Distribution, status and conservation of the bats of the Fiji Islands

Abstract

AbstractThe poorly studied bat fauna of the Fiji Islands is of notable conservation importance because it includes one endemic species, several near endemics, and the best global populations of several threatened species. In addition, some of the species play a keystone role as pollinators and seed dispersers in valuable forest ecosystems. We visited 30 islands of the archipelago to survey bats and assess their conservation status and the potential threats to their continued existence. The VulnerableNotopteris macdonaldioccurs on the three main islands but may only have nurseries on one of them. The Critically Endangered, endemicMirimiri acrodontaappears to be restricted to a small montane area on a single island.Pteropus tonganusis consumed throughout rural Fiji but remains common and is not currently threatened by the harvest. The Near ThreatenedPteropus samoensisis locally common on the largest islands but threatened on some smaller islands. The EndangeredChaerephon bregullaeexists only on two islands and appears to concentrate in a single large colony to nurse young. The EndangeredEmballonura semicaudatahas declined dramatically in Fiji, as across most of its range, although a few substantial populations remain on some small islands. Factors threatening these species are variable but include small ranges, concentration in a reduced number of colonies, deforestation, over-harvesting, and introduced predators. We propose conservation measures and indicate a number of priority sites.