Vertical stratification of fruit bats (Pteropodidae) in lowland dipterocarp rainforest in Malaysia

ABSTRACTMistnets were set at ground level and 11–30 m above ground in lowland rainforest at Kuala Lompat in peninsular Malaysia, and Sepilok in Sabah, to compare the abundance of fruit bats in the subcanopy and at ground level. Capture rates in the subcanopy were up to 100 times greater than at ground level, averaging 3–7 bats per net-night. Species diversity was higher in the subcanopy than forest understorey. Two species that were frequently captured in the subcanopy,Megaerops wetmoreiandDyacopterus spadiceus, were previously thought to be rare. The abundance of Old World fruit bats in the subcanopy indicates that their roles in pollination and seed dispersal of Malaysian forest trees may be greater than previously recognized. Further research on foraging ranges, food selection and roosting habits is required to determine the overall importance of fruit bats in forest regeneration through seed dispersal, and the adequacy of existing reserves for their conservation.

Download Full-text

Notes on fruit bats (Chiroptera, Pteropodidae) from Malaysia and Brunei, with the description of a new subspecies of Megaerops wetmorei Taylor, 1934

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z89-408 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 67 (12) ◽

pp. 2878-2882 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Charles M. Francis

Keyword(s):

Peninsular Malaysia ◽

Fruit Bats ◽

Large White ◽

New Subspecies

New specimens of several poorly known Malaysian fruit bats are described. Megaerops wetmorei albicollis subsp.nov. is reported from peninsular Malaysia and Brunei. It differs from the nominate Philippine subspecies in having large white tufts on the sides of the neck and a relatively shorter, higher rostrum. Further specimens of Chironax melanocephalus from Borneo confirm the allocation of this population to the nominate subspecies. Observations of live Rousettus spinalatus show that the wings are joined over the middle of the back, and suggest that this species echolocates in a similar fashion to Rousettus amplexicaudatus.

Download Full-text

Birds and bats captured in a managed forest in Southwestern Brazilian Amazonia: Results and recommendations from a short-term study

Brazilian Journal of Biological Sciences ◽

10.21472/bjbs.061226 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (12) ◽

pp. 283-295

Author(s):

Diego Pedroza ◽

Rair de Sousa Verde ◽

Edson Guilherme

Keyword(s):

Activity Pattern ◽

Ground Level ◽

Trophic Guilds ◽

Clear Pattern ◽

Managed Forest ◽

Short Term ◽

Term Study ◽

Short Term Study ◽

Pattern Of Variation ◽

Capture Rates

Understanding the activity pattern and the height of capture of birds and bats can help to optimize the sampling of both groups. Our aimed was to determine the rates of capture at different times of day/night, and the overlap in the height of capture; classify the trophic guilds, and check variation in the capture rates of the birds and bats. We conducted the study in the Antimary State Forest, in March, 2017. We set mist-nets at the same location during five consecutive days, and were open between 06:00 h and 00:00 h. The birds presented a bimodal activity pattern, as well as bats. Bats were captured at higher levels than birds. Most of the birds captured were insectivores, where as most of the bats were frugivores. Neither group presented a clear pattern of variation in capture rates. Therefore, the first hours of the morning are fundamental for the capture of birds. For bats, we would recommend the captures only after 17:00 h. Mist-nets should be set at ground level for birds, whereas for bats, they should be set above a height of 0.5 m. Thus, the captures should be optimized.

Download Full-text

New data on the bats (Chiroptera) of Martinique island (Lesser Antilles), with an emphasis on sexual dimorphism and sex ratios

Mammalia ◽

10.1515/mammalia-2018-0121 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 83 (5) ◽

pp. 501-514

Author(s):

