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Melvin H. Madroñal

  • Biodiversity Journal, 15 (4): 885-896

    Melvin H. Madroñal & Richel E. Relox
    Species-Habitat Relationship of Bats and Mangroves in the Selected Coastal Areas in Northern Mindanao, Philippines
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2024.15.4.885.896

    ABSTRACT
    In the Philippines, mangrove coverage has been declining in Misamis Oriental, impacting bat populations due to coastal and aquaculture development. This study evaluated the relationship between bats and mangroves. Mist netting was used to capture bat species, while quadrat sampling was used to sample mangrove species. Six different bat species have been identified and classified as least concern (LC) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Cynopterus brachyotis was the most common bat species in all sampling locations, while Ptenochirus jagori, Eonycteris spelaea, and Harpyionycteris whiteheadi were first recorded in mangrove forests, adding to existing bat fauna literature in Mindanao. Cynopterus brachyotis is strongly associated with taller mangroves with larger diameter at breast height (DBH) and denser canopy cover based on canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). All the mangrove species found were classified as ‘Least Concern’ by the IUCN, except for Ceriops decandra, which were classified as ‘Near Threatened.’