BatHead

Bat research in the Lesser Antilles
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updated June 12, 2008

Field Guide most of the Bats Shown Above

MNI-MONTSERRAT [MNI Bat Research- Main page]

The first report of bats on Montserrat came from O. Thomas of the British Museum in 1894. The first voucher (N. stramineus ) was collected by S. Danforth in 1937 from an unknown location on the island. Since that time, several surveys (1978-2008) have produced a database including over 3000 captures of ten species of bat (N. leporinus, M. plethodon, S. thomasi, C. improvisum, A. jamaicensis, A. nichollsi, B. cavernarum, N. stramineus, T. brasiliensis, M. molossus) from 100+ locations.

Montserrat provides a dynamic setting for understanding the effects of natural disasters (Hurricane Hugo 1989, Volcano 1995+) on animal populations and how they respond to such events. Montserrat's recovery will involve primary succession in the volcanic region. Pioneering species must establish a foothold where ever soil is still present and disperse as areas covered by pyroclastic flows degrade to habitable condition. Fruit bats will play a crucial role in seed dispersal to the destroyed areas and will be fundamental to the islands recovery of her forests. Documentation of this recovery will teach us much about the events that lead to primary recovery of islands in the Caribbean after natural disasters.

[PDF of Montserrat article: Carib. J. Sci. - 1996]
[PDF of Montserrat article: Natural History. - 2003]
[PDF of Bat Population Genetics article: Molecular Ecology - 2004]

ANU-ANTIGUA

Antigua is situated at the northern end of what Genoways termed the Lesser Antillean Faunal Core. However, the paucity of chiropteran taxa on ANU (absence of A. nichollsi, E. guadeloupensis) distinguish ANU from neighboring Guadeloupe. Fruit bat captures per net-night (BNN) range from 6.65-2.59 in the neotropics. Phyllostomid captures on ANU are on the very low end of this scale at 1.92 BNN. It seems that ANU's flat terrain, abundant desert scrub, and anthropogenic disturbance during colonial times provide neither the altitudinal gradient to generate rainfall, nor heavily forested valleys whose native fruits might support additional species of fruit bats as they do on the adjacent islands

Species (7): Noctilio leporinus, Monophyllus plethodon, Artibeus jamaicensis, Brachyphylla cavernarum, Natalus stramineus, Tadarida brasiliensis, Molossus molossus

1) Unpublished survey by Morton, Lindsay, & Day 1994
2) Re-Surveyed by Pedersen et al., 1998, 2000, 2003
3) Bats of Antigua 2006 Publication (.pdf)

BBQ-BARBUDA

Species (7): Noctilio leporinus, Monophyllus plethodon, Artibeus jamaicensis, Brachyphylla cavernarum, Natalus stramineus, Tadarida brasiliensis, Molossus molossus

1) Unpublished survey by Morton, Lindsay, & Day 1994
2) Re-Surveyed by Pedersen et al., 2003, & Cindric et al 2007
3) Bats of Barbuda 2007 Publication (.pdf)

NEV-NEVIS

Only one species of bat, Molossus molossus, previously has been documented as occurring on the northern Lesser Antillean island of Nevis. Species-area and species-elevation analyses for the chiropteran fauna of the Greater and Lesser Antillean islands gave r2 -values of 0.74 and 0.33, respectively. In the species-area analysis the bat fauna of Nevis falls above the regression line and in the species-elevation analysis it falls almost on the line. Fruit bat captures per net-night on Nevis was 1.69, which is far below other Neotropical areas. This indicates that although the species diversity of bats on Nevis matches other Lesser Antillean islands, the bat population on the island may be below those on other islands.

Species (8): Noctilio leporinus, Monophyllus plethodon, Artibeus jamaicensis, Ardops nichollsi, Brachyphylla cavernarum, Natalus stramineus, Tadarida brasiliensis, Molossus molossus

1) Unpublished survey by Morton, Lindsay, & Day 1999
2) Re-Surveyed by Pedersen et al., 2001
3) Bats of Nevis 2003 publication (.pdf)

SKB-ST. KITTS

Despite numerous small unpublished collections of bats from the island of St. Kitts, only two formal surveys (Morton & Courts, 1999; Pedersen, Genoways, & Kwiecinski, 2001) have been conducted on this fauna. These independent efforts covered a broad spectrum of approaches ranging from mist-netting in a variety of foraging habitats to extensive surveys of natural and anthropogenic roost sites. Both surveys produced additional species records for the island and identified major roosting sites that would benefit from local conservation efforts.

