The fruit bats (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) of the Lesio-Louna Reserve, Bateke Plateau, Republic of Congo

Abstract

Abstract We present the results of the first survey of the fruit bats of the Lesio-Louna Reserve in the Republic of Congo, an area representative of the larger Bateke Plateau region of the country. Mist-netting was conducted in 2002 during four seasonal sampling periods: late wet season, early dry season, late dry season and early wet season. Five species were recorded. Two were frequently trapped, Micropteropus pusillus (n=102 individuals) and Epomops franqueti (n=57). The remaining three were captured only occasionally, Myonycteris torquata (n=5), Hypsignathus monstrosus (n=2) and Megaloglossus woermanni (n=2). In agreement with studies of other fauna, our results confirm that the Bateke Plateau supports species associated with both forest and savanna habitats. However, species typical of forested habitats were also netted in forest edge and neighbouring savanna, suggesting that these species utilise surrounding habitat within the forest-savanna mosaic characteristic of the study area. We found statistically significant seasonal variation in juvenile body mass and forearm length in E. franqueti and in adult female nipple length in M. pusillus, suggesting breeding seasonality in both these species in the reserve.