Ecology and conservation of bats in Temotu Province, Solomon Islands and Torba Province, Vanuatu
Tyrone H. Lavery
A B G , Tanya N. Leary C , Christina Shaw D , Martika Tahi D , Corzzierrah Posala E and Ray Pierce G
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA.
B Negaunee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL 60605, USA.
C Conservation Branch, New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, Parramatta, NSW 2124, Australia.
D Vanuatu Environmental Science Society, Port Vila, Efate, Vanuatu.
E CFP Environmental Consultancy, Honiara, Guadalcanal Province, Solomon Islands.
F Eco Oceania Ltd, 165 Stoney Creek Road, Speewah, Qld 4881, Australia.
G Corresponding author. Email: tyrone.lavery@uqconnect.edu.au
Pacific Conservation Biology - https://doi.org/10.1071/PC20035
Submitted: 9 April 2020 Accepted: 18 July 2020 Published online: 20 August 2020
Abstract
Bats are essential to the functioning of many island ecosystems. A large proportion of Pacific Island Pteropus are endemics, limited in their distribution to single paleotropical islands or close island groups. This subset is also highly threatened by hunting and habitat disturbance. Further exacerbating these threats is a dearth of scientific knowledge that makes long-term management and conservation planning difficult. We aimed to gather data on seven bat species from Nendö, Reef Islands, Tinakula, and Vanikoro (Solomon Islands), and Vanua Lava and Mota (Vanuatu). Between 1990 and 2019 we surveyed bats using walked transects, mist nets and camp counts, and collected data on diets and roosting sites. Data collection targeted four limited range endemics (Nendö tube-nosed bat (Nyctimene sanctacrucis), Banks flying-fox (Pteropus fundatus), Temotu flying-fox (Pteropus nitendiensis) and Vanikoro flying-fox (Pteropus tuberculatus), and three more widespread species (Vanuatu flying-fox (Pteropus anetianus), Pacific flying-fox (Pteropus tonganus) and Fijian blossom bat (Notopteris macdonaldi). Notopteris macdonaldi, P. nitendiensis, P. tonganus and P. tuberculatus were the most common species recorded on transects and mist net surveys. Transect encounter rates were 0.1–4.5 km−1 (P. nitendiensis), 0.2–20.0 km−1 (P. tonganus) and 0–7.2 km−1 (P. tuberculatus). Pteropus fundatus was rarer, we did not detect this species during daytime searches, and it was the least common mist net capture. We documented 65 Pteropus food plants in our study area. Nyctimene sanctacrucis was not detected on Nendö, Tinakula and Reef Islands despite considerable effort. We consider this bat is likely extinct, if in fact it is a distinct species.
Additional keywords: archipelago, bats, biodiversity hotspot, conservation, Critically Endangered, ecology, endemic, extinction, habitat disturbance, hunting, island, IUCN Red List, keystone species, mist netting, Notopteris, Nyctimene sanctacrucis, Pacific, paleotropical, Pteropus, rare, threatened, Vulnerable.
References
Almeida, F. C., Giannini, N. P., Simmons, N. B., and Helgen, K. M. (2014). Each flying fox on its own branch: a phylogenetic tree for Pteropus and related genera (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 77, 83–95.| Each flying fox on its own branch: a phylogenetic tree for Pteropus and related genera (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24662680PubMed |
Banack, S. A. (1998). Diet selection and resource use by flying foxes (genus Pteropus). Ecology 79, 1949–1967.
| Diet selection and resource use by flying foxes (genus Pteropus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Banack, S. A., and Grant, G. S. (2002). Spatial and temporal movement patterns of the flying fox, Pteropus tonganus, in American Samoa. Journal of Wildlife Management 66, 1154–1163.
| Spatial and temporal movement patterns of the flying fox, Pteropus tonganus, in American Samoa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
British Solomon Islands Department of Geological Surveys (1969). ‘Geological map of the British Solomon Islands,’ 2nd edn. (Ordnance Survey: London)
Brooke, A. P. (2001). Population status and behaviours of the Samoan flying fox (Pteropus samoensis) on Tutuila Island, American Samoa. Jounal of Zoology 254, 309–319.
| Population status and behaviours of the Samoan flying fox (Pteropus samoensis) on Tutuila Island, American Samoa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Brooke, A. P., and Tschapka, M. (2002). Threats from overhunting to the flying fox, Pteropus tonganus, (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) on Niue Island, South Pacific Ocean. Biological Conservation 103, 343–348.
| Threats from overhunting to the flying fox, Pteropus tonganus, (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) on Niue Island, South Pacific Ocean.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Burgin, C. (2019). Family Pteropodidae. In ‘Handbook of the mammals of the world. Vol. 9 Bats’. (Eds D. Wilson and R. Mittermeier). (Lynx Edicions in association with Conservation International and IUCN: Barcelona).
