Bat species diversity and conservation threats in the Mbam and Djerem National Park, Cameroon

Abstract

The goal of the study was to document bat diversity, abundance, and threats in the Mbam and Djerem National Park (MDNP), Cameroon. Bats were caught and released over 196 nights at a frequency of seven consecutive nights per month in four sectors of the park (Doume, Mbakaou, Mbitom, and Yoko). During the surveys, a total of 370 individual bats of 28 species and six families were recorded. The most abundant species was Epomophorus pusillus (n = 202), followed by Hipposideros cf. caffer (n = 83) and Epomops franqueti (n = 25). The family Pteropodidae was the most represented in terms of species richness (Sobs = 11). The bootstrap richness estimator predicted 56 ± 20 (95% confidence intervals (CI): 36–130) bat species to occur in the study area. Mbakaou and Yoko Park sectors recorded the greatest capture incidences (n1