CECAV
URI permanente desta comunidadehttps://bdc.icmbio.gov.br/handle/cecav/1
Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Cavernas
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Item Predation of a mustached bat, Pteronotus sp. (Mormoopidae), by an Amazon tree boa, Corallus hortulanus (Boidae), in the Brazilian Amazon(2023) Barbier, Eder; Pimentel, Narjara Tércia; Bernard, EnricoSeveral bat species use caves as roosts and some of these caves can harbor high concentrations of individuals. Such caves may represent opportunities for certain predators, benefiting from the concentration of potential prey. Here, we report the predation of a Pteronotus bat by a Corallus hortulanus in the Brazilian Amazon. On three occasions over a year, individuals of C. hortulanus were observed around a cave that harbors populations containing tens of thousands of bats. On one occasion, an individual of this snake species was observed preying on a Pteronotus sp. as it left the cave. Our record extends the known diet for C. hortulanus, documenting the predation of a mormoopid bat by this snake species for the first time. This record reinforces the need for longitudinal studies at sites with exceptional bat populations to gain a deeper understanding of the ecological predator-prey relationships involving this diverse group of mammals.Item Streblid flies parasitizing cave bats in Carajás, Amazonia, with a new record for Brazil(2023) Barbier, Eder; Bernard, EnricoStreblid flies (Diptera: Streblidae) are hematophagous and highly specialized parasitic insects, found only on bats (Chiroptera). Caves are important roosts for bats but, despite harboring high bat richness, relatively few studies exist on the ecology and biology of streblid flies in cave environments, especially in Amazonia, the largest domain in northern Brazil, with >140 bat species and thousands of caves. To fill some of the gaps in the geographical distribution and interspecific relationships for streblid flies in the region, we sampled bats in six caves in Carajás National Forest, a protected area in Pará state (Brazil). Thirteen of the 14 streblid species found are new records for Carajás, with three new records for Pará state and two for the northern region of Brazil. Nycterophilia fairchildi was recorded for the first time in Brazil. Most streblids had host-specific behavior, however, N. fairchildi, Trichobius caecus, and T. johnsonae were less host-specific, parasitizing different Pteronotus bat species. The gregarious behavior of Pteronotus species and the spatial distribution of their colonies within the caves may be important factors in the flies’ exchange among congener hosts and deserve special attention in future studies. Furthermore, studies on ecological interaction networks between bats and their ectoparasitic flies in caves will be useful for a broader understanding of how this relationship is structured over time and space, as well as its impact on both bats and flies.Item An Exceptionally High Bat Species Richness in a Cave Conservation Hotspot in Central Brazil(2021-07-09) Barros, Jennifer de Sousa; Bernard, Enrico; Ferreira, Rodrigo LopesCaves are among the most used and important roosts for hundreds of bat species worldwide. However, caves remain some of the least known and most threatened environments globally. Documenting the richness of bat species in caves is important not only to draw attention to the uniqueness and relevance of these roosts, but it also contributes to the identification of priority sites for the conservation of bats and the cave fauna dependent upon them. Here, we assessed and described an exceptionally high bat richness in a group of caves in southeastern Tocantins, central Brazil. Inventories carried out in 19 caves resulted in seven families and 31 bat species, of which three were new regional records. Twelve caves were used by threatened and endangered bat species, eight had high diversity indices, and seven caves had high species richness, including one cave that may hold a world record with 26 bat species found inside. The variation in beta diversity is mainly due to species turnover, which indicates that protecting the largest possible number of caves would be ideal for the most efficient conservation of local bat assemblages. The sampled region stands out for its high potential for the conservation of endangered species, and we strongly recommend the full protection of 15 caves classified as a priority for conservation.Item Estimates of insect consumption and guano input in bat caves in Brazil(2022-03-12) Pimentel, Narjara Tércia; da Rocha, Patrício Adriano; Pedroso, Mônica Aparecida; Bernard, EnricoBat caves harbor exceptional populations of insectivorous bats. Those bats play an important role as insect suppressors and produce large quantities of guano, which is essential for maintaining cave ecosystems since entire highly specialized cave biotas may heavily rely on bat guano as their main energy input. Although ecologically relevant, few studies have estimated insect consumption and guano input in Neotropical bat caves. We provide estimates for five bat caves used by Pteronotus gymnonotus and P. personatus (Mormoopidae) in northeastern Brazil. Using a non-invasive automated system, we counted bats, then captured and weighted individuals to estimate insect consumption, and, with collectors and rulers, estimated the amount and speed of guano accumulation in cave sectors. Bat abundance varied between and within caves, up to 158,884 bats, indicating highly dynamic occupation patterns. Insect consumption varied from 0.6 to 2.5 g/bat for P. gymnonotus (~5 to 20% of their body weight) and 0.8 to 2.0 g/bat for P. personatus (~10 to 28% of their body weight). Guano deposition was spatially and temporally heterogeneous (from 0 to 738 g/m2/96h). Some caves showed a 15-cm increase in guano deposits on the cave floor in 7 months. Bulky guano deposits in those caves stressed the bat role as insect suppressors. The present study provides baseline quantitative data on the contributions of bats to cave ecosystems and valuable data for estimates of ecosystem services provided by bats.Item Mobility of bats between caves: ecological aspects and implications for conservation and environmental licensing activities in Brazil(2021-08-17) Leal, Edson Silva Barbosa; Bernard, EnricoBats are highly mobile animals, moving rapidly over long distances. Detecting such movements is challenging, especially in cave areas, a commonly-used roost by bats. Brazil has a large number of caves and bat species, but details on bat mobility among caves is still