Coleman, P., Woodlard, G., and Lai, J. (1969). Geological map of the British Solomon Islands. In ‘The British Solomon Islands geological record. Vol. 3’. (Department of Geological Surveys: Solomon Islands).
Cox, P., Elmqvist, T., Pierson, E., and Rainey, W. (1992). Flying foxes as pollinators and seed dispersers in Pacific Island ecosystems In ‘Pacific Island flying foxes: proceedings of an international conservation conference,’ 1992. (Eds D. Wilson and D. Graham), pp. 18–23. (Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service: Washington, DC.)
Cox, P. A. (1983). Observations on the natural history of Samoan bats. Mammalia 47, 519–523.
| Observations on the natural history of Samoan bats.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Engbring, J. (2007). Observations of fruit bats in Samoa with emphasis on the status of the Samoan fruit bats Pteropus samoensis. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Honolulu.
Epstein, J., Olival, K., Pulliam, J., Smith, C., Westrum, J., Hughes, T., Dobson, A., Zubaid, A., Rahman, S., Basir, M., Field, H., and Daszak, P. (2009). Pteropus vampyrus, a hunted migratory species with a multinational home‐range and a need for regional management. Journal of Applied Ecology 46, 991–1002.
| Pteropus vampyrus, a hunted migratory species with a multinational home‐range and a need for regional management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Felten, H., and Kock, D. (1972). Weitere flughunde der Gattung Pteropus von den Neuen Hebriden, sowie den Banks- und Torres- Inseln, Pazifischer Ozean. Senckenbergiana biologica 53, 179–188.
Flannery, T. (1995). ‘Mammals of the south-west Pacific and Moluccan Islands.’ (Reed Books: Chatswood, NSW).
Global Volcanism Program (2017). Report on Tinakula (Solomon Islands) In ‘Weekly volcanic activity report, 25 October–31 October 2017’. (Ed. S. K. Sennert.). (Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.)
Global Volcanism Program (2020). Report on Tinakula (Solomon Islands). (Eds A. E. Crafford and E. Venzke). Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, 45:1. Smithsonian Institution.
Global Witness (2018). ‘Paradise lost: how China can help the Solomon Islands protect its forests.’ (Global Witness: London.)
Hancock, I., and Henderson, C. (1988). ‘Flora of the Solomon Islands.’ (Ministry of Agriculture and Lands: Honiara).
Helgen, K. and Hamilton, S. (2008). Pteropus fundatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T18724A8510939. Available at:
Henderson, C., and Hancock, I. (1988). ‘A Guide to the useful plants of Solomon Islands.’ (Ministry of Agriculture and Lands: Honiara).
Komers, P. E., and Brotherton, P. (1997). Female space use is the best predictor of monogamy in mammals. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 264, 1261–1270.
| Female space use is the best predictor of monogamy in mammals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 9332011PubMed |
Lavery, T. H., and Fasi, J. (2017). Buying through your teeth: traditional currency and conservation of flying foxes Pteropus spp. in Solomon Islands. Oryx 53, 505–512.
| Buying through your teeth: traditional currency and conservation of flying foxes Pteropus spp. in Solomon Islands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lavery, T. H., Olds, A. D., Seddon, J. M., and Leung, L. K.-P. (2016). The mammals of northern Melanesia: speciation, ecology, and biogeography. Mammal Review 46, 60–76.
| The mammals of northern Melanesia: speciation, ecology, and biogeography.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lavery, T., Posala, C., Tasker, E., and Fisher, D. (2020). Ecological generalism and resilience of tropical island mammals to logging: a 23 year test. Global Change Biology 26, 3285–3293.
| Ecological generalism and resilience of tropical island mammals to logging: a 23 year test.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 32239613PubMed |
Leary, T., and Aujare, I. (1994). ‘A review of the status and distribution of Pteropus flying-foxes in Solomon Islands and a preliminary assessment of fruit crop damage in Temotu Province.’ (The Nature Conservancy: Honiara.)
Leary, T., Hamilton, S., and James, R. (2008a). Pteropus nitendiensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T18744A8535844. Available at:
Leary, T., Hamilton, S., and James, R. (2008b). Pteropus tuberculatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T18765A8590245. Available at:
Lee, Y.-F., Takaso, T., Chiang, T.-Y., Kuo, Y.-M., Nakanishi, N., Tzeng, H.-Y., and Yasuda, K. (2009). Variation in the nocturnal foraging distribution of and resource use by endangered Ryukyu ying foxes (Pteropus dasymallus) on Iriomotejima Island, Japan. Contributions to Zoology 78, 51–64.
| Variation in the nocturnal foraging distribution of and resource use by endangered Ryukyu ying foxes (Pteropus dasymallus) on Iriomotejima Island, Japan.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lukas, D., and Clutton-Brock, T. (2012). Cooperative breeding and monogamy in mammalian societies. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 279, 2151–2156.
| Cooperative breeding and monogamy in mammalian societies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22279167PubMed |
McConkey, K. R., and Drake, D. R. (2006). Flying foxes cease to function as seed dispersers long before they become rare. Ecology 87, 271–276.
| Flying foxes cease to function as seed dispersers long before they become rare.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16637350PubMed |
McCracken, G. F., and Wilkinson, G. S. (2000). Bat mating systems. In ‘Reproductive biology of bats’. (Eds E. G. Crichton and P. H. Krutzsch) pp. 321–362. (Academic Press: London).