Species (7): Seven species of bat are currently reported from St. Kitts: N. leporinus, M. plethodon, A. jamaicensis, A. nichollsi, B. cavernarum, M. molossus, and T. brasiliensis.

1) Unpublished survey by Morton, Lindsay, & Day 1999
2) Re-Surveyed by Pedersen et al., 2001
3) Bats of St. Kitts publication 2005 (.pdf)

SAB-SABA

Our analysis of species/area relationships for West Indian bats provides a slope value of z = 0.177 and R2 = 0.76; therefore, the bat fauna of the West Indies has the flattest slope for this relationship of any West Indian group. This relationship is best explained by a propensity for over water dispersal by West Indian bats. We propose to unite the chiropteran faunas of the islands of ANG, ANU, BBQ, NEV, SAB, SBA, EUX, SKB, and SXM by recognizing them as the Northern Antillean Faunal Area. Given the small size of Saba (12 km2), conservation concerns are expressed for the future of the fauna and some recommendations are made for its preservation.

Species (7): Monophyllus plethodon, Artibeus jamaicensis, Ardops nichollsi, Brachyphylla cavernarum, Natalus stramineus, Tadarida brasiliensis, Molossus molossus

1) Surveyed by Pedersen et al., 2002; 27 captures in 28 net-nights = 0.96 BNN
2) Re-Surveyed by Pedersen et al., 2003; (manuscript in prep.)
3) Bats of Saba 2007 Publication (,pdf)

EUX-ST. EUSTATIUS/STATIA

Species (4): Artibeus jamaicensis, Ardops nichollsi, Brachyphylla cavernarum, Molossus molossus

1) Surveyed by Pedersen et al., 2002; 51 captures in 27 net-nights = 1.89 BNN
2) Re-Surveyed by Pedersen et al., 2003; 2004

ANG-Anguilla

Based on data from this study, the conclusion is drawn that the Anegada Passage has had only a limited impact as a zoogeographic barrier for the chiropteran faunas of the Greater and Lesser Antilles, if a perspective of the last 10,000 years is taken.

Species (6): Six species of bats are known from Anguilla—Monophyllus plethodon, Brachyphylla cavernarum, Artibeus jamaicensis, Natalus stramineus, and Molossus molossus, and Tadarida brasiliensis.

1) Bats of Anguilla 2007 Publication (.pdf)

SXM-ST. MAARTEN / MARTIN

Species (8): Eight species of bats are now reported from the Antillean island of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten—Artibeus jamaicensis, Brachyphylla cavernarum, Molossus molossus, Tadarida brasiliensis, Noctilio leporinus, and our field research reported documents an additional three species of bats from the island for the first time--Monophyllus plethodon, Ardops nichollsi, and Natalus stramineus. Re-examination of the single voucher of Myotis nigricans nesopolus has led us to exclude this species from the fauna of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten. We discuss possible causes of these decreased population levels and we express some concerns about the future conservation status of the chiropteran fauna of the island.

1) Surveyed by Pedersen et al., 2002; 47 captures in 31 net-nights = 1.51 BNN
2) Re-Surveyed by Pedersen et al., 2003; 2004
3) Bats of St Martin/Maarten 2007 Publication (.pdf)

SBH-ST. Barts

Species (5): Five species of bats are known from Anguilla—Monophyllus plethodon, Brachyphylla cavernarum, Artibeus jamaicensis, Molossus molossus, and Tadarida brasiliensis. Saint Barthélemy does have a number of important caves that can be used as roosts by four of the five species on the island (Molossus molossus is the exception). It will be important as development of the island proceeds to protect these cave systems.
1) Bats of St. Barts Publication (2007)

SVD-ST. VINCENT

Species (n):

1) Surveyed by Phillips, et al.
2) Re-Surveyed by Kwiecinski et al 2005, 2006
3) Bats of St. Vincent - is being prepared...

