A case study on the roosting behaviour of three species of commensal bats inhabiting urban areas in Kota Kinabalu
Bats have been known successfully adapted to man-made structures. To describe roosting behaviour of bats in man-made structures and how to properly mitigate caused by bats, three commensal bats species (T. melanopogon, T. saccolaimus and S. kuhlil) were studied in urban area of Kota Kinabalu. Betwee...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2011
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/11831/1/mt0000000653.pdf |
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| Summary: | Bats have been known successfully adapted to man-made structures. To describe roosting behaviour of bats in man-made structures and how to properly mitigate caused by bats, three commensal bats species (T. melanopogon, T. saccolaimus and S. kuhlil) were studied in urban area of Kota Kinabalu. Between July 2008 and August 2009, six-buildings consist of 10 roosting sites were selected as researchsite.Three behaviours that relate to roost were examined: roosting behaviour, roost characteristics and emergence. To study roosting behaviour, five features were used as measures: species composition, sex ratiO, reproductive status, roost fidelity and colony size. T. melanopogon was the most abundant species in current study, occupying five roost buildings. Colony sizes were vary between buildings, ranged
between several to hundreds individual. Mixed species association of T. saccolaimus and S. kuhlii was only found in one roost building. Some behaviour features were only studied on T. melanopogon. Pregnant bats of T. melanopogon was seen most at roost however, presence of other adult females were very rare. To describe roost characteristics, eight criteria were measured: temperature; building types; building material; the physical dimensions of roosting sites; roost cover; distance from nearest fresh/ brackish water source; distance from forest remnant; and roost height from the ground. In general, bats roost in rough surface area, high from ground and high percentage of cover. Temperature of each roost sites were measured in 30-days. Result showed that roosts were relatively warm and well insulated. However, temperature in some roosts fluctuated in the similar pattern of ambient temperature which indicates that structure or building material may influence roost temperature. To examine emergence behaviour, emergence time, interval of emergence time from sunset and sunset time were use as measures. Emergences of T. melanopogon were recorded 27 times across all buildings while the emergences of T. saccolaimus and S. kuhlii were observed for l8-days and 20-days respectively. It appear that emergence of T. melanopogon were affected by sunset, artificial light and weather component (temperature, relative humidity, cloud cover). Onsets before sunset were only observed in S. kuhlii. To provide mitigation strategy, previous exclusion methods were discussed. Then, proper mitigation strategy was designed. Recommendation of this study is human activities must not disturb bats population because they are most likely affected since low availability of roost in urban. Floodlighting utilization should be reduce or manage to make sure It not delay bats' onset. In case where mitigation needed, a proper conduct must be done to minimize effect to bats' population. |
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