Volume 23 African Bat Conservation News November 2010 ISSN 1812-1268 © ECJ Seamark 2010 Above: Mauritian Tomb Bat (Taphozous mauritianus) (UP-712) caught at Pafuri (Makuleke Contractual Park), Kruger National Park, South Africa. Inside this issue: OBSERVATIONS, DISCUSSIONS AND UPDATES 2 Singapore Statement on Research Integrity 2 SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS 3 - 31 Observations of a Pteropus rufus colony in a dry deciduous forest fragment of Northern Madagascar 3-6 Chiroptera of Lufupa camp, Kafue National Park, Zambia; with taxonomic notes on Epomophorus, Nycticeinops, 7-31 Scotophilus and Scotoecus RECENT LITERATURE 32-55 CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS 32-44 BOOKS 44 REPORTS 45 PUBLISHED PAPERS 46-55 NOTICE BOARD 55 Download and subscribe to African Bat The views and opinions expressed in articles are not necessarily those of the editor or Conservation News at: publisher. Articles and news items appearing in African Bat Conservation News may be reprinted, www.Africanbats.org provided the author’s and newsletter reference are given. Page 2 November 2010 vol. 23 African Bat Conservation News ISSN 1812-1268 OBSERVATIONS, DISCUSSIONS AND UPDATES SINGAPORE STATEMENT ON RESEARCH INTEGRITY Preamble. The value and benefits of research are vitally dependent on the integrity of research. While there can be and are national and disciplinary differences in the way research is organized and conducted, there are also principles and professional responsibilities that are fundamental to the integrity of research wherever it is undertaken. PRINCIPLES Honesty in all aspects of research Accountability in the conduct of research Professional courtesy and fairness in working with others Good stewardship of research on behalf of others RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Integrity: Researchers should take responsibility for 10. Public Communication: Researchers should limit the trustworthiness of their research. professional comments to their recognized expertise when engaged in public discussions about the application 2. Adherence to Regulations: Researchers should be and importance of research findings and clearly aware of and adhere to regulations and policies related to distinguish professional comments from opinions based research. on personal views. 3. Research Methods: Researchers should employ 11. Reporting Irresponsible Research Practices: appropriate research methods, base conclusions on Researchers should report to the appropriate authorities critical analysis of the evidence and report findings and any suspected research misconduct, including interpretations fully and objectively. fabrication, falsification or plagiarism, and other 4. Research Records: Researchers should keep clear, irresponsible research practices that undermine the accurate records of all research in ways that will allow trustworthiness of research, such as carelessness, verification and replication of their work by others. improperly listing authors, failing to report conflicting data, or the use of misleading analytical methods. 5. Research Findings: Researchers should share data and findings openly and promptly, as soon as they have 12. Responding to Irresponsible Research Practices: had an opportunity to establish priority and ownership Research institutions, as well as journals, professional claims. organizations and agencies that have commitments to research, should have procedures for responding to 6. Authorship: Researchers should take responsibility allegations of misconduct and other irresponsible for their contributions to all publications, funding research practices and for protecting those who report applications, reports and other representations of their such behavior in good faith. When misconduct or other research. Lists of authors should include all those and irresponsible research practice is confirmed, appropriate only those who meet applicable authorship criteria. actions should be taken promptly, including correcting the 7. Publication Acknowledgement: Researchers should research record. acknowledge in publications the names and roles of 13. Research Environments: Research institutions those who made significant contributions to the research, should create and sustain environments that encourage including writers, funders, sponsors, and others, but do integrity through education, clear policies, and not meet authorship criteria. reasonable standards for advancement, while fostering 8. Peer Review: Researchers should provide fair, prompt work environments that support research integrity. and rigorous evaluations and respect confidentiality when 14. Societal Considerations: Researchers and research reviewing others' work. institutions should recognize that they have an ethical 9. Conflict of Interest: Researchers should disclose