Identification of ectoparasites and endoparasites on fruit bats (Cynopterus brachyotis) in Ketapang Timur Village, Ketapang Sub-District, Sampang District

This study aims to determine the ectoparasites and endoparasites that infest fruit bats (Cynopterus brachyotis) in Ketapang Timur, Ketapang District, Sampang Regency. The samples in this study were blood, feces and ectoparasites from 50 fruit bats taken in Ketapang District, Sampang Regency. Blood samples were examined using a blood smear method with Giemsa staining, while stool samples were examined using three methods, namely native, sucrose floating, and acid-fast modification. Blood examination was checked using a microscope with 1000x magnification and stool examination at 400x magnification. The sample is considered positive if under microscope observation found parasites that match the characteristics of the protozoa sourced from scientific references. The results of the study of 50 fruit bats examined found five positives for digestive protozoa and ectoparasites, the infection was single, with details of one tail being infected with Eimeria sp. and one tail was infected by Leptocyclopodia ferrarii, while blood protozoa were not found. This study concludes that the type of protozoa found in the digestive tract is Eimeria sp. (14%) and ectoparasite Leptocyclopodia ferrarii. (2%). The total percentage obtained was 16% positive for a single infection of protozoa and ectoparasites from 50 fruit bats. Suggestions that can be put forward are to conduct further research using PCR and sequencing to obtain more specific and accurate identification results, for subspecies or strains.

Small Pteropodid Bats are Important Pollinators of Durian in Terengganu, Malaysia

Bats are often misunderstood as agricultural pests and have received little attention for conservation efforts. However, bats are critical pollinators to commercially important agricultural products, such as durians. This study intends to confirm the role of small pteropodid bats as pollinating agents to flowering durian trees. Samplings were conducted in April 2018 to record bats visiting the flowers of two durian species, Durio zibethinus and Durio lowianus at Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) Jerangau, Terengganu. Captured bats were swabbed for conspecific pollen load on their bodies to determine their potential role as pollinators. One hundred thirty-one (131) pollen swabs were collected from three pteropodid bat species: Eonycteris spelaea Dobson, Cynopterus brachyotis Dobson, and Cynopterus horsfieldii Gray. Only E. spelaea and C. brachyotis, however, were found with conspecific pollen loads on their bodies. Between the two, E. spelaea showed a higher potential to be the pollinating agent for the durian trees. Hence, they recorded more individuals carrying many conspecific pollen grains while visiting the trees. Thus, this finding will hopefully reduce the misconceptions held on bats and conserve them in Malaysia.

The first complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Cynopterus brachyotis (Müller, 1838) from the Philippines

The technical limitations of capillary sequencing in providing insights on phylogeny have been greatly aided in recent years by the implementation of next generation sequencing platforms which can generate whole mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequences. In this study, enriched mitochondrial DNA of Cynopterus brachyotis from Mindanao, Philippines was sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform. A total of 653,967 clean paired-end reads was assembled using a MIRA-MITObim pipeline, resulting to a consensus mitogenome sequence length of 17,382 bases and a GC content of 41.48%, which is consistent with other published mitogenomes in fruit bats. The assembled C. brachyotis mitogenome was annotated using the MITOS online server and was able to resolve all mitochondrial genes, except for one transfer RNA gene (trnT) which may be further resolved by additional capillary sequencing of the region. Sequence analysis showed that the Philippine C. brachyotis is only 90%-91% homologous with other Cynopterus spp. based on its full mitogenome sequence. Phylogenetic analysis of fruit bat mitogenomes deposited in online repositories revealed that the Philippine C. brachyotis in this study has diverged from Asian Cynopterus, namely Cynopterus brachyotis and Cynopterus sphinx from other parts of Asia (100% bootstrap support) with the latter two forming a separate clade. This divergence at the species level was consistent with phylogentic inference using cytochrome oxidase 1 (CO1) and cytochrome B (cytb) gene markers. Our results strengthen the previously reported hypothesis that the C. brachyotis in the Philippines is distinct from its Asian counterparts and should be therefore elevated to a new species.

Diversity of fruit bats (Pteropodidae) and their ectoparasites in Batuputih Nature Tourism Park, Sulawesi, Indonesia

Nangoy M, Ransaleleh T, Lengkong H, Koneri R, Latinne A, Kyes RC. 2021. Diversity of fruit bats (Pteropodidae) and their ectoparasites in Batuputih Nature Tourism Park, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 3075-3082. Bats play an important role in the ecosystem as pollinators, seed dispersers, and predators, therefore, this study aims to identify the diversity of fruit bat species and ectoparasites at Batuputih Nature Tourism Park, Sulawesi, Indonesia. The study was conducted from May to July 2019, and carried out in three different habitats, namely primary and secondary forest, as well as agricultural land. Besides, the bats were caught using a mist net while the ectoparasites were collected and identified using morphological criteria. A total of 253 bats were sampled representing 10 species (all belonging to the family Pteropodidae) namely Cynopterus brachyotis (24.90%), C. luzoniensis (9.88%), Dobsonia exoleta (1.19%), Macroglossus minimus (3.16%), Nictymene cephalotes (4.75%), N. minutus (0.79%), Rousettus amplexicaudatus (17%), R. celebensis (20.95%), Thoopterus nigrescens (17%), and Thoopterus sp. (0.4%). Cynopterus brachyotis was the most abundant species (n = 63). Meanwhile, a total of 479 ectoparasites were collected and identified as belonging to three families, namely Nycteribiidae, Streblidae, and Spinturnicidae. Nycteribiidae (genus Leptocyclopodia) was the most abundant ectoparasite taxa (n= 475) while the highest mean abundance and intensity were observed for the genus Thoopterus and Rousettus. This study provides important baseline data for future reference in monitoring bat population status and conservation efforts in the region. Given the close relationship between the local people and bats (e.g. hunting and consumption), more work is needed to address the potential pathogen risks from zoonotic transmission, both from bats and the respective ectoparasites.

