A Recent Bat Survey Reveals Bukit Barisan Selatan Landscape as a Chiropteran Diversity Hotspot in Sumatra Author(s): Joe Chun-Chia Huang, Elly Lestari Jazdzyk, Meyner Nusalawo, Ibnu Maryanto, Maharadatunkamsi, Sigit Wiantoro, and Tigga Kingston Source: Acta Chiropterologica, 16(2):413-449. Published By: Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3161/150811014X687369 URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.3161/150811014X687369 BioOne (www.bioone.org) is a nonprofit, online aggregation of core research in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences. BioOne provides a sustainable online platform for over 170 journals and books published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses. Your use of this PDF, the BioOne Web site, and all posted and associated content indicates your acceptance of BioOne’s Terms of Use, available at www.bioone.org/page/terms_of_use. 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Acta Chiropterologica, 16(2): 413–449, 2014 PL ISSN 1508-1109 © Museum and Institute of Zoology PAS doi: 10.3161/150811014X687369 A recent bat survey reveals Bukit Barisan Selatan Landscape as a chiropteran diversity hotspot in Sumatra JOE CHUN-CHIA HUANG1, 2, ELLY LESTARI JAZDZYK3, MEYNER NUSALAWO4, IBNU MARYANTO2, 5, MAHARADATUNKAMSI5, SIGIT WIANTORO2, 5, and TIGGA KINGSTON1, 2, 6 1Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA 2Southeast Asian Bat Conservation Research Unit, Lubbock, TX, USA 3Department of Biology, College of Mathematics and Natural Science, University of Lampung, Bandar Lampung, Indonesia 4Wildlife Conservation Society-Indonesian Program, Bogor, Indonesia 5Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia, Bogor, Indonesia 6Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected] Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park is one of the last refuges protecting intact forest and a representative mammalian fauna in Sumatra. However, knowledge of bat diversity in the area is limited. From 2010 to 2012, 47 bat species were recorded through a series of surveys in 12 localities within and around the national park. An additional six species from the area were identified from the mammal collection of the Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Indonesia. At least seven of the species reported in this study are new records for Sumatra, including Kerivoula krauensis, K. lenis, K. minuta, Murina rozendaali, Myotis horsfieldii, Myotis cf. borneoensis, and Rhinolophus borneensis/celebensis. Moreover, a finding of two distinct morphs of Chironax melanocephalus coexisting in the study area indicates another possible undescribed species. With 60 species, we consider Bukit Barisan Selatan Landscape to be a Southeast Asian bat diversity hotspot and of critical importance in maintaining bat diversity in Sumatra. Key words: Chiroptera, new record, lowland rainforest, Indonesia, identification keys, coffee agriculture INTRODUCTION collaborative efforts across species’ ranges (Kings - ton, 2010). Over a quarter of the world’s bat species are Indonesia is an archipelago of more than 17,500 found in Southeast Asia, where over 340 spe- islands and hosts the highest reported species rich- cies make up nearly 30% of the mammalian fauna ness of bats for any country in the world, with the re- of the region (Kingston, 2013), and contribute cently-described Thoopterus suhaniahae (Maryan to significantly to species richness and endemism at et al., 2012), revised Myotis bartelsi and Myotis both local and regional levels. For instance, at we beri (Csorba et al., 2014) bringing the count to the local level, over 62 species are known from 221 spe cies (IUCN, 2013, but excluding M. formo - just a three km2 area of lowland dipterocarp rain- sus — see Csorba et al., 2014). Within the archipel- forest in peninsular Malaysia (Kingston et al., ago, Su matra supports the greatest mammalian di- 2003, 2006). At the regional level, more than 70 versity of any island (Suyanto et al., 2002; Sim mons, species have been recorded from the Philippines 2005), but few studies have focused on Sumatra’s (of which 23 are endemic) (Ingle and Heaney, chiropteran diversity. Van Strien (1996) reviewed 1992; Esselstyn, 2007), 96 species from the island publications on Sumatra’s mammal fauna and gen- of Borneo (Stru e big et al., 2010), and 119 from erated the first checklist for Sumatran bats and re- Thailand (Bum rungsri et al., 2006). Moreover, ported 65 species. Another 16 species were later 7% of South east Asia’s species have been describ- suggested for Sumatra and nearby offshore islands ed since 2000 (Kingston, 2013), and species discov- (Suyanto et al., 1998, 2002; Simmons, 2005; Boi - ery rates are likely to remain high, particularly tani et al., 2006). However, the 80 species cur rently with greater use of molecular techniques (e.g., recognized for the island is likely an underestimate Francis et al., 2010; Khan et al., 2010), and as prior survey work did not deploy harp traps which 414 J. C.