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The distribution and conservation of bats in the dry regions of Madagascar

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 April 2005

Steven M. Goodman
Affiliation:
Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605, USA WWF, B.P. 738, Antananarivo (101), Madagascar
Daudet Andriafidison
Affiliation:
Département de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Antananarivo, B.P. 906, Antananarivo (101), Madagascar Bat Conservation Madagascar, B.P. 5181, Antananarivo (101), Madagascar
Radosoa Andrianaivoarivelo
Affiliation:
Département de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Antananarivo, B.P. 906, Antananarivo (101), Madagascar Bat Conservation Madagascar, B.P. 5181, Antananarivo (101), Madagascar
Scott G. Cardiff
Affiliation:
Columbia University, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, 1200 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027 Division of Vertebrate Zoology (Mammalogy), American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St., New York, NY 10024, USA
Edina Ifticene
Affiliation:
Département de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Antananarivo, B.P. 906, Antananarivo (101), Madagascar
Richard K. B. Jenkins
Affiliation:
Bat Conservation Madagascar, B.P. 5181, Antananarivo (101), Madagascar School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK
Amyot Kofoky
Affiliation:
Bat Conservation Madagascar, B.P. 5181, Antananarivo (101), Madagascar
Tsibara Mbohoahy
Affiliation:
Bat Conservation Madagascar, B.P. 5181, Antananarivo (101), Madagascar Département des Sciences Biologiques, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Toliara, Toliara (601), Madagascar
Daniel Rakotondravony
Affiliation:
Département de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Antananarivo, B.P. 906, Antananarivo (101), Madagascar
Julie Ranivo
Affiliation:
WWF, B.P. 738, Antananarivo (101), Madagascar Département de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Antananarivo, B.P. 906, Antananarivo (101), Madagascar
Fanja Ratrimomanarivo
Affiliation:
WWF, B.P. 738, Antananarivo (101), Madagascar Bat Conservation Madagascar, B.P. 5181, Antananarivo (101), Madagascar
Julie Razafimanahaka
Affiliation:
Bat Conservation Madagascar, B.P. 5181, Antananarivo (101), Madagascar Département des Eaux et Forêt, Ecole Supérieure des Sciences Agronomiques, Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo (101), Madagascar
Paul A. Racey
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK
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Abstract

We carried out extensive field surveys in the dry forest portions of Madagascar to document the species of bats occurring in these regions. These data combined with information in the literature and museum specimen records indicate that 28 species of Chiroptera occur in this region of the island, of which we documented 27 during our inventories. The community composition at sites occurring in areas of water-eroded sedimentary rock is notably different from sites on alluvial substrates. In contrast to the majority of native land mammal species on Madagascar, much of the microchiropteran fauna is not dependent on large tracts of intact forest and anthropogenic perturbations of forests may have less direct impact on their long-term survival. Conservation strategies for Chiroptera in the dry regions of the island should focus on reducing various types of human disturbance of cave environments.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2005 The Zoological Society of London

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