Phylogeography, codon usages, and DNA barcoding of lesser short nosed fruit bat (Cynopterus brachyotis Muller, 1838) populations in Indonesia

Fruit bat (Pteropodidae) is one of the mammals that is common in environments and widely distributed from subtropical to tropical Asia. Whereas the information on phylogeography of fruit bat Cynopterus brachyotis is still limited. From this situation, this paper aims to assess the phylogeography, codon usage, and DNA barcoding of C. brachyotis populations in Indonesia. Phylogeography was developed based on 657 bp of the mtDNA COI gene for all bat individuals and Bayesian inference to construct the phylogeny tree. The C. brachyotis populations in Indonesia are different to the populations from the Asia’s continent. The results show that C. brachyotis populations in Indonesia were divided into 3 distinct clades. A putative geographical barrier, recent, and rapid range expansion in the Sunda lineage associated with changes in sea levels, possibly coupled with related ecological differences, may have driven population divergence, allopatric, and sympatric speciation. Codon usage and high frequency were also contributing to the dispersal of C. brachyotis forming a distinct population.

Aerosphere occupancy (ψ) model of lesser short nosed fruit bat (Cynopterus brachyotis Muller, 1838) related to tree species in Asia mountainous paddy fields

Bat is animal that occupies aerosphere, especially fruit bats that forage on the space around the trees. The fruit bats use whether narrow space below tree canopy or in edge space on the edge of canopy. Whereas the aerosphere occupancy of fruits bats related to the specific tree species is poorly understood. Here, this paper aims to assess and model the association of fruit bat Cynopterus brachyotis aerosphere occupancy (Ψ) with tree species planted in mountainous paddy fields in West Java. The studied tree species including Alianthus altissima, Acacia sp., Cocos nucifera, Mangifera indica, Pinus sp., and Swietenia macrophylla. The result shows that the tree species diversity has significantly (x2= 27.67, P < 0.05) affected the C. brachyotis aerosphere occupancy. According to values of Ψ and occupancy percentage, high occupancy of narrow space by C. brachyotis was observed in Swietenia macrophylla (Ψ = 0.934, 78%), followed by Alianthus altissima (Ψ = 0.803, 57%), and Mangifera indica (Ψ = 913, 55%). While high occupancy of edge space was observed in Mangifera indica (Ψ = 0.685, 41%), followed by Pinus sp. (Ψ = 0.674, 38%), and Alianthus altissima sp. (Ψ = 0.627, 36%). The best model for explaining C. brachyotis occupation in narrow space is the tree height with preferences on high tree (Ψ~tree height, AIC = 1.574, R2= 0.5535, Adj. R = 0.4047). While for edge space occupant, the best model is also the tree height (Ψ~tree height, AIC = −26.1510, R2= 0.7944, Adj. R = 0.7258).

Akaike model selections of the vegetation structures and aerosphere factors in supporting lesser short nosed fruit bat (Cynopterus brachyotis Muller, 1838) populations in Asia mountainous paddy fields

As an aerial and arboreal fauna, the abundances and populations of fruit bat Cynopterus brachyotis were influenced by the vegetation structures and aerosphere condition variables of fruit bat ecosystems. While mountaineous paddy field is an unique habitat since the trees are scarce and has exposure to the aerosphere variables including air temperature and humidity. Here this paper aims to select the best vegetation structures and aerosphere factors that support the abundance of C. brachyotis in mountainous paddy field landscape in West Java. The model selection was using AIC methodology by testing 15 models including 5 single models and 10 combination models of explanatory variables. Based on the model, tree height and combinations of tree height and elevation produced the best prediction for the bat abundances, as described by low values of AIC and the highest values of R2 and adjusted R2. For the best models, the AIC values ranged from 16.674 to 17.603, from 0.3404 to 0.4144 (R2), and 0.2461 to 0.2192 for adjusted R2. Regarding conservation of C. brachyotis and learning from the model, the conservation approaches mainly in mountainous paddy fields are encouraged to protect and conserve high altitude landscapes and trees with height > 10 m. Whereas the AIC results show lack of aerosphere variable effects on C. brachyotis (AIC: 19.346-20.406, R2: 0.1124-0.001353, and adjusted R2: −0.01444 − −0.1413).