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Dick CW, Verrett TB, Webala PW, Patterson BD. Nycteribiid bat flies (Arthropoda, Insecta, Diptera, Nycteribiidae) of Kenya. Zookeys 2023; 1169:65-85. [PMID: 38328029 PMCID: PMC10848833 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1169.102800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Bat flies (Diptera: Nycteribiidae and Streblidae) are hematophagous ectoparasites of bats characterized by viviparous pupiparity and generally high host specificity. Nycteribiid bat flies are wingless, morphologically constrained, and are most diverse in the Eastern Hemisphere. Africa hosts approximately 22% of global bat biodiversity and nearly one-third of all African bat species occur in Kenya, one of Africa's most bat-rich countries. However, records of nycteribiid bat fly diversity in Kenya remain sparse and unconsolidated. This paper combines all past species records of nycteribiid bat flies with records from a survey of 4,255 Kenyan bats across 157 localities between 2006 and 2015. A total of seven nycteribiid genera and 17 species are recorded, with seven species from the recent 'Bats of Kenya' surveys representing previously undocumented country records. Host associations and geographic distributions based on all available records are also described. This comprehensive species catalog addresses and further emphasizes the need for similar investigations of nycteribiid biodiversity across Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl W. Dick
- Department of Biology, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101, USAWestern Kentucky UniversityBowling GreenUnited States of America
- Negaunee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL 60605, USAField Museum of Natural HistoryChicagoUnited States of America
| | - Taylor B. Verrett
- Department of Biology, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101, USAWestern Kentucky UniversityBowling GreenUnited States of America
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USAUniversity of OklahomaNormanUnited States of America
| | - Paul W. Webala
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Maasai Mara University, Narok 20500, KenyaMaasai Mara UniversityNarokKenya
| | - Bruce D. Patterson
- Negaunee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL 60605, USAField Museum of Natural HistoryChicagoUnited States of America
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Kafash A, Ashrafi S, Yousefi M. Modeling habitat suitability of bats to identify high priority areas for field monitoring and conservation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:25881-25891. [PMID: 34851481 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17412-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Bats provide important ecosystem services but face severe threats due to land and climate changes. Although bats are an important component of mammal diversity in Iran, the ecology of many species remains virtually unstudied in the country. Here we applied the maximum entropy approach to model habitat suitability of bat species in Iran, identify the most important variables for their distribution, predict high priority areas for field monitoring and conservation, and estimate the coverage of the bat species' suitable habitats by the existing protected areas. We created a richness map for the twelve species to identify high priority areas for field monitoring and conservation. The results of species distribution modeling showed that Pipistrellus kuhlii (828,977.2 km2) and Miniopterus pallidus (646,581.9 km2) had the largest distribution ranges and Rhinopoma microphyllum (211,202.7 km2) and Rousettus aegyptiacus (218,278.6 km2) had the smallest distribution ranges in Iran. By averaging the importance of each ecological variable across the 12 species, we found that distance to forests (with a negative association) is the most important ecological driver of bat distribution in Iran. The Zagros Mountains were identified as a hotspot of bats based on the distribution of the 12 species. Our findings showed that small proportions of each species suitable habitats were covered by protected areas and protected suitable habitats varied from 3.2%for Pipistrellus kuhlii to15.9% for Tadarida teniotis. This study highlights the importance of forests for bat conservation showing that forest conservation is a high priority in the country. Areas which have the highest richness should be prioritized for field monitoring and conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anooshe Kafash
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sohrab Ashrafi
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Masoud Yousefi
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
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BakwoFils EM, Mongombe MA, Manfothang DE, Gomeh-Djame A, Takuo JM, Bilong BCF. Patterns of Bat Diversity in an Undisturbed Forest and Forest Mosaic Habitats of the Afromontane Forest Biome of Western Cameroon. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.761969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities continue to degrade natural montane ecosystems globally. Bats communities are altered by these changes. We analyzed how bats are affected by human-induced habitat changes by comparing the bat species diversity and functional diversity in undisturbed forest habitats and disturbed forest habitats of the Afromontane biome of Cameroon. We recorded 244 individuals from 13 species in the undisturbed forest, while 233 individuals from 16 species were recorded in the disturbed forest. Bat diversity was higher in disturbed habitats (D = 0.84) than undisturbed habitats (D = 0.67). Jackknife 1 species richness estimator suggests 21.53 species for the disturbed forest and 19.30 in the undisturbed forest. Closed-space forager insectivorous bats made up nearly half of the species in the undisturbed forest, but this dropped to 25% in the disturbed forest, meanwhile, edge-space foragers increased in the disturbed forest. Bat community analyses by ordination revealed a distinct bat community composition between the two forest types, demonstrated as a significant difference in diversity between the two forest types. The distribution of Rousettus aegyptiacus, Myonycteris angolensis, Hipposideros cf. ruber, and Micropteropus pusillus contribute the most to the difference in bat community composition between the two forest types. Edge and open-space species were likely to benefit from additional resources provided by the disturbed area, by expanding their range and distribution. However, this may not compensate for the decline in the population of forest species caused by the loss of pristine forests, thus measures to conserve montane forest remnants should be of utmost significance.
