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DIVERSITY OF CHIROPTERAN FAUNA IN CUGMAN CATANICO FOREST

RESERVE: A BASIS FOR MANAGEMENT PROTECTION

CHAPTER I

Background of the Study

The Philippine archipelago, with over 7,000 islands, is one of the two countries that are

classified both as a global biodiversity hotspot and a considered as a megadiverse country

(Tanalgo and Hughes, 2019). In Cugman Catanico (CUCA) forest reserve in Cagayan De Oro

City functions as a watershed, serves as a migration corridor for species from adjacent areas,

and provides essential habitat for diverse wildlife, specifically the bats (Chiroptera) they are

the most diverse group of mammals in the Philippines, comprising over 78 species across six

families, 32% are frugivorous or nectarivorous and 36% are mostly insectivorous (Heaney et

al.,2010). Bats (Chiroptera) are the only mammals that are capable of flying. They help in

controlling insect populations, assisting in plant pollination, and dispersing the seeds

(Schnitzler et al., 2010; Tanshi et al., 2022). Bats are known for their sensitivity to changes in

the environment and can serve as indicators of an ecosystem's health (Stahlschmidt and Brühl,

2012). But their potential suitability as bioindicators is negatively affected by the major sources

of environmental stress (Ruso et al., 2015). In the Philippines, direct human activities keep

threatening the bats such as deforestation, pollution, urbanization, and overexploitation of

resources, and hunting poses the greatest threat to more than half of the country's bat species

(Tanalgo & Hughes, 2019).

For instance, in 2001, an estimated 500,000 bat individuals in Canlunsong Cave

(Southern Mindanao) drastically declined to only 200 bats during the surveys conducted by

Sedlock et al. (2014). Anthropogenic activities pose a great threat to the bat population. Nearly

50% of species are threatened by these (Mildenstein et al. 2016). In Cagayan De Oro River,

identified a total of eight (8) bat species, these species represent 15% of the bat species in the
Mindanao region and over 10% of the total bat species in the Philippines (Lobite et al., 2013).

A study from Mount Gutom Protected Landscape emphasizes the urgent need to conserve the

bat species, highlighting the significance of preserving small forest patches, which provide

crucial habitats for bat populations (Lama et al., 2023). Understanding the ecosystem services

provided by bats is important, yet the public remains largely uninformed about the extensive

ecological benefits these animals offer. This lack of awareness can be attributed to the relatively

small number of studies that have been conducted on this topic (Tanalgo et al., 2018). The lack

of baseline data on bat populations hinders conservation efforts in the Philippines, making it

difficult to estimate the number of extinct or endangered species, with several currently

threatened and at risk of extinction (Frick et al. 2019).

In some cases, Bats are commonly viewed by the public as unappealing or even frightening,

often misunderstood (Aziz et al., 2021). However, in Mindanao, only a few studies have been

conducted focusing on bat diversity (Tanalgo and Hughes 2019). The Forest Reserve in

Catanico, Cugman, Malasag Heights in Cagayan de Oro City spans approximately 946 hectares,

serving as a crucial watershed and migration corridor for various species, including bats but

unfortunately this forest reserve faces human threats such as Urbanization, Illegal Logging and

Encroachment. Despite its significance as a biodiversity hotspot, no studies have been carried

out on bats in this area. In that case this study is important as it will provide the baseline data

needed for an effective Conservation Management plan, to preserve the reserve's biodiversity

and ensure that bats can continue to offer critical ecosystem services.

Objectives of the Study

1) To Assess the Diversity of Bat species

2) To evaluate Environmental Parameters


3) To use Shannon Index and Simpson Index to quantify and analyze the bat diversity

4) To recommend Conservation and Management of Bats

Scope and Limitations

This study will assess the Diversity of Bats in the forest reserve located at Cugman Catanico,

Malasag height, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental. Only Ten (10) Mist nets will be

established in Three (3) different sampling sites. The study will focus on determining the

Species Richness, Abundance, Endemicity, Conservation status, Related Humidity,

Temperature, Wind speed to understand their influence on the bat diversity and distribution for

effective Conservation efforts.

CHAPTER II
Review of Related Literature
According to Wilson et al., (2019) the Bat belongs to the Order of “Chiroptera” ; it is

derived from the Greek word meaning "hand wing” and considered the second largest order of

mammals. Several studies from Buckles and E. L. (2015), Schnitzler et al., (2010) and Wever,

E. Glen., (2022) that Bats is classified into (2) suborders, the Megachiroptera, known as “fruit

bats,” primarily consume fruit, nectar, and pollen. They are skilled climbers, equipped with a

claw on each wing, and possess excellent eyesight compared to the Microchiroptera. This

species has a varied diet that may include mammals, reptiles, fish, fruit, nectar, and, in some

instances, blood. And Paksuz et al., (2021) visualized that the species of Megachiroptera have

large, prominent eyes that assist them in navigating in low light conditions while the

Microchiroptera species are dependent on echolocation and bats are the only mammals capable

of true flight. Although some mammals, such as lemurs and squirrels, can glide, and only bats

can engage in active flight. The study of Frofjord (2021) shows that most of the bats are

Nocturnal; they fly and forage for their food at night most likely to avoid predation by diurnal

birds.

