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Diversity and Abundance Survey of Bat Species in Amurum Forest Reserve North-Central Nigeria

Journal Name:

  • International Journal of Science and Engineering Investigations

Publication Year:

  • 2016

Key Words:

Author NameUniversity of Author
Abstract (2. Language): 
Diversity and abundance of bats were determined in four habitat types in and around Amurum Reserve, Nigeria between May and June, 2014. Two representative sites for bat surveys were selected from each of the four habitat types in the reserve and one from the surrounding area: (i) gallery forest, (ii) savannah, (iii) rocky outcrop, and (iv) farmland. Bats were trapped at four stations in each habitat type. Bat species diversity and abundance were estimated by capturing. Three hundred and twenty-one bats representing at least nine species of seven genera in two families were recorded across the four habitat types. The species recorded included: Eidolon helvum, Epomophorus anurus, Epomophorus gambianus, Epomophorus wahlbergi, Micropteropus pusillus, Myonycteris species, Nanonycteris veldkampi, Rhinolophus species, and Rousettus aegyptiacus. Species diversity was highest in the savannah habitat, followed by farmland, rocky outcrop and gallery forest. Species richness was highest in savannah, followed by farmland, gallery forest and rocky outcrop. Pielou’s index revealed even distribution of abundance amongst bat species in the farmland, followed by rocky outcrop and savannah on equal scale relative to the gallery forest. Jaccard index (SCj) for comparing species richness between habitat pairs indicated the highest level of similarity between gallery forest and savannah habitat. Of all the bat species captured, M. pusillus was the most abundant. The gallery forest has the potential to host a great degree of bat species relative to other habitat types due to its associated higher structural complexity, which hosts a variety of resources required by bat species. The savannah and rocky outcrop habitat types also play significant complementary role in improving bat species assemblages in Amurum Forest Reserve. Low bat species abundance recorded in the farmland is an indication of high levels of habitat simplification and disturbance through various agricultural practices. To improve this, farmland practices should enhance landscape complexity, favour structural variation and connectivity, and make effort to minimize the spread of pesticides, as these pose serious threats to bat populations. This can be achieved by planting trees indigenous to the plateau at different heights.
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