François Catzeflis ◽

Gérard Issartel ◽

Julien Jemin

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Sexual Dimorphism ◽

Ground Level ◽

Lesser Antilles ◽

Sex Bias ◽

Tadarida Brasiliensis ◽

Artibeus Jamaicensis ◽

Molossus Molossus ◽

Reproductive Females ◽

Capture Rates

Abstract For deciphering the biodiversity of native mammals on the island of Martinique (Lesser Antilles), bats (Chiroptera) were netted in various localities during the course of two separate studies spanning 2004–2015. A total of 2613 individuals were caught in ground-level mist nets at 79 localities. In this study, we concentrate on 1859 captures of nine species of bats caught at 24 capture-rich localities. We provide sex-ratio values, forearm and body weight measurements for each taxon. The order of decreasing abundance in captures was Artibeus jamaicensis, Sturnira angeli, Brachyphylla cavernarum, Monophyllus plethodon, Myotis martiniquensis, Molossus molossus, Ardops nichollsi, Pteronotus davyi and Tadarida brasiliensis. Our results suggest a strong sex-bias in capture rates, with males much more abundant for Ardops and Monophyllus, whereas females are more abundant for Molossus, Pteronotus and Sturnira. A clear sexual dimorphism exists with larger females in Ardops and Pteronotus, whereas males are larger in Molossus, Monophyllus and Sturnira. Reproductive females (pregnant, lactating) were found almost exclusively during the dry season (January to June) for A. jamaicensis, M. plethodon and S. angeli.

Download Full-text

Comparative Roosting Ecology of Cynopterus (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) Fruit Bats in Peninsular Malaysia

Biotropica ◽

10.1111/j.1744-7429.2006.00203.x ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 38 (6) ◽

pp. 725-734 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Polly Campbell ◽

Noah M. Reid ◽

Akbar Zubaid ◽

Adura M. Adnan ◽

Thomas H. Kunz

Keyword(s):

Peninsular Malaysia ◽

Fruit Bats ◽

Roosting Ecology

Download Full-text

Vegetation Change in the Coastal-Lowland Rainforest at Avai'o'vuna Swamp, Vava'u, Kingdom of Tonga

Quaternary Research ◽

10.1016/j.yqres.2005.08.003 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 64 (3) ◽

pp. 451-459 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Patricia L. Fall

Keyword(s):

Vegetation Change ◽

Coastal Wetland ◽

Cocos Nucifera ◽

Habitat Destruction ◽

Forest Trees ◽

Coastal Forest ◽

Sediment Record ◽

Marine Clay ◽

Coastal Lowland ◽

Lowland Rainforest

AbstractAvai'o'vuna Swamp, a small coastal wetland in Vava'u, Kingdom of Tonga, produced a 4500-year pollen and sediment record. Results are: (1) a mid-Holocene sea level highstand is confirmed for Tonga between about 4500 and 2600 14C yr B.P.; marine clay contains pollen from mangroves (Rhizophora mangle), coastal forest trees (Barringtonia asiatica and Cocos nucifera), and rainforest trees (Alphitonia, Rhus, Hedycarya and Calophyllum). (2) Microscopic charcoal first appeared at 2600 14C yr B.P., coincident with the arrival of Polynesians. (3) Cocos, Pandanus, Excoecaria, Macaranga, and Elaeocarpaceae pollen reflects the establishment of a mixed coastal-lowland rainforest in the last 2500 years. (4) The loss of Hedycarya, Elaeocarpus, Calophyllum, and Guettarda and the reduction of Terminalia and taxa in the Papilionaceae family by about 1000 years ago may be due to habitat destruction and the loss of dispersal capabilities of some species through the extinction of the two largest pigeons in Tonga.

Download Full-text

Assessing the risk caused by ground level ozone to European forest trees: A case study in pine, beech and oak across different climate regions

Environmental Pollution ◽

10.1016/j.envpol.2006.10.026 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 147 (3) ◽

pp. 454-466 ◽

Cited By ~ 76

Author(s):

Lisa D. Emberson ◽

Patrick Büker ◽

Mike R. Ashmore

Keyword(s):

Ground Level ◽

Forest Trees ◽

Ground Level Ozone ◽

European Forest

Download Full-text

A 17 Year Successional Enrichment Plantation of Tree Recruitment and Restoration in an African Tropical Forest

10.21203/rs.3.rs-138855/v2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Bernard Eromosele Omomoh ◽