poorly documented there. Such monitoring provides insights on the structuring and conservation of cave-dwelling communities, with possible legal implications for the environmental licensing in Brazil. Based on marking (2,490 bats captured; 2,142 marked) and recapture (35 events; 14 extra-site), here we present data on the mobility of mormoopid bats between two bat caves 15 km apart in northeastern Brazil. Sexual segregation between caves may explain mobility: one cave is likely a maternity roost; the other is a satellite cave used for copulae. Nomadic behavior due to seasonal distribution of resources in the semi-arid Northeastern Brazil cannot be ruled out. Based on the distance between the two caves, bats could potentially forage over an area of ~170,000 hectares, in a wider use of the landscape. Our data have implications for the conservation of bat species and their roosts, and contribute to a more evidence-based discussion of key concepts governing the environmental licensing of mining activities in Brazil.Item An exceptionally high bat species richness in a cave conservation hotspot in Central Brazil(2021-06) Ferreira, Rodrigo Lopes; de Sousa Barros, Jennifer; Bernard, EnricoCaves are among the most used and important roosts for hundreds of bat species worldwide. However, caves remain some of the least known and most threatened environments globally. Documenting the richness of bat species in caves is important not only to draw attention to the uniqueness and relevance of these roosts, but it also contributes to the identification of priority sites for the conservation of bats and the cave fauna dependent upon them. Here, we assessed and described an exceptionally high bat richness in a group of caves in southeastern Tocantins, central Brazil. Inventories carried out in 19 caves resulted in seven families and 31 bat species, of which three were new regional records. Twelve caves were used by threatened and endangered bat species, eight had high diversity indices, and seven caves had high species richness, including one cave that may hold a world record with 26 bat species found inside. The variation in beta diversity is mainly due to species turnover, which indicates that protecting the largest possible number of caves would be ideal for the most efficient conservation of local bat assemblages. The sampled region stands out for its high potential for the conservation of endangered species, and we strongly recommend the full protection of 15 caves classified as a priority for conservation.- Ecological preferences of neotropical cave bats in roost site selection and their implications for conservation(2020-06) de Sousa Barros, Jennifer; Bernard, Enrico; Lopes Ferreira, RodrigoBats frequently use caves as roosts due to higher environmental stability and protection. However, species-specific ecological and physiological requirements and conditions of roosts and their surroundings can influence species presence. Little is known on cave choice by bats in the Neotropics, a species- and cave-rich region. Understanding how bats, cave characteristics and the surrounding landscape are related with each other helps the management and conservation of bats and caves. Based on sampling 19 caves using both diurnal observations and captures, we tested (1) whether bat richness was positively related to cave temperature, humidity, size, stability, and heterogeneity of microhabitats, and the preservation and heterogeneity of the surrounding landscape in central Brazil; (2) whether cave and landscape characteristics influenced on species composition; (3) how species responded to cave and landscape variables; and (4) whether these relationships changed between seasons. Temperature was a limiting factor, whereas environmental stability, humidity, and structural attributes of caves favored the occurrence of more species. Larger caves, rich in microhabitats – but more stable than the external environment – supported more species, especially in the dry season. Landscape context did not influence species richness and composition in the caves, but the percentage of vegetation around caves was important for certain species. Our results highlight the influence of environmental variables in the process of cave selection by Neotropical bat species. Moreover, we emphasize the importance of cave protection for bats and provide useful information for decision-making in processes of environmental licensing.
- Análise de relevância de cavernas: uma revisão da IN 02/2017 sob a perspectiva dos morcegos(2020-11) Barros, Jennifer; Da Cunha Tavares, Valeria; Dias-Silva, Leonardo Henrique; Milagres, Augusto; da Rocha, Patrício Adriano; Guimarães, Maricelio; Bernard, EnricoA relação entre várias espécies de morcegos e ecossistemas cavernícolas é altamente especializada, complexa e frágil. Comunidades de invertebrados cavernícolas são, frequentemente, dependentes do guano dos morcegos para sua sobrevivência, assim como os próprios morcegos dependem também destes abrigos para atividades sociais, proteção, descanso e reprodução. No Brasil, espécies associadas a cavernas tornaram-se mais susceptíveis a impactos decorrentes da destruição de seus abrigos, principalmente após alterações na legislação que flexibilizaram a proteção desses ambientes. A atual legislação determina que cavernas inseridas em áreas passíveis de licenciamento ambiental devem passar por um processo de classificação quanto ao seu grau de relevância. Estas regras estão incluídas na Instrução Normativa 02/2017 do Ministério do Meio Ambiente. Avaliamos aqui as disposições na IN 02/2017 considerando o grupo dos morcegos como foco específico, e considerando a clareza, objetividade, e aplicabilidade prática da normativa, bem como pontos frágeis e critérios subjetivos que necessitam de modificações. Identificamos trechos cuja redação é subjetiva, vaga ou imprecisa, tornando alguns dos critérios apontados para a designação de relevância problemáticos quando analisados sob o enfoque do grupo dos morcegos. Sugerimos que a IN passe por extensa atualização, com alterações de redação, exclusão de alguns critérios (e.g., espécies com função ecológica importante; troglóxenos obrigatório) e inclusão de outros (e.g., presença de fêmeas grávidas e filhotes).
Item Vertical stratification of bat communities in primary forests of Central Amazon, Brazil(Journal of Tropical Ecology, 2001) Bernard, EnricoItem Filling data gaps on the diversity and distribution of Amazonian bats (Chiroptera): the case of Amapá, easternmost Brazil(Zoologia, 2011-04) Martins, Ana C. M.; Bernard, Enrico; Gregorin, Renato; Silva, Wanuyze A. S.