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Effects of habitat fragmentation on the bats of Kakamega Forest, western Kenya

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 August 2019

Paul W. Webala Open the ORCID record for Paul W. Webala [Opens in a new window] ,
Jeremiah Mwaura ,
Joseph M. Mware ,
George G. Ndiritu  and
Bruce D. Patterson
Paul W. Webala*
Affiliation:
Maasai Mara University, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, P.O. Box 861, Narok 20500, Kenya
Jeremiah Mwaura
Affiliation:
Karatina University, School of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, P.O. Box 1957, Karatina 10101, Kenya
Joseph M. Mware
Affiliation:
Karatina University, School of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, P.O. Box 1957, Karatina 10101, Kenya
George G. Ndiritu
Affiliation:
Karatina University, School of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, P.O. Box 1957, Karatina 10101, Kenya
Bruce D. Patterson
Affiliation:
Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL 60605, USA
*
*Author for correspondence: Paul W. Webala, Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Habitat loss and fragmentation are major threats to biodiversity worldwide, and little is known about their effects on bats in Africa. We investigated effects of forest fragmentation on bat assemblages at Kakamega Forest, western Kenya, examining captures at edge and interior locations in three forest fragments (Buyangu, 3950 ha; Kisere, 400 ha; and Malava, 100 ha) varying in forest area and human-use regimes. Basal area, canopy cover, tree density and intensity of human use were used as predictors of bat abundance and species richness. A total of 3456 mist-net hours and 3168 harp-trap hours resulted in the capture of 4983 bats representing 26 species, eight families and four foraging ensembles (frugivores, forest-interior insectivores, forest-edge insectivores and open-space insectivores). Frugivores were frequently captured at the edges of the larger, better-protected forests, but also in the interior of the smaller, more open fragment. Forest-interior insectivores and narrow-space foragers predominated in the interiors of larger fragments but avoided the smallest one. Forest specialists showed positive associations with forest variables (canopy cover, basal area and tree density), whereas frugivores responded positively to the human-use indicators. On these bases, specialist species appear to be especially vulnerable to forest fragmentation.

Keywords

Batsforaging modeforest usehabitat fragmentationtropical rain forest
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 35 , Issue 6 , November 2019 , pp. 260 - 269
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2019 

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