Gbenga Festus Akomolafe ◽

Leah Spencer Brown ◽

VAJ Adekunle

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Statistical Analysis ◽

Tropical Forest ◽

Tree Species ◽

Forest Regeneration ◽

Forest Trees ◽

Growth Forms ◽

Forest Reserve ◽

Tree Species Composition ◽

Enrichment Planting

Abstract Key message: The Enrichment Plantation of Akure Forest Reserve is one of the forests currently experiencing a 17-year-long post-disturbance following deforestation and fragmentation in Nigeria. Context: To better understand the contribution of enrichment planting on forest regeneration and restoration, when the Enrichment Plantation after 17 years of post-disturbance was examined. Aims: We studied the recruitment drive of aboveground and undergrowth stands of an Enrichment Plantation in the tropical forest reserve. We assess the trees diversity, species compositions, species richness, and growth forms of the vegetations. Methods: A total of 3(50m x50m) plots were sampled. A total of 47 aboveground tree species and 45 undergrowth stands from Enrichment Plantation were identified. A statistical analysis were used to quantified the data obtained from this resultsResults: The result shows an increase in the diversity and an even distribution of the species of the aboveground forest trees, compared to the undergrowth stands. Conversely, the aboveground forest trees have lower species richness as compared to the level of undergrowth stands. The sapling density was significantly higher than the aboveground tree of the. It was also observed that the aboveground forest trees and undergrowth stands are somewhat similar in species compositions, which implies that sapling recruitment is a key determinant of the tree species composition of the forest.Conclusion: It is then concluded that the method adopted for restoration encouraged species diversity in this successional forest among the aboveground trees species and undergrowth.

Download Full-text

Ozone Trends from Two Decades of Ground Level Observation in Malaysia

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos11070755 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 755

Author(s):

Fatimah Ahamad ◽

Paul T. Griffiths ◽

Mohd Talib Latif ◽

Liew Juneng ◽

Chung Jing Xiang

Keyword(s):

Surface Ozone ◽

Ground Level ◽

Development Trend ◽

Peninsular Malaysia ◽

Observation Data ◽

Oxides Of Nitrogen ◽

Commercial Development ◽

Photostationary State ◽

Ozone Trends ◽

Increasing Trends

We examine the change in surface ozone and its precursor behavior over 20 years at four locations in western Peninsular Malaysia which have undergone urban-commercial development. Trend and correlation analyses were carried out on ozone and oxides of nitrogen observation data over the periods of 1997–2016 as well as the decadal intervals of 1997–2006 and 2007–2016. Diurnal variation composites for decadal intervals were also plotted. Significant increasing ozone concentrations were observed at all locations for the 20-year period, with a range between 0.09 and 0.21 ppb yr−1. The most urbanized location (S3) showed the highest ozone trend. Decadal intervals show that not all stations record significant increasing trends of ozone, with S1 recording decreasing ozone at a rate of −0.44 ppb yr−1 during the latter decade. Correlation analysis showed that only oxides of nitrogen ratios (NO/NO2) had significant inverse relationships with ozone at all stations corresponding to control of ozone by photostationary state reactions. The diurnal composites show that decadal difference in NO/NO2 is mostly influenced by change in nitric oxide concentrations.

Download Full-text

Trophic structure of bat communities in the understorey of lowland dipterocarp rain forest in Malaysia

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467400004818 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 421-431 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Charles M. Francis

Keyword(s):

Rain Forest ◽

Trophic Structure ◽

Peninsular Malaysia ◽

Bird Communities ◽

Neotropical Forests ◽

Dipterocarp Forest ◽

Neotropical Forest ◽

Lowland Dipterocarp Forest ◽

Sampling Procedures ◽

Foraging Ranges

ABSTRACTBat communities in the understorey of primary lowland dipterocarp forest in peninsular Malaysia and Sabah were sampled with mist nets and harp traps to estimate their trophic structure. Overall, 4 of 26 species (15%) at one site, and 6 of 33 species (18%) at the other site were frugivores, while the remainder were insectivores. In terms of individuals, 7–12% of all captures were frugivores. However, the true proportion of frugivores at both sites was probably closer to 1%, because the sampling procedures were strongly biased towards frugivores. In contrast, previously published studies indicate that frugivores comprise 34–48% of species, and up to 80% of individuals in bat communities in the understorey of Neotropical forest. These results support the hypothesis, developed from studies of bird communities, that the under-storey of Malaysian dipterocarp forest supports relatively few obligate frugivores, at least in non-masting years. However, further data are required on bats in the canopy, and on the foraging ranges of bats to compare the absolute densities of bats in Malaysian and Neotropical forests.

Download Full-text