region of Atlantic forest remnant was delimited and converted into a protected area known as Tinguá Biological Reserve with the purpose of preserving the local water resources This conservation unit has a surrounding buffer zone, where human activities are subject to specific restrictions to minimize impact on the reserve (MMA 2006). The aim of this study was to analyze whether there are differences in the bat assemblages of three riparian forest areas in the Tinguá region, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: two areas inside the buffer zone of the Tinguá Biological Reserve (an agricultural and a reforested area in primary succession stage), and a third area inside the reserve characterized by late secondary vegetation. This hypothesis is based on prior knowledge that in environments where human pressure is stronger, species richness and diversity are lower (ODUM & BARRETT 2006, REIS et al 2006)

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