-C. Huang, E. L. Jazdzyk, M. Nusalawo, I. Maryanto, Maharadatunkamsi, et al. are particularly effective at capturing species of MATERIALS AND METHODS Hipposide ridae, Rhino lophidae, Kerivoulinae, and Murininae in forest habitats (Kingston et al., 2003). Study Area and Localities Lack of an identification key to Sumatra’s bats may also have hampered inventory efforts. In addition, Bats were surveyed in 12 localities in and around Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (BBSNP), Lampung Province, samples from Sumatra were unavailable for several Indonesia. Two sites were in the primary forest of BBSNP, one recent regional revisions of bat taxa that have clari- in disturbed forest, five sites were dominated by polyculture fied taxonomic boundaries and species distributions coffee plantations, and two by monoculture coffee plantations. elsewhere (e.g., Campbell et al., 2004; Khan et al., We also surveyed one cave outside the park in a stream valley 2010; Murray et al., 2012). surrounded by disturbed forest and polyculture coffee planta- Sumatra has the greatest deforestation rate in tions. Collectively we refer to these sites at the Bukit Barisan Selatan Landscape (BBSL). Surveys were conducted from July Indonesia (Holmes, 2002). With an average de- to August 2010, July to September 2011, and February to June forestation of 542,000 ha per year between 1985 to 2012. 2008, Sumatra lost around 70% of its forest cover Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (Fig. 1), with an area of by 2010 (WWF, 2010; Margono et al., 2012). Most 3,240 km2, is the third largest protected area in Sumatra. forest remnants are along the Barisan mountain BBSNP was first gazetted by the government of the Dutch East Indies as a natural reserve (South Sumatra I Natural Reserve) in ridge in the western part of the island and in the peat 1935 and then as a national park by the Indonesian government lands in the east (WWF, 2010). However, to date, re- in 1982 (Levan et al., 2012). Although encroachment precipi- search and conservation efforts on the mammals of tated the loss or degradation of c. 28% of the natural forest by the Barisan mountain area have focused mostly on 2004, the park remains one of the last refuges with intact Su - charismatic ‘flagship species’, such as the Sumatran matran lowland rainforest and supports more than 450 terrestrial vertebrate species, including 90 mammal species (WWF, 2007). tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae), Sumatran ele phant With more than 750 plant species (WWF, 2007), forests of (Elephas maximus sumatranus), Sumatran rhino- BBSNP are dominated by Dipterocarpaceae, Lauraceae, Myrta - ceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis), and Suma tran ceae, Annonaceae, and Fagaceae tree species (UNESCO, 2004). orang utan (Pongo abelii) (WWF, 2007, 2010). Few Based on floristic compositions and elevation ranges, the park data are available on the diversity and distribution of can be divided into five natural habitats, including coastal forest the small mammals, including bats, in the area. (1% of total park area, near sea level), lowland rainforest (45%, 0–600 m a.s.l.), highland forest (34%, 600–1,000 m a.s.l.), sub- In the present study, we focused on the bat fauna montane forest (17%, 1,000–1,500 m a.s.l.), and montane forest in and around Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (3%, 1,500–c. 2,000 m a.s.l.) (UNESCO, 2004). (BBSNP) of southwestern Sumatra. BBSNP together with Gunung Leuser National Park and Kerinci Forest localities Seblat National Park is a World Heritage Site — The Sukabanjar Forest (4°56’24”S, 103°53’24”E) — The forest Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (TRHS), is located between the eastern border of the middle section of designated to highlight the rainforest and biodiver- Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (BBSNP) and Lake Ranau. The vegetation is a disturbed forest mixed with bamboo stands sity of Sumatra (UNESCO, 2004). We selected along a small stream with an elevation of 704–1033 m a.s.l. BBSNP for our surveys because bat species richness It is the extension of the forest of BBSNP but managed by the of paleotropical wet mountains usually peak at ele- local community of Sukabanjar Village (Site 7, see below). Tim - vations less than 1,000 m a.s.l. (McCain, 2007), and ber is frequently harvested by villagers for local use. of the three national parks of TRHS, BBSNP is the Sukaraja Forest (5°31’48”S, 104°27’35”E) — Sukaraja For - only lower elevation site, with 80% of the area est is located in the southeastern section of BBSNP. Bats were trapped along a 1.5-km trail used for monitoring large mammals under 1,000 m a.s.l.