obligation to weigh societal benefits against risks inherent financial and other conflicts of interest that could in their work. compromise the trustworthiness of their work in research proposals, publications and public communications as well as in all review activities. The Singapore Statement on Research Integrity was developed as part of the 2nd World Conference on Research Integrity, 21-24 July 2010, in Singapore, as a global guide to the responsible conduct of research. It is not a regulatory document and does not represent the official policies of the countries and organizations that funded and/or participated in the Conference. For official policies, guidance, and regulations relating to research integrity, appropriate national bodies and organizations should be consulted. Available at: www.singaporestatement.org Page 3 November 2010 vol. 23 African Bat Conservation News ISSN 1812-1268 SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS OBSERVATIONS OF A PTEROPUS RUFUS COLONY IN A DRY DECIDUOUS FOREST FRAGMENT OF NORTHERN MADAGASCAR By : Shelly A. Johnson, Rob J.Y. Perryman, Mark D. Steer, and Elise M.S. Belle* Address for correspondence: The Society for Environmental Exploration, Frontier; 50-52 Rivington Street, London, EC2A3QP, United Kingdom. *Email : [email protected]. Key Words: Madagascar, Megachiroptera, Pteropus rufus, roost, deforestation In Madagascar, the family Pteropodidae, composed of colonies of up to 5,000 bats recorded (MACKINNON et al., frugivorous and nectarivorous bats, is thought to be 2003). In addition to habitat loss (caused by fire, logging and particularly important for pollination and fruit dispersal forest clearing), they are threatened by hunting for bushmeat (BOLLEN and VAN ELSACKER, 2002; RAHERIARISENA, (JENKINS et al., 2007; RAHAINGODRAHETY et al., 2008). 2005; LONG and RACEY, 2007). The capability of Although hunting of P. rufus is seasonally restricted by law Pteropodidae to act as seed dispersers over long distances in Madagascar, restrictions are not well enforced. Hunting is may be particularly important for forest regeneration in the the main factor contributing to the current listing of P. rufus increasingly fragmented forests of Madagascar as ‘Vulnerable’, with their population having undergone an (GANZHORN et al., 2001; HUTCHEON, 2003). These estimated 30% reduction worldwide in the past twenty years forests are subject to high levels of human disturbance and (ANDRIAFIDISON et al., 2008). deforestation is expected to continue. This study provides new information on the location and HUTCHEON (2003) suggested that the endemic characteristics of a colonial P. rufus roost located within an Madagascar flying fox, Pteropus rufus, is in danger of large unprotected forest fragment of the Tsarakibany region of population declines as a result of deforestation. This species northern Madagascar. is known to roost in small ‘gallery forest’ fragments, often located on the edge of dense forests outside protected METHODS areas. The bats are found in dense concentrations with The study site is situated 85 km south of Antsiranana (formerly known as Diégo Suarez), near the town of Anivorano. Base camp resides approximately 0.5 km southeast of the village of Tsarakibany (12°46.98’ S, 49° 10.44’ E) (Figures 1 and 2). The area is composed of secondary, dry, deciduous forest fragments with no primary forest remaining. The majority of these fragments have been altered to grow productive species such as mango, banana, palm and eucalyptus. Land use for zebu grazing, selective logging, and charcoaling are also evident in the area, as well as forest clearing for growing rice, maize, and other crops. To record roost habitat and behaviours of the Pteropus rufus colony, a total of 10 observations were conducted between July and November 2008. Observations were made from a vantage point approximately 300 m across the valley at an elevation of 502 m (12°45.12’ S, 49°9.98’ E), and lasted approximately 1 hour between the hours of 6:00 and 18:00. We recorded the number of bats observed in the colony, the relative location of the roosts (height, canopy position, number of trees, types of trees) and current weather conditions. To avoid colony disturbance, only one observation was made below the colony at the roost location (12°45.11’ S, 49°10.11’ E) in November 2008 in order to confirm habitat data and take photographs to assist in habitat and species verifications. Vegetation data were also collected in October 2008 from two 30 m x 10 m transects in the forest patch where the roost was located. Within each transect, the diameter at breast height (dbh) was measured for all trees >5 cm in diameter. Any stumps were classified as naturally fallen or cut by humans. We estimated the percentage of vegetation cover at 0 m, 10 m, 20 m and 30 m along the transect,