University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 2002 Habitat selection of large flying foxes using radio telemetry : targeting conservation efforts in Subic Bay Philippines Tammy L. Mildenstein The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Mildenstein, Tammy L., "Habitat selection of large flying foxes using radio telemetry : targeting conservation efforts in Subic Bay Philippines" (2002). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 6514. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/6514 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Maureen and Mike MANSFIELD LIBRARY The University of Montana Permission is granted by the author to reproduce this material in its entirety, provided that this material is used for scholarly purposes and is properly cited in published works and reports. **Please check "Yes" or "No" and provide signature Yes, I grant permission ___ No, I do not grant permission___ Author's Signature: Any copying for commercial purposes or financial gain may be undertaken only with the author's explicit consent. 8/98 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. HABITAT SELECTION OF LARGE FLYING FOXES USING RADIO TELEMETRY; TARGETING CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN SUBIC BAY, PHILIPPINES By Tammy L. Mildenstein B.S. Iowa State University, 1991 Presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science The University of Montana 2002 Approved by: / Dr. L. Scott Mills, Chairperson Dean, Graduate School Date Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: EP37315 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI Oissartafion UMI EP37315 Published by ProQuest LLC (2013). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code ProQ^st* ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48 1 0 6 - 1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Mildenstein, Tammy L., M.S., May 2002 Wildlife Biology Habitat selection of large flying foxes using radio telemetry; Targeting conservation efforts in Subic Bay, Philippines (85 pp.) Director: Dr. L. Scott Mills syf The Philippines, like many countries in the tropics, confronts underdevelopment, extensive environmental degradation, and lack of commitment to environmental conservation. Since the conservation impact of wildlife research is dependent upon management using the results, it is important to investigate topics that have local value, are relevant to managers, and provide results that can contribute to conservation management efforts. The rare colony of endemic and endangered large flying foxes at Subic Bay is optimal for conservation focus. In addition to being keystone, flagship, and umbrella species, the bats are important to Subic Bay’s economy and its indigenous cultures. Habitat selection information streamlines management’s efforts to protect and conserve these popular but threatened animals. We used radio telemetry to describe the bats’ nighttime use of habitat on two ecological scales: vegetation and microhabitat. The fruit bats used the entire 14,000 ha study area, including all of Subic Bay Watershed Reserve, as well as neighboring forests just outside the protected area boundaries. Their recorded locations in the study area ranged between 0.4 km and 12 km from the roost. We compared the bats’ use to the availability of vegetative habitat types, riparian areas, and bat trees. The fruit bats’ locations showed a preference for undisturbed lowland, mangrove, and beach forests and selection against disturbed and agricultural areas. Bat locations also showed selection for fruiting/flowering bat trees, which occurred more often in the bats’ locations than expected given availability in the study area. The bats showed strong preference for riparian areas; their locations were in riparian areas over four times more than expected. From these results we recommend that management focus their flying fox conservation efforts on protecting undisturbed forest and, especially, riparian areas. In addition to providing management with basic ecological background information, our project stimulated fruit bat conservation and environmental awareness in the community. Project related training built the capacity of protected area management and transferred research skills to the wildlife biology students who assisted us. Publicity that the bats got as subjects of conservation research, increased interest in the bats’ protection as well as environmental conservation awareness. 11 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... ii Table of Contents........................................................................................................................iii List of Tables..............................................................................................................................vi List of Figures.............................................................................................................................vi Chapter 1: Research topic selection: context and strategy.......................................................1 Organization of thesis.....................................................................................................1 Context of thesis research..............................................................................................2 U.S. Peace Corps................................................................................................2 Philippine environment.....................................................................................4 Study area background (Subic Bay) ................................................................7 National conservation status of fruit bats........................................................ 9 Research focus.............................................................................................................. 11 Subic Bay’s rare colony of endangered and endemic fruit bats .................. 12 Local importance of the fruit bats.................................................................. 13 Local threats to the fruit bats..........................................................................14 Paucity of data .................................................................................................. 16 Habitat use research promotes conservation.................................................17 Conclusion.....................................................................................................................18 Literature cited ..............................................................................................................20 in Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Chapter 2: Habitat selection of endangered and endemic large flying foxes in Subic Bay, Philippines .................................................................................26 Abstract ...........................................................................................................................26 Introduction....................................................................................................................26 Study area .......................................................................................................................29 Methods.......................................................................................................................... 31 Mist netting and capture procedures .............................................................. 31 Radio tracking/telemetry ................................................................................. 32 Habitat selection analysis: Use vs. Availability............................................33 Results ............................................................................................................... 37 Mist netting and capturing ..............................................................................37 Radio tracking .................................................................................................. 37 Habitat selection analysis: Use vs. Availability............................................38