SLU-ST. LUCIA

Species (n):

1) Surveyed by
2) Re-Surveyed by Kwiecinski et al 2007, 2008+

BGI-Barbados

Species (n):

1) Surveyed by
2) Re-Surveyed by Genoways et al 2007, 2008+

Students on the SVD 2006 Team - (L>R)
Joe Kolba, John Larsen, Chris Kudmore,
Peter Larsen, Justin Hoffman, Roxy Larsen

Our Colleagues in this Project

COLLEAGUES: (alphabetical left > right)
Rick Adams, Andy Caballero, James 'Scriber' Daly, Calvin 'Blacka' Fenton, Hugh Genoways,
Karen Hadley, Jim Johnson, Kenrick Joseph, Gary Kwiecinski, Kevel Lindsay, John 'Gambie' Martin,
Will Masefield, Matt Morton, Phillemon 'Pie" Murrain, Hans VanBuel, (not pictured: Phil Atkinson).

STUDENTS: Special thanks go to our long-laboring students who have done an excellent job in the field:
(alphbetical) Jon Appino, Brandon Bales, Karen Boegler, Matt Clarke, Sam Daane, Chris Cudmore, Sam Daane, Anya Hartpence, Justin Hoffman, Paul Homnick, Jeff Huebschman, Joe Kolba, John Larsen, Peter Larsen, Roxy Larsen, Betsy South, John Ratcliffe, Vicki Swier
Anya Hartpence, Paul Homnick, Peter Larsen, Roxy Larsen, Betsy South, Jeff Huebschmann, John Ratcliffe, Vicki Swier.

We offer thanks to the above for interest in our research and periodic funding

Our Team's Recent Efforts in the Lesser Antilles...

MNI 1994 Pedersen (Hadley, Lahti-Parsell)
ANU 1994: Morton and Day, 1994
MNI 1995: Morton and Day, 1995
MNI 1996: Pedersen et al., 1996 (Caribbean J. Science, 32:206-213)
MNI 1997: Pedersen
MNI 1998: Pedersen and Adams (Atkinson, Daane, Daly, Grey, Murrain)
ANU 1998: Pedersen and Adams (Cooper)
SKB 1999: Morton and Courts, 1999
NEV 1999: Morton and Courts, 1999
MNI 2000: Pedersen (Swier, Appino, Ratcliffe, Murrain)
ANU 2000: Pedersen (Swier, Appino)
NEV 2001: Pedersen (Acta Chiropterologica - accepted for publication)
SKB 2001: Pedersen, Genoways, Kwiecinski
MNI 2001: Pedersen, Kwiecinski, Hadley
SAB 2002: Pedersen, Huebschman (Hartpence, P. Larsen, South)
EUX 2002: Pedersen, Huebschman (Hartpence, P. Larsen, South)
SXM 2002: Pedersen, Kwiecinski, Huebschman (Hartpence, P. Larsen, South)
MNI 2002: Pedersen, Kwiecinski, (Hartpence, P. Larsen, South)
BBQ 2003 Pedersen, Genoways, P. Larsen
ANU 2003 Pedersen, Genoways, P. Larsen
SXM 2003 Pedersen, Genoways, P. Larsen
SAB 2003 Pedersen, Genoways, P. Larsen
EUX 2003 Pedersen, Genoways, P. Larsen
SXM 2004 Pedersen, Genoways, P. Larsen
SBA 2004 Pedersen, Genoways, P. Larsen
EUX 2004 Pedersen, Genoways, Kwiecinski, P. Larsen
MNI 2004 Pedersen, Genoways, Kwiecinski, P. Larsen
MNI 2005 Pedersen, Kwiecinski, Adams (K. Boegler, R. Larsen)
SVD 2005 Kwiecinski, Pedersen, Genoways, P. Larsen, B. Bales
MNI 2006 Pedersen, R. Larsen (K Cudmore, J Kolba)
SVD 2006 Kwiecinski, Pedersen, Genoways, Hoffman, P. Larsen, R. Larsen, (J. Larsen, Cudmore, Homnick, Kolba)
MNI 2007 Pedersen (Clarke)
SLU 2007 Kwiecinski, Pedersen, Genoways, R. Larsen (Clarke)
BGI 2007 Genoways, Pedersen, Kwiecinski, R. Larsen (Clarke)
BGI 2008 Genoways et al
SLU 2008 Kwiecinski et al
MNI 2008 Pedersen et al

2009 MNI/EUX (SLU?)

Business Contacts of Note