Capture success of Fijian bats (Pteropodidae) and their evaluation as umbrella species for conservation
Annette Therese Scanlon A B and Sophie Petit A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Sustainable Environments Research Group, School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: scanlonannette@gmail.com
Pacific Conservation Biology 21(4) 315-326 https://doi.org/10.1071/PC15019
Submitted: 17 June 2015 Accepted: 23 November 2015 Published: 22 December 2015
Abstract
Easily captured species provide powerful opportunities to motivate research and conservation action. Conversely, rare and cryptic species with low capture probability can be difficult to study. We examined the capture success of Fiji’s Pteropodidae (Pteropus tonganus, P. samoensis, Notopteris macdonaldi, and Mirimiri acrodonta) and incorporated capture success and associated observations into an assessment of their suitability as umbrella species for conservation. We caught 252 bats from 2493 mist-net-hours in lowland rainforest near Waisali on Vanua Levu, and 38 bats from 1915 mist-net-hours in cloud forest on Taveuni. Of these captures, 67% were N. macdonaldi, 16% P. tonganus, 18% P. samoensis, and <1% M. acrodonta. All species were difficult to net in cloud forest, where we recorded a female sex bias. Capture success was affected by site, season, and net height; peak capture times varied among species and between sites. N. macdonaldi was recaptured most frequently (8.8%), revealing habitual nightly movements. It has strong potential as an umbrella species for rainforest and cave-dwelling organisms of Fiji, and was readily netted. P. tonganus is an unsuitable umbrella species, P. samoensis has potential as an umbrella species, and M. acrodonta has many attributes of a flagship species. Capture efficiency of N. macdonaldi provides opportunities for monitoring and conservation management activities in Fiji. However, variability in capture success among species means that different approaches should be explored for conserving bats effectively with limited resources.
Additional keywords: capture frequency, capture probability, Fiji, flagship species, flying fox, indicator species, mist net, Pacific Islands, rainforest conservation, surrogate species.
References
Andelman, S. J., and Fagan, W. F. (2000). Umbrellas and flagships: efficient conservation surrogates or expensive mistakes? Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 97, 5954–5959.| Umbrellas and flagships: efficient conservation surrogates or expensive mistakes?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXjvFaku7g%3D&md5=95e80d5e1e34a6bf8a9baa811df430a3CAS | 10811901PubMed |
Ash, J. (1987). Stunted cloud-forest in Taveuni, Fiji. Pacific Science 41, 1–4.
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. The Journal of Wildlife Management 66, 1154–1163.
| Spatial and temporal movement patterns of the flying fox, Pteropus tonganus, in American Samoa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Brooke, A. P. (2001). Population status and behaviours of the Samoan flying fox (Pteropus samoensis) on Tutuila Island, American Samoa. Journal 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., and Wiles, G. (2008). Pteropus samoensis. International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Gland, Switzerland. Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/18757/0 [accessed 6 February 2015].
Brooke, A. P., Solek, C., and Tualaulelei, A. (2000). Roosting behaviour of colonial and solitary flying foxes in American Samoa (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae). Biotropica 32, 338–350.
| Roosting behaviour of colonial and solitary flying foxes in American Samoa (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Brunet-Rossinni, A. K., and Wilkinson, G. S. (2009). Methods for age estimation and the study of senescence in bats. In ‘Ecological and Behavioral Methods for the Study of Bats’. (Eds T. H. Kunz and S. Parsons.) pp. 315–325. (Johns Hopkins University Press: Baltimore, MD.)
Caro, T. M. (2003). Umbrella species: critique and lessons from East Africa. Animal Conservation 6, 171–181.
| Umbrella species: critique and lessons from East Africa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Caro, T. M., and O’Doherty, G. (1999). On the use of surrogate species in conservation biology. Conservation Biology 13, 805–814.
| On the use of surrogate species in conservation biology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Clucas, B., McHugh, K., and Caro, T. (2008). Flagship species on covers of US conservation and nature magazines. Biodiversity and Conservation 17, 1517–1528.
| Flagship species on covers of US conservation and nature magazines.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cosson, J. F. (1995). Captures of Myonycteris torquata (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) in forest canopy in South Cameroon. Biotropica 27, 395–396.
