distribution, status, and conservation of bats in the fiji islands

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Table of contents TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Summary 2 2. Introduction 6 3. Methods 8 4. Species accounts 11 4.1. Notopteris macdonaldi Manumanu vaka buina, Fijian blossom-bat 11 4.2. Pteralopex acrodonta Fijian monkey-faced bat 15 4.3. Pteropus samoensis Beka lulu, Samoan flying-fox 18 4.4. Pteropus tonganus Beka dina, Pacific flying-fox 23 4.5. Emballonura semicaudata Beka beka, Pacific sheath-tailed bat 28 4.6. Chaerephon bregullae Kalakalavo, Fijian mastiff-bat 38 5. Key sites and areas for the conservation of bats 42 Acknowledgements 48 Literature cited 49 Annex I – Table with field observations 53 Addresses of authors: Jorge M. Palmeirim - Departamento de Biologia Animal e Centro de Biologia Ambiental, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal (palmeirim@fc.ul.pt); Alan Champion 1 , Martin Fisher 2 , Mere Yabaki-Gounder, and Thomas Dunn - Department of Biology, School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji; Alivereti Naikatini and Marika Tuiwawa - South Pacific Regional Herbarium, Institute of Applied Science, University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji; Jone Niukula - Fiji National Trust, 3 Ma'afu Street, Suva, Fiji; Stanley Qalovaki - Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Forest and Fishery, Suva, Fiji. 1 Presently at School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 99, Hobart, Tasmania 7001 Australia; 2 Presently at Fauna & Flora International, Great Eastern House, Tenison Road, Cambridge CB1 2TT, United Kingdom. 1
Summary 1. SUMMARY With over 300 islands and a total area of 18 272 km 2 , the Fijian territory holds much of the natural heritage of the Pacific region. Its bat fauna is of great conservation relevance because it includes one endemic species, several near endemics, and the best global populations of several threatened species. In addition, some bats play a keystone role as pollinators and seed dispersers in local forest ecosystems. This report details the results of a survey of Fiji’s bats and their conservation status carried out in 2000/2001. The survey encompassed a total of 30 islands from all the major island groups, but did not include Rotuma. In this summary we describe, for each species, the status in Fiji, the global relevance of the Fijian populations, and its geographic distribution. We summarize the factors affecting bats in Fiji and some conservation measures. Finally, we indicate a list of key sites for the protection of bats in Fiji. Status, relevance, and distribution of species Notopteris macdonaldi - Manumanu vaka buina - Fijian blossom-bat Status – Vulnerable Relevance and Distribution – The Fijian population is likely to represent more than half of the global population of this species, which is also present in some islands of Vanuatu. It is now extinct in Tonga. This biologically unique cave dwelling flying fox is present on the three largest islands of Fiji, but the four roosts known are all located in the island of Viti Levu. Pteralopex acrodonta – Fijian monkey-faced bat Status – Critically Endangered Relevance and Distribution – This unique flying fox, highly differentiated from its closest relatives in the Solomon Islands, only exists in Fiji. It is a forest dweller that is only known from the upland forests of the island of Taveuni, although its presence is the highlands of Vanua Levu is possible. Pteropus samoensis - Beka lulu - Samoan flying-fox Status – Near Threatened Relevance and Distribution – The Fijian populations of this species represent the great majority of its global effective. Also present in Samoa and American Samoa, where it declined dramatically in the past few decades. At least in American Samoa, the population has partly recovered, but remains relatively endangered. It has been extirpated from Tonga. The Fijian population is considered to be an endemic 2
Page 1: DISTRIBUTION, STATUS, AND CONSERVAT
Page 5 and 6: Summary Roost loss Roosts are usual
Page 7 and 8: Introduction 2. INTRODUCTION Bats a
Page 9 and 10: Methods 3. Methods Most of the fiel
Page 11 and 12: Methods report were obtained with a
Page 13 and 14: Species accounts: Notopteris macdon
Page 15 and 16: Species accounts: Notopteris macdon
Page 17 and 18: Species accounts: Pteralopex acrodo
Page 19 and 20: Species accounts: Pteralopex acrodo
Page 21 and 22: N Species accounts: Pteropus samoen
Page 23 and 24: Species accounts: Pteropus samoensi
Page 25 and 26: Species accounts: Pteropus tonganus
Page 27 and 28: Species accounts: Pteropus tonganus
Page 29 and 30: Species accounts: Emballonura semic
Page 31 and 32: N Species accounts: Emballonura sem
Page 41 and 42: Species accounts: Chaerephon bregul
Page 43 and 44: Key sites and areas for conservatio
Page 49 and 50: Acknowledgements Acknowledgements W
Page 51 and 52: Literature cited Flannery, T.F. 199
Page 53 and 54:
Literature cited Australian Museum
Page 55 and 56:
Island - Island Group Name of villa
Page 57 and 58:
Cicia - Lau site: Mabula 17º 46.16
Page 59 and 60:
Nayau - Lau 17º 59.38' S, 179º 3.
Page 61 and 62:
Vanua Balavu - Lau site: - Qara ni
Page 63 and 64:
Taveuni - Taveuni site: Tabakau - T
Page 65 and 66:
Vanua Levu - Vanua Levu site: Nawi
Page 67 and 68:
Viti Levu - Viti Levu site: Tuvu -
Page 69:
Waya - Yasawa 17º 16.37' S, 177º
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