Nocturnal flying insects and environment characteristics as determinants of microchiropteran abundance in Biak na Bato National Park, Bulacan

Date of Award

2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Biology

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Freitag, Hendrik, Dr. rer. nat.

Abstract

The mammalian surveys in the Philippines have provided substantial amount of information concerning the taxonomy of insectivorous bats. However, only few studies focused on their ecology. In the present study, flying insectivorous bats were quantitatively sampled all together with food (insect) and habitat related-factors. Bat species abundance data and all habitat and food related-variables were processed by means of multivariate statistical ordination (CCA) and tested for correlations. The collection resulted in records of eight species of insectivorous bats in BNBNP. The habitat factors showed stronger correlations compared to food-related factors. The assemblage of Rhinilophus arcuatus (Peters, 1871), Rhinolophus macrotis (Blyth, 1844), Hipposideros diadema (Geoffroy, 1813) and Miniopterus australis (Tomes, 1859) showed strong association towards forest (r2=0.23) and distance to water (r2=0.50), while Myotis horsefieldi (Temminck, 1840) showed high abundance towards riparian habitat with vegetation edge and gap (r2=0.40). Hipposideros pygmaeus (Waterhouse, 1843) demonstrated a generalist behavior in terms of habitat preferences since it was observed both in riparian and non-riparian habitat. Most of the food related-factors showed weak correlation towards Microchiroptran abundance. However, it assumed in this present study that food related factors partly affect Microchiropteran abundance, although habitat factors may play more crucial role.

Comments

The B5.C75 2019

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