Aseasonal Variation in Abundance and Distribution of bats in Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor

Abstract

Scientific information about bats in industrial corridors is poor in Nepal. I studied occurrence,abundance, and distribution of bats and their seasonal variation with associated threats alongSunsari-Morang industrial corridor from September 2010 to August 2011. I designed fivefour kilometers sampling blocks from Itahari to Tankisiniwari ccovering 26 km of thecorridor where I captured bats directly from the roost using mist. Morphometricmeasurements and photographs of each captured bat were taken for species identification andvoucher specimens for unidentified bats were prepared. I prepared baculum and skull of theunidentified species in ecology laboratory of Central Department of Zoology, TribhuvanUniversity. I calculatedShannon-Wiener diversity index and employed bothparametric andnon-parametric statistical analysis to test the abundance and distribution and seasonalvariation in bats usingSPSS version 16. I recorded 9469 bats belonging to seven species from the corridor with a high diversity index(H=1.11119).Population densities fluctuated seasonally responding to temperature variationbut the species diversity remained the same in all seasons. I recorded more species of batsfrom Itahari block and less from Hattimuda and Tankisiniwari blocks. Albino ofCynopterussphinxwas also observed and collected as the first record of albino bat from Nepal. Similarly,I recorded Scotophillus kuhli from the area confirming its occurrence in Nepal.Anthropogenic factors like deforestation, killing for bush meat, urbanization, and use ofpesticides were direct threats to the population and species diversity of bats in the industrialcorridor. This study showed that Sunsari-Morang industrial corridor area is a potential site forbat conservation with high diversity and good population size. Awareness campaign andsupport from the community and government initiatives are necessary to conserve theseecologically and economically beneficial species.