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Appel G, López‐Baucells A, Rocha R, Meyer CFJ, Bobrowiec PED. Habitat disturbance trumps moonlight effects on the activity of tropical insectivorous bats. Anim Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- G. Appel
- Programa de Pós‐graduação em Ecologia Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia Manaus Brazil
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia Manaus Brazil
| | - A. López‐Baucells
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia Manaus Brazil
- BiBio (Biodiversity and Bioindicators Research Group) Natural Sciences Museum of Granollers Granollers Spain
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes University of Lisbon Lisbon Portugal
| | - R. Rocha
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia Manaus Brazil
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes University of Lisbon Lisbon Portugal
- CIBIO‐InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources University of Porto Vairão Portugal
- CIBIO‐InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources Institute of Agronomy, University of Lisbon Lisbon Portugal
| | - C. F. J. Meyer
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia Manaus Brazil
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment University of Salford Salford UK
| | - P. E. D. Bobrowiec
- Programa de Pós‐graduação em Ecologia Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia Manaus Brazil
- Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia Manaus Brazil
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Katunzi T, Soisook P, Webala PW, Armstrong KN, Bumrungsri S. Bat activity and species richness in different land‐use types in and around Chome Nature Forest Reserve, Tanzania. Afr J Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Katunzi
- Department of Biology Faculty of Science Prince of Songkla University Hat Yai Thailand
- Same District Council Kilimanjaro Tanzania
| | - Pipat Soisook
- Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Natural History Museum Prince of Songkla University Hat Yai Thailand
| | - Paul W. Webala
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management Maasai Mara University Narok Kenya
| | - Kyle N. Armstrong
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Adelaide Adelaide SA Australia
- South Australian Museum Adelaide SA Australia
| | - Sara Bumrungsri
- Department of Biology Faculty of Science Prince of Songkla University Hat Yai Thailand
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Monadjem A, Demos TC, Dalton DL, Webala PW, Musila S, Kerbis Peterhans JC, Patterson BD. A revision of pipistrelle-like bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in East Africa with the description of new genera and species. Zool J Linn Soc 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Vespertilionidae (class Mammalia) constitutes the largest family of bats, with ~500 described species. Nonetheless, the systematic relationships within this family are poorly known, especially among the pipistrelle-like bats of the tribes Vespertilionini and Pipistrellini. Perhaps as a result of their drab pelage and lack of obvious morphological characters, the genus and species limits of pipistrelle-like bats remain poorly resolved, particularly in Africa, where more than one-fifth of all vesper bat species occur. Further exacerbating the problem is the accelerating description of new species within these groups. In this study, we attempt to resolve the systematic relationships among the pipistrelle-like bats of sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar and provide a more stable framework for future systematic efforts. Our systematic inferences are based on extensive genetic and morphological sampling of > 400 individuals covering all named genera and the majority of described African pipistrelle-like bat species, focusing on previously unstudied samples of East African bats. Our study corroborates previous work by identifying three African genera in Pipistrellini (Pipistrellus, Scotoecus and Vansonia), none of which is endemic to Africa. However, the situation is more complex in Vespertilionini. With broad taxonomic sampling, we confirm that the genus Neoromicia is paraphyletic, a situation that we resolve by assigning the species of Neoromicia to four genera. Neoromicia is here restricted to Neoromicia zuluensis and allied taxa. Some erstwhile Neoromicia species are transferred into an expanded Laephotis, which now includes both long-eared and short-eared forms. We also erect two new genera, one comprising a group of mostly forest-associated species (many of which have white wings) and the other for the genetically and morphologically unique banana bat. All four of these genera, as recognized here, are genetically distinct, have distinctive bacular morphologies and can be grouped by cranial morphometrics. We also demonstrate that the genus Nycticeinops, until now considered monospecific, includes both Afropipistrellus and the recently named Parahypsugo, thus representing the fifth African genus in Vespertilionini. A sixth genus, Hypsugo, is mostly extra-limital to sub-Saharan Africa. Finally, we describe three new species of pipistrelle-like bats from Kenya and Uganda, uncovered during the course of systematic bat surveys in the region. Such surveys are greatly needed across tropical Africa to uncover further bat diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ara Monadjem
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Eswatini, Kwaluseni, Eswatini
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa
- Negaunee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Terrence C Demos
- Negaunee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Desire L Dalton
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Eswatini, Kwaluseni, Eswatini
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Paul W Webala
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Maasai Mara University, Narok, Kenya
| | - Simon Musila
- Mammalogy Section, Zoology Department, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Julian C Kerbis Peterhans
- Negaunee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, USA
- College of Arts & Sciences, Roosevelt University, 430 S Michigan, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Bruce D Patterson
- Negaunee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, USA
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Frick WF, Kingston T, Flanders J. A review of the major threats and challenges to global bat conservation. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2019; 1469:5-25. [PMID: 30937915 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 188] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Bats are an ecologically and taxonomically diverse group accounting for roughly a fifth of mammalian diversity worldwide. Many of the threats bats face (e.g., habitat loss, bushmeat hunting, and climate change) reflect the conservation challenges of our era. However, compared to other mammals and birds, we know significantly less about the population status of most bat species, which makes prioritizing and planning conservation actions challenging. Over a third of bat species assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are considered threatened or data deficient, and well over half of the species have unknown or decreasing population trends. That equals 988 species, or 80% of bats assessed by IUCN, needing conservation or research attention. Delivering conservation to bat species will require sustained efforts to assess population status and trends and address data deficiencies. Successful bat conservation must integrate research and conservation to identify stressors and their solutions and to test the efficacy of actions to stabilize or increase populations. Global and regional networks that connect researchers, conservation practitioners, and local stakeholders to share knowledge, build capacity, and prioritize and coordinate research and conservation efforts, are vital to ensuring sustainable bat populations worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winifred F Frick
- Bat Conservation International, Austin, Texas.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California
| | - Tigga Kingston
- Department of Biological Science, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
| | - Jon Flanders
- Bat Conservation International, Austin, Texas.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
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