Russo et al. (2018) and Kunz et al. (2011) found that bats are one of the important

mammals in the ecosystem due to their significant contributions to various ecological processes.

This species plays an important role such as by controlling agricultural pests, pollinators for

many plants, including several species of fruit and flowering plants that rely on them for

reproduction and their ability to disperse seeds of hundreds of plant species. The study of

Soliman and Emam (2022), shows that bats are among the most diverse and widely distributed

groups of mammals with over 1300 species in 21 extant families, relying heavily on natural

forests for their habitats and these bats roost in different environments. Voigt et al. (2015)

pointed out that most bat species are abundant in tropical or subtropical regions, where the

warm climate and abundant resources support their diverse lifestyles.

(LOCAL STUDIES)
In the study of Bianconi and Miretzki (2021) they explored the fascinating world of

bats in Curitiba, Paraná State, Brazil, revealing the important insights about their diversity.

They identified 29 different bat species, with five of these under threat of extinction,

highlighting the urgent need for conservation measures in the area. Interestingly, they found

that a significant majority 62.1% of these bats are Insectivorous, while Frugivorous bats from

the Phyllostomidae family made up 24.1% of the species recorded. The researchers emphasized

that this dynamic bat community plays an essential part in maintaining the health of the local

ecosystem, making their preservation crucial for the environment.

In

CHAPTER III

Study Area
This study will be conducted in the Forest reserve of Catanico, Cugman, Malasag

Heights of Cagayan de Oro City with a total area of 946 hectares (see figure 1), the reserve

functions as a crucial watershed and migration corridor for various species. However, the area

is facing an significant human threats, making it more compelling to focus in this area.
Figure 1. Map of Forest Reserve in Cugman Catanico Malasag Height, Cagayan De Oro City, Misamis

Oriental

Ten (10) mist nets will be established across three (3) different sampling sites. Each

sampling site will contain 3 to 4 mist nets with an interval of 100 meters . The selection of

these sites was carefully conducted through ocular visits, which allowed for a thorough

assessment of the area. During these visits, particular attention was given to the presence of

fruit-bearing trees, as these are crucial for attracting bat species that rely on fruit as a food

source and the potential flights of bats were also considered.

Methods

Bats will be captured through mist netting technique (Lobite et al., 2013). Mist

netting is a traditional and widely used method for capturing bats, commonly used by

researchers. In this study, mist nets made of nylon and polyester will be employed. The nets

will be set up between trees or supported by bamboo sticks (Gregg et al., 2018). Ten (10) mist

nets will be strategically positioned in three (3) different sampling sites, each sampling site will

have 3 to 4 mist net with 100-meter interval, targeting the bats' flight paths, areas near fruit-
bearing trees, or their foraging zones (Borissenko and Kruskop 2011). Mist nets will be

operated at dusk and will be left open until dawn (Lobite et al., 2013). Mist nets will be left

open for 15 nights from 5:00 PM-6:00 AM and will be checked every hour between 6:00-10:00

PM and from 4:00-6:00 AM, depending on weather, peace and order condition (Relox et al.,

2017). For each netting night, Weather conditions will be noted (Lobite et al., 2013).

During the disentanglement all captured bats will be retrieved from the mist nets and

individually placed in cloth bags (Relox et al., 2017), then a Pesola Spring scale will be used

to weigh the bats, and we will be determining their gender (Ingle and Heaney, 2010, Gregg et

al., 2018). The sex and standard external measurements (Total Length, Tail Length, Forearm

Length and Ear Length) will be taken to aid identification (Lobite et al., 2013). These

measurements will be taken immediately after the bats are disentangled from the net to ensure

accuracy, with sugar solutions used during the disentanglement process (Gregg et al., 2018).

To avoid double counting if recaptured, the bats will be marked on their hindfoot with white

nail polish, which will be carefully applied to their nails before they are released. Pregnant bats

or those carrying young will be released right after disentanglement, without necessary

measurement (Gregg et al., 2018). And any recaptured bats will be immediately released and

will not be included in the results (Lobite et al., 2013).

The collected Bats will be recording its species composition, richness, abundance,

diversity, evenness, conservation status, and endemicity. Species richness (R) will correspond

to the number of species identified in each area, indicating how many chiroptera will be

encountered during the sampling period in that area. Relative abundance (RA) will be used to

determine the abundance of chiroptera in the area, calculated as ni (the number of individuals

per species) divided by N (the total number of individuals of all species encountered). Diversity

indices like relative abundance, Shannon-Wiener index (H’) and Simpson’s reciprocal Index

(1/D) will be primarily used for calculation (Marion et al., 2014). Endemism and conservation

status will be determined based on the IUCN (2018) guidelines (Gregg et al., 2018). The result
will provide a crucial baseline for management protection efforts, guiding to the development

of strategies aimed at conserving the bat populations within the study area.

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