Species composition and seasonal variation in abundance of Phyllostomidae bats (Chiroptera) in an Atlantic Forest remnant, southeastern Brazil

Abstract

Normally, the Phyllostomidae bat community varies in number of individuals depending on food availability, which in turn varies with changes in annual rainfall. The aims of this study were to list species of Phyllostomidae bats in Curió Municipal Natural Park located in the municipality of Paracambi, state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil, and determine possible differences in species richness, abundance and composition between rainy and dry seasons. Sampling was carried out between September 2011 and August 2012 with the use of mist nets. The total sampling effort was 51,840 m2 h, and 745 individuals of 18 bat species were caught. Myotis riparius (Vespertilionidae) was the only non-Phyllostomidae species caught. Artibeus lituratus and Carollia perspicillata were the most abundant species. The collector curve did not become stabilized, with 21±2 phyllostomid species being estimated for the park. No significant difference in species richness or change in the community composition was found between seasons; however a higher number of individuals was captured in the rainy season. The occurrence of specie indicator of good-quality habitats (Chrotopterus auritus, Micronycteris microtis and Trachops cirrhosus) and species threatened with extinction (Chiroderma doriae and Dermanura cinerea) indicate that the park is an important forest remnant for the conservation of bats and needs to be monitored.