McDonald, T., Nielson, R., Carlisle, J., McDonald, A., Augustine, B., Griswald, J., Reynolds, J., Quang, P., Becker, E., Christ, A., McKann, P., Jeroue, L., Abigail, H., and Michael, K. (2018 ). Rdistance: analyses for distance-sampling and abundance estimation. R package ver. 2.1.1.
Mickleburgh, S., Hutson, A., and Racey, P. (2002). A review of the global conservation status of bats. Oryx 36, 18–34.
| A review of the global conservation status of bats.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mickleburgh, S., Hutson, A., and Racey, P. (eds) (1992). ‘Old world fruit bats. An action plan for their conservation.’ (IUCN/SSC Chiroptera Specialist Group, IUCN: Gland, Switzerland.)
Miller, D. (2016). ‘Distance sampling detection function and abundance estimation. R package ver. 0.9.6.’ (R Development Core Team: Vienna, Austria)
Mittermeier, R., Robles Gil, P., Hoffman, M., Pilgrim, J., Brooks, T., Mittermeier, C., Lamoreux, J., and da Fonseca, G. (2004). ‘Hotspots revisited.’ (CEMEX: Mexico City).
Müeller-Dombois, D., and Fosberg, F. (2013). ‘Vegetation of the tropical Pacific Islands.’ (Springer: New York).
Parnaby, H., Ingleby, S., and Diviljan, A. (2017). Type specimens of non-fossil mammals in the Australian Museum, Sydney. Records of the Australian Museum 69, 277–420.
| Type specimens of non-fossil mammals in the Australian Museum, Sydney.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Peters, W. (1869). Ueber neue oder weniger bekannte Flederthiere, insbesondere des Pariser Museums. Monatsberichte der Königlichen Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1869, 391–406.
Pierson, E., and Rainey, W. (1992). The biology of flying foxes of the genus Pteropus: a review. In ‘Pacific Island flying foxes: proceedings of an international conference’. (Eds D. Wilson and G. Graham) pp. 1–17. (U.S.Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service: Washington DC).
R Core Team (2016). R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing: Vienna, Austria. Available at: https://www.R-project.org
Ranasinghe, C. S., Silva, L., and Premasiri, R. (2015). Major determinants of fruit set and yield fluctuation in coconut (Cocos nucifera L.). Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 43, 253–264.
| Major determinants of fruit set and yield fluctuation in coconut (Cocos nucifera L.).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sanborn, C. (1930). Two new fruit bats collected by the Whitney South Sea Expedition. American Museum Novitates 435, .
Sanborn, C. (1931). Bats from Polynesia, Melanesia and Malaysia. Field Museum of Natural History Publications, Zoological Series 2, 7–29.
Tidemann, C., and Nelson, J. (2004). Long-distance movements of the grey-headed flying fox (Pteropus poliocephalus). Journal of Zoology 263, 141–146.
| Long-distance movements of the grey-headed flying fox (Pteropus poliocephalus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Troughton, E. L. G. (1927). Fixation of the habitat, and extended description of Pteropus tuberculatus, Peters. Records of the Australian Museum 15, 355–359.
| Fixation of the habitat, and extended description of Pteropus tuberculatus, Peters.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Troughton, E. L. G. (1930). A new species and subspecies of fruit bats (Pteropus) from the Santa Cruz Group. Records of the Australian Museum 18, 1–4.
| A new species and subspecies of fruit bats (Pteropus) from the Santa Cruz Group.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Troughton, E. l. G. (1931). Three new bats of the genera Pteropus, Nyctimene and Chaerephon from Melanesia. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of N.S.W. 56, 204–209.
Vincenot, C. E., Vincent Florens, F. B., and Kingston, T. (2017). Can we protect island flying foxes? Science 355, 1368–1370.
| Can we protect island flying foxes?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28360279PubMed |
Walker, F. (1948). ‘The Forests of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate.’ (Crown Agents: London)
Wiles, G. J., Engbring, J., and Falanruw, M. (1991). Population status and natural history of Pteropus mariannus on Ulithi Atoll, Caroline Islands. Pacific Science 45, 76–84.
Wiles, G. J., and Johnson, N. C. (2008). Population size and natural history of Mariana fruit bats (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) on Sarigan, Mariana Islands. Pacific Science 58, 585–596.
| Population size and natural history of Mariana fruit bats (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) on Sarigan, Mariana Islands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
