Diversity, elevational distribution and activity patterns of insectivorous bats in Mt. Guiting-Guiting Natural Park, Sibuyan Island, Philippines
2018
Alvarez, J.D.
This study investigated the composition of microbat assemblages in Mt. Guiting-guiting, Sibuyan Island, [Philippines], characterized their echolocation calls, and used bioacoustics to understand their distribution and activity patterns along an elevation gradient. A total of 134 insectivorous bats representing 10 species were collected using mist nets and harp traps. Two species represent new records for Sibuyan Island bringing the total number of species to 12: Hipposideros antricola, H. obscurus, Rhinolophus arcuatus, R. virgo, Kerivoula whiteheadi, Murina cyclotis, Myotis muricola, Myotis rufopictus, Pipistrellus javanicus, P. tenuis, Scotophilus kuhli and Taphozous melanophogon. Echolocation calls of 10 species were characterized. Species richness was highest at the lower elevations and was significantly influenced by variation in temperature along the elevation gradient. Acoustic recording showed that total bat activity varied between season. High insect biomass was also recorded at 1,500 m elevation during the wet and dry season, although not significantly affecting bat diversity and activity. Temperature, relative humidity, elevation and sampling season had significant effect on bat activity suggesting that bats respond to physical changes in the environment rather than on prey abundance. Vegetation structural complexity did not have a strong correlation with bat activity suggesting that bats forage equally at different habitats with varying structural clutter.
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