Diversity and conservation of cave-roosting bats in Central Ghana

0544615 - ÚBO 2022 RIV US eng J - Článek v odborném periodiku
Nkrumah, E. E. - Baldwin, H. J. - Badu, E. K. - Anti, P. - Vallo, Peter - Klose, S. - Kalko, E. K. V. - Oppong, S. K. - Tschapka, M.
Diversity and conservation of cave-roosting bats in Central Ghana.
Tropical Conservation Science. Roč. 14, č. 14 (2021), č. článku 19400829211034671. ISSN 1940-0829. E-ISSN 1940-0829
Institucionální podpora: RVO:68081766
Klíčová slova: abundance * Africa * cave * Chiroptera * species richness
Obor OECD: Biodiversity conservation
Impakt faktor: 1.730, rok: 2021
Způsob publikování: Open access
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/19400829211034671

Background: Ghana is one of the six bat diversity hotspots on the African continent, yet its caves have not been fully explored for the bats they host.
Research Aims: We aimed to assess the species composition and diversity of five caves in central Ghana and identified those needing immediate conservation attention.
Methods: Using mist-nets, we captured bats over 102 full nights between October 2010 and July 2012 from the Upper Guinean forest and Savannah regions in central Ghana.
Results: A total of 10,226 bats belonging to nine species were recorded. PERMANOVA suggested significant variation in species composition among the caves. A SIMPER analysis revealed Coleura afra and Hipposideros jonesi to be the main discriminating species between caves, with a dominance of Hipposideros cf. ruber in all caves. The Bat Cave Vulnerability Index (BCVI) revealed Mframabuom cave from the Upper Guinean forest region as a high priority cave hosting threatened species, yet highly disturbed. The remaining caves were identified as medium priority caves.
Conclusion: The results of the study suggest the need for further research and an immediate conservation strategy as essential for approaching national conservation goals.
Trvalý link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0321456