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Foraging Ecology of Bats in Developed and Forested Areas in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

Foraging Ecology of Bats in Developed and Forested Areas in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. Sarah K. Springthorpe, Salem College Mentors: Dr. William E. Stone, Alabama A&M University Dr. Dejun Hao , Nanjing Forestry University. The Importance of Bats.

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Foraging Ecology of Bats in Developed and Forested Areas in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

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  1. Foraging Ecology of Bats in Developed and Forested Areas in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China Sarah K. Springthorpe, Salem College Mentors: Dr. William E. Stone, Alabama A&M University Dr. DejunHao, Nanjing Forestry University

  2. The Importance of Bats • Bats can act as regulators of insect populations and thus can have high economic and ecological value (1) • In Chinese culture, bats symbolize happiness, longevity and wisdom (2) • Studies have shown that bats and their insect prey are negatively impacted by urbanization (3,4) • Nanjing is an ideal place to determine how development has affected bats and their diets because of its rapid urbanization

  3. Goals of China Bat Study • To determine the different types of bats and their diets in the Nanjing area • To determine how bat diet composition varies in forested and developed areas • To determine if there is a difference in bat foraging activity (as indicated by the frequency of echolocation calls) between forested areas and more developed areas

  4. Study Area Nine Sites in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China were selected to net bats. Three sites were sampled more than once because of high bat activity at the sites. Half of the sites were on the NFU campus, and half of the sites were in the forest on Zijin Mountain. Xuanwu Lake Zijin Mountain

  5. Field and Lab Methods • Bat activity levels were assessed by counting the number of echolocation calls using the Anabat SD2 CF Bat Detector for a minute every 5 minutes • Bats were captured using 2 12-m long mist nets • Captured bats were identified to species, aged, sexed, weighed, and measured for forearm and ear length • Guano (bat fecal droppings) was collected from the bat by holding in it a paper bag for 60 minutes before release

  6. Guano Analysis • Guano was analyzed using 11 pictures of the cleaned material taken through the lens of a dissection microscope and using a 9 point grid system to systematically sample the insect parts. • The taxonomic Order that insects parts belonged to was determined using reference manuals of insect anatomy and morphology with the assistance of entomology staff at NFU and AAMU.

  7. Bat Activity Comparison of bat activity measured as mean number of echolocation calls per minute of observation for forest habitat (n=6) and developed habitats (n=7, p=0.02) located within Nanjing, Jiangsu, China from June 4th, 2013 – June 21st, 2013.

  8. Pipistrellusabramus • Common name: Japanese Pipistrelle • A total of 3 caught: 2 adult males in developed sites and 1 adult female in a forested site • Weight: 3.5-7 g • Forearm Length: 32-36 mm • Ear Length: 5-10 mm

  9. P. abramusDiet

  10. Evidence of Gleaning on Ground: Springtail

  11. Eptesicusserotinus • Common Name: Common Serotine • A total of 5 caught: all were adult males in developed sites • Weight: 19-25 g • Forearm Length: 46-59 mm • Ear Length: 12-17 mm

  12. E. serotinusDiet

  13. Rhinolophuspearsonii • Common Name: Pearson’s Horseshoe Bat • 1 juvenile caught in a forested site • Weight: 6.5 g • Forearm Length: 38 mm • Ear Length: 13 mm

  14. R. pearsonii Diet

  15. Diet by Habitat The percent composition of various insect orders in the diet of P. abramus. The figure on the left shows the diet of P. abramus in forested habitats (n=1) and the figure on the right shows the diet in developed habitats (n=2). There were no statistical differences between the diets (p>0.05).

  16. Discussion • We did not expect to find significantly more foraging activity in developed areas compared to forest areas • The evidence of gleaning in the P. abramus has not been documented previously, but other studies reveal a diverse diet (5) • The dominance of Coleoptera in the E. serotinus diet mirrors previous studies (6,7) • Little is known about the diets of R. pearsoni but the dominance of Lepidoptera in the diets matches other bats in the same genus (8,9) • The study was limited by a small sample size

  17. Acknowledgements • Dr. William Stone and AAMU students • Dr. DejunHao and NFU students • Dr. Yulong Ding, NFU International Education • Dr. Yong Wang, AAMU-China Exchange Coordinator • Dr. Elicia Moss • Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China • Alabama A&M University, Normal, AL, USA • The National Science Foundation, Research Experience for Undergraduates Program

  18. Literature Cited • Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. 2011. Investigating the role of bats in emerging zoonoses: Balancing ecology, conservation and public health interests. Edited by S.H. Newman, H.E. Field, C.E. de Jong and J.H. Epstein. FAO Animal Production and Health Manual No. 12. Rome. • Kern, S.J. (1988), Bats in Chinese art. BATS Magazine, 6(4). Available from: http://batcon.org/index.php/media-and-info/bats- archives.html? task=viewArticle&magArticleID=369 • GaislerJ, Zukal J, Rehak Z, Homolka M (1998) Habitat preference and flight activity of bats in a city. J Zool(Lond) 244:439–445. • Kalcounis-Rueppell MC, Payne VH, Huff SR, Boyko AL (2007) Effects of wastewater treatment plant effluent on bat foraging ecology in an urban stream system. BiolConserv 138:120–130. • Lee, Y. and Lee L. (2005), Food habits of Japanese pipistrellesPipistrellusabramus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Northern Taiwan. Zoological Studies, 44(1): 95-101. • Vaughan, N. (1997), The diets of British bats (Chiroptera). Mammal Review, 27: 77–94. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2907.1997.tb00373.x • Robinson, M. F. and Stebbings, R. E. (1993), Food of the serotine bat, Eptesicusserotinus—is faecal analysis a valid qualitative and quantitative technique?. Journal of Zoology, 231: 239–248. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1993.tb01915.x • Jin, L., Feng, J., Sun K., Liu Y., Wu, L., Li, Z., and Zhang, X. (2005), Foraging strategies in the greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophusferrumequinum) on Lepidoptera in summer. Chinese Science Bulletin, 50(14):1477-1482. DOI:10.1360/982004-831 • Ma, J., Liang, B., Zhang, S., and Metzner, W. (2008), Dietary composition and echolocation call design of three sympatric insectivorous bat species from China. Ecological Research, 23(1):113-119. DOI:10.1007/s11284-007-0344-5

  19. Cultural Experiences

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