Structure of a bat assemblage from a fragmented landscape in the state of Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil

Abstract

Minas Gerais presents the richest bat fauna among the states of southeastern Brazil. Despite its high diversity, the bat fauna in large areas of the state remain poorly or completely unknown due to its wide territorial area, as well as the complexity of its relief and vegetation. This work aimed to study the bat fauna in fragments of a region in Lavras, Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil, as well as the dynamic of their species. The study was carried out in a highly fragmented landscape area, composed by relatively small fragments of semi-deciduous forest under distinct levels of human disturbances. Forty nights of sampling were conducted with a total capture effort of 43 200 m²/h. Fourteen species were recorded out of which, 10 were in the family Phyllostomidae, 3 in Vespertilionidae and 1 in Molossidae. It is important to highlight the presence of Chiroderma doriae, a species classified as threatened in Brazil, and Molossops neglectus, a rare molossid bat that needs taxonomic review.