Landscape Composition and Forest Structure Shape Phyllostomid Bat Assemblages in the Atlantic Forest Remnants
Habitat loss and land-use intensification are major threats to biodiversity in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, particularly for bat assemblages that provide key ecosystem services. In this study, we examined how landscape composition (forest and pasture cover) and local forest structure influence the...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/14/2082 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850077901008928768 |
|---|---|
| author | Ricardo Bovendorp Eduardo Mariano-Neto Albérico Queiroz Deborah Faria |
| author_facet | Ricardo Bovendorp Eduardo Mariano-Neto Albérico Queiroz Deborah Faria |
| author_sort | Ricardo Bovendorp |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Habitat loss and land-use intensification are major threats to biodiversity in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, particularly for bat assemblages that provide key ecosystem services. In this study, we examined how landscape composition (forest and pasture cover) and local forest structure influence the richness and abundance of phyllostomid bats across 20 forest fragments in southern Bahia. Bat sampling was conducted using mist nets, and forest structure was quantified using tree measurements and vertical foliage stratification. We applied structural equation modeling to test the direct and indirect effects of landscape and local variables. Our results show that forest cover has both direct and indirect positive effects on bat diversity, mediated by improved forest structure. In contrast, increased pasture cover negatively affected forest structure and was weakly associated with bat diversity. The most abundant species were generalist frugivores, such as <i>Carollia perspicillata</i> and <i>Rhinophylla pumilio</i>. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining forest cover and structural complexity to support bat diversity in agroforestry-dominated landscapes. Conservation strategies that integrate habitat protection with sustainable land-use practices are crucial to maintaining biodiversity and the ecological functions provided by bats in this globally threatened biome. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e6352d5f32c74abea3f611e1b00e7707 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj-art-e6352d5f32c74abea3f611e1b00e77072025-08-20T02:45:42ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-07-011514208210.3390/ani15142082Landscape Composition and Forest Structure Shape Phyllostomid Bat Assemblages in the Atlantic Forest RemnantsRicardo Bovendorp0Eduardo Mariano-Neto1Albérico Queiroz2Deborah Faria3Applied Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus 45662-900, Bahia, BrazilApplied Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus 45662-900, Bahia, BrazilApplied Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus 45662-900, Bahia, BrazilApplied Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus 45662-900, Bahia, BrazilHabitat loss and land-use intensification are major threats to biodiversity in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, particularly for bat assemblages that provide key ecosystem services. In this study, we examined how landscape composition (forest and pasture cover) and local forest structure influence the richness and abundance of phyllostomid bats across 20 forest fragments in southern Bahia. Bat sampling was conducted using mist nets, and forest structure was quantified using tree measurements and vertical foliage stratification. We applied structural equation modeling to test the direct and indirect effects of landscape and local variables. Our results show that forest cover has both direct and indirect positive effects on bat diversity, mediated by improved forest structure. In contrast, increased pasture cover negatively affected forest structure and was weakly associated with bat diversity. The most abundant species were generalist frugivores, such as <i>Carollia perspicillata</i> and <i>Rhinophylla pumilio</i>. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining forest cover and structural complexity to support bat diversity in agroforestry-dominated landscapes. Conservation strategies that integrate habitat protection with sustainable land-use practices are crucial to maintaining biodiversity and the ecological functions provided by bats in this globally threatened biome.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/14/2082richnessabundanceChiropteraforest coverforest structurepastures |
| spellingShingle | Ricardo Bovendorp Eduardo Mariano-Neto Albérico Queiroz Deborah Faria Landscape Composition and Forest Structure Shape Phyllostomid Bat Assemblages in the Atlantic Forest Remnants Animals richness abundance Chiroptera forest cover forest structure pastures |
| title | Landscape Composition and Forest Structure Shape Phyllostomid Bat Assemblages in the Atlantic Forest Remnants |
| title_full | Landscape Composition and Forest Structure Shape Phyllostomid Bat Assemblages in the Atlantic Forest Remnants |
| title_fullStr | Landscape Composition and Forest Structure Shape Phyllostomid Bat Assemblages in the Atlantic Forest Remnants |
| title_full_unstemmed | Landscape Composition and Forest Structure Shape Phyllostomid Bat Assemblages in the Atlantic Forest Remnants |
| title_short | Landscape Composition and Forest Structure Shape Phyllostomid Bat Assemblages in the Atlantic Forest Remnants |
| title_sort | landscape composition and forest structure shape phyllostomid bat assemblages in the atlantic forest remnants |
| topic | richness abundance Chiroptera forest cover forest structure pastures |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/14/2082 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ricardobovendorp landscapecompositionandforeststructureshapephyllostomidbatassemblagesintheatlanticforestremnants AT eduardomarianoneto landscapecompositionandforeststructureshapephyllostomidbatassemblagesintheatlanticforestremnants AT albericoqueiroz landscapecompositionandforeststructureshapephyllostomidbatassemblagesintheatlanticforestremnants AT deborahfaria landscapecompositionandforeststructureshapephyllostomidbatassemblagesintheatlanticforestremnants |