Diversity of bats in three selected forest types in Peninsular Malaysia

Authors : Nursyereen Mohd NASİR, Dzulhelmi Muhammad NASİR, Rosli RAMLİ

Pages : 142-155

View : 12 | Download : 6

Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Bats, occupying a variety of habitats, play important roles in the tropical forest. Through this study, comparisons on bat species richness and evenness in primary forest, secondary forest, and urban forest were made. Sampling was conducted between 18:30 PM and 06:30 AM using 10 mist-nets and four harp traps for three consecutive nights at the primary and secondary forest of Ulu Gombak Forest Reserve and urban forest in the Universiti Malaya Botanical Garden. This study progressed from February 2012 until April 2014. A total number of 1226 individuals representing 46 species were managed to be captured throughout the period of this study. From this, a total of 396 individuals of bats from 33 species were recorded in primary forest, 608 individuals of bats from 31 species were recorded in secondary forest and 222 individuals of bats from 11 species were recorded in the urban forest. The primary forest insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Shannon–Wiener, H’ = 2.516); has a higher diversity of bats compared to the secondary forest insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Shannon–Wiener, H’ = 2.476); and the urban forest insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Shannon–Wiener, H’ = 1.527);. However, the urban forest has a higher evenness index calculated insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(E = 0.4184); compared to the primary forest insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(E = 0.3994); and the secondary forest insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(E = 0.3718);. Species richness in the secondary forest is the highest insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Dmn = 1.616); followed by the primary forest insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Dmn = 1.257); and the urban forest insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Dmn = 0.7383);. This study showed that the primary forest is more diversified compared to other habitats although more individuals were recorded in the secondary forest.
Keywords : Primary forest, secondary forest, urban forest, bats