| Captures of Myonycteris torquata (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) in forest canopy in South Cameroon.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cousins, J. A., and Compton, S. G. (2005). The Tongan flying fox Pteropus tonganus: status, public attitudes and conservation in the Cook Islands. Oryx 39, 196–203.
| The Tongan flying fox Pteropus tonganus: status, public attitudes and conservation in the Cook Islands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
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 |
Cox, P. A. (1984). Chiropterophily and ornithophily in Freycinetia (Pandanaceae) in Samoa. Plant Systematics and Evolution 144, 277–290.
| Chiropterophily and ornithophily in Freycinetia (Pandanaceae) in Samoa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cox, P. A., Elmqvist, T., Pierson, E. D., and Rainey, W. E. (1991). Flying foxes as strong interactors in South Pacific island ecosystems: a conservation hypothesis. Conservation Biology 5, 448–454.
| Flying foxes as strong interactors in South Pacific island ecosystems: a conservation hypothesis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Craig, P., Trail, P., and Morrell, T. E. (1994). The decline of fruit bats in American Samoa due to hurricanes and overhunting. Biological Conservation 69, 261–266.
| The decline of fruit bats in American Samoa due to hurricanes and overhunting.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Elmqvist, T., Cox, P. A., Rainey, W. E., and Pierson, E. D. (1992). Restricted pollination on oceanic islands: pollination of Ceiba pentandra by flying foxes in Samoa. Biotropica 24, 15–23.
| Restricted pollination on oceanic islands: pollination of Ceiba pentandra by flying foxes in Samoa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Field, A. (2009). ‘Discovering Statistics Using SPSS for Windows.’ (SAGE Publications: Thousand Oaks, CA.)
Fiji Meteorological Service (2012). RSMC Nadi – Tropical Cyclone Centre. Government of the Republic of Fiji. Available at: http://www.met.gov.fj/index.php [accessed 5 April 2012].
Fisher, D., and Tasker, E. (1997). Natural history of the New Georgia monkey-faced bat Pteralopex sp. nov. from the Solomon Islands. Pacific Conservation Biology 3, 134–142.
Flannery, T. F. (1995). ‘Mammals of the South-West Pacific and Moluccan Islands.’ (Reed Books: Sydney.)
Fleishman, E., Murphy, D. D., and Brussard, P. F. (2000). A new method for selection of umbrella species for conservation planning. Ecological Applications 10, 569–579.
| A new method for selection of umbrella species for conservation planning.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Francis, C. M. (1994). Vertical stratification of fruit bats (Pteropodidae) in lowland dipterocarp rainforest in Malaysia. Journal of Tropical Ecology 10, 523–530.
| Vertical stratification of fruit bats (Pteropodidae) in lowland dipterocarp rainforest in Malaysia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hamilton, S., and Helgen, K. (2008). Pteropus tonganus. International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Gland, Switzerland. Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/18764/0 [accessed 6 February 2015].
Helgen, K. M. (2005). Systematics of the Pacific monkey-faced bats (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae), with a new species of Pteralopex and a new Fijian genus. Systematics and Biodiversity 3, 433–453.
| Systematics of the Pacific monkey-faced bats (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae), with a new species of Pteralopex and a new Fijian genus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Helgen, K., Palmeirim, J., and Allison, A. (2008). Mirimiri acrodonta. International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Gland, Switzerland. Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/18655/0 [accessed 6 February 2015].
Hill, J. E., and Beckon, W. N. (1978). A new species of Pteralopex Thomas 1888 (Chiroptera Pteropodidae) from the Fiji Islands. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Zoological Series 34, 65–82.
Hodgkison, R., Balding, S. T., Zubaid, A., and Kunz, T. H. (2004). Temporal variation in the relative abundance of fruit bats (Megachiroptera: Pteropodidae) in relation to the availability of food in a lowland Malaysian rain forest. Biotropica 36, 522–533.
Hutson, A. M., Mickleburgh, S. P., and Racey, P. A. (2001). ‘Microchiropteran Bats: Global Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan.’ (International Union for the Conservation of Nature (Chiroptera Specialist Group): Gland, Switzerland.)
Ingle, N. (1993). Vertical stratification of bats in a Philippine rainforest. Asia Life Sciences 2, 215–222.
IUCN (2012). ‘The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1.’ (International Union for the Conservation of Nature: Gland, Switzerland.)
Kalko, E. K. V., and Handley, C. O. (2001). Neotropical bats in the canopy: diversity, community structure, and implications for conservation. Plant Ecology 153, 319–333.
| Neotropical bats in the canopy: diversity, community structure, and implications for conservation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kier, G., Krefts, H., Lee, T. M., Jetz, W., Ibisch, P. L., Nowicki, C., Mutke, J., and Barthlott, W. (2009). A global assessment of endemism and species richness across island and mainland regions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 106, 9322–9327.
| A global assessment of endemism and species richness across island and mainland regions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXot1Cgtb0%3D&md5=1609f34927ded57c10ff2be82b2f7e56CAS | 19470638PubMed |
McConkey, K. R., and Drake, D. R. (2007). Indirect evidence that flying foxes track food resources among islands in a Pacific archipelago. Biotropica 39, 436–440.
| Indirect evidence that flying foxes track food resources among islands in a Pacific archipelago.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Medellín, R. A., Equihua, M., and Amin, M. A. (2000). Bat diversity and abundance as indicators of disturbance in neotropical rainforests. Conservation Biology 14, 1666–1675.
| Bat diversity and abundance as indicators of disturbance in neotropical rainforests.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Medway, L., and Marshall, A. G. (1975). Terrestrial vertebrates of the New Hebrides: origin and distribution. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Biological Sciences 72, 432–465.
Mickleburgh, S. P., Hutson, A. M., and Racey, P. A. (1992). ‘Old World Fruit Bats: An Action Plan for their Conservation.’ (International Union for the Conservation of Nature (Chiroptera Specialist Group): Gland, Switzerland.)
Mickleburgh, S. P., Hutson, A. M., and Racey, P. A. (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 |
Mildenstein, T. L., Tier, S. C., Nuevo-Diego, C. E., and Mills, S. L. (2005). Habitat selection of endangered and endemic large flying-foxes in Subic Bay, Philippines. Biological Conservation 126, 93–102.
| Habitat selection of endangered and endemic large flying-foxes in Subic Bay, Philippines.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Morrison, C., Naikatini, A., Thomas, N., Rounds, I., Thaman, B., and Niukula, J. (2004). Importance of Waisali Researve, Vanua Levu for herpetofauna conservation in Fiji. The South Pacific Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences 22, 71–74.
| Importance of Waisali Researve, Vanua Levu for herpetofauna conservation in Fiji.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Nelson, J. E., and Hamilton-Smith, E. (1982). Some observations on Notopteris macdonaldi (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae). Australian Mammalogy 5, 247–252.
Olson, D., Farley, L., Patrick, A., Watling, D., Tuiwawa, M., Masibalavu, V., Lenoa, L., Bogiva, A., Qauqau, I., Atherton, J., Caginitoba, A., Tokota’a, M., Prasad, S., Naisilisili, W., Raikabula, A., Mailautoka, K., Morley, C., and Allnutt, T. (2010). Priority forests for conservation in Fiji: landscapes, hotspots and ecological processes. Oryx 44, 57–70.
| Priority forests for conservation in Fiji: landscapes, hotspots and ecological processes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Palmeirim, J. (2008). Notopteris macdonaldi. International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Gland, Switzerland. Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/14876/0 [accessed 6 February 2015].
Palmeirim, J. M., Champion, A., Naikatini, A., Niukula, J., Tuiwawa, M., Fisher, M., Yabaki-Gounder, M., Thorsteinsdóttir, S., Qalovaki, S., and Dunn, T. (2005). ‘Distribution, Status and Conservation of the Bats of the Fiji Islands.’ (University of the South Pacific, Fauna & Flora International, and University of Lisbon: Suva, Fiji.)
Palmeirim, J. M., Champion, A., Naikatini, A., Niukula, J., Tuiwawa, M., Fisher, M., Yabaki-Gounder, M., Thorsteinsdóttir, S., Qalovaki, S., and Dunn, T. (2007). Distribution, status and conservation of the bats of the Fiji Islands. Oryx 41, 509–519.
| Distribution, status and conservation of the bats of the Fiji Islands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Roberge, J. M., and Angelstam, P. (2004). Usefulness of the umbrella species concept as a conservation tool. Conservation Biology 18, 76–85.
| Usefulness of the umbrella species concept as a conservation tool.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Scanlon, A. T. (2009). Survey for the Fiji flying fox (Mirimiri acrodonta) on Des Voeux Peak, Taveuni 2009. University of South Australia and NatureFiji-MareqetiViti, Suva, Fiji.
Scanlon, A. T. (2014). The role and conservation of bats in Fiji’s rainforest. Ph.D. thesis, University of South Australia, Adelaide.
Scanlon, A. T., and Petit, S. (2013). How fecal subsampling methods affect the accuracy of dietary pollen detection. Journal of Mammalogy 94, 1321–1330.
| How fecal subsampling methods affect the accuracy of dietary pollen detection.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Scanlon, A. T., Petit, S., and Sternberg, L. S. (2013). Insectivory in Fijian flying foxes (Pteropodidae). Australian Journal of Zoology 61, 342–349.
| Insectivory in Fijian flying foxes (Pteropodidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Scanlon, A. T., Petit, S., and Bottroff, G. (2014a). The status of bats in Fiji. Oryx 48, 451–459.
| The status of bats in Fiji.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Scanlon, A. T., Petit, P., Tuiwawa, M., and Naikatini, A. (2014b). High similarity between a bat-serviced plant assemblage and that used by humans. Biological Conservation 174, 111–119.
| High similarity between a bat-serviced plant assemblage and that used by humans.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Seddon, P. J., and Leech, T. (2008). Conservation short cut, or long and winding road? A critique of umbrella species criteria. Oryx 42, 240–245.
| Conservation short cut, or long and winding road? A critique of umbrella species criteria.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Shaffer, M. L. (1981). Minimum population sizes for species conservation. Bioscience 31, 131–134.
| Minimum population sizes for species conservation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Simberloff, D. (1998). Flagships, umbrellas, and keystones: is single-species management passé in the landscape era? Biological Conservation 83, 247–257.
| Flagships, umbrellas, and keystones: is single-species management passé in the landscape era?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Smith, R. J., Verissimo, D., Isaac, N. J. B., and Jones, K. E. (2012). Identifying Cinderella species: uncovering mammals with conservation flagship appeal. Conservation Letters 5, 205–212.
| Identifying Cinderella species: uncovering mammals with conservation flagship appeal.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
SPSS, Inc. (2010). ‘IBM SPSS Statistics 20.’ (SPSS, Inc.: Chicago, IL.)
Stevens, C. E., Paszkowski, C. A., and Foote, A. L. (2007). Beaver (Castor canadensis) as a surrogate species for conserving anuran amphibians on boreal streams. Biological Conservation 134, 1–13.
| Beaver (Castor canadensis) as a surrogate species for conserving anuran amphibians on boreal streams.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tuiwawa, M. (1999). ‘Floristic Survey of the Native Forest Catchment in Cakaudrove Province, Vanua Levu Fiji.’ (University of the South Pacific: Suva, Fiji.)
Veríssimo, D., Fraser, I., Groombridge, J., Bristol, R., and MacMillan, D. C. (2009). Birds as tourism flagship species: a case study of tropical islands. Animal Conservation 12, 549–558.
| Birds as tourism flagship species: a case study of tropical islands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Vitt, L. J., Caldwell, J. P., Wilbur, H. M., and Smith, D. C. (1990). Amphibians as harbingers of decay. Bioscience 40, 418.
| Amphibians as harbingers of decay.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Watling, D. (2011). Conservation of the endangered Fiji flying fox Mirimiri acrodonta on Taveuni Island, Fiji. Bioviversity Conservation Lessons Learned Technical Series 1. Conservation International Pacific Islands Program, Conservation International, Apia, Samoa.
Wilson, D. E., and Engbring, J. (1992). The flying foxes Pteropus samoensis and Pteropus tonganus: status in Fiji and Samoa. In ‘Pacific Island Flying Foxes: Proceedings of an International Conservation Conference’. (Eds D. E. Wilson and G. L. Graham.) pp. 74–101. Biological Reports no. 90. (Fish and Wildlife Service: Washington, USA.)
Wilson, D. E., and Graham, G. L. (Eds) (1992). Pacific island flying foxes: proceedings of an international conservation conference. Biological Reports no. 90. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, USA.
Wodzicki, K., and Felten, H. (1975). The peka, or fruit bat (Pteropus tonganus tonganus) (Mammalia, Chiroptera), of Niue Island, South Pacific. Pacific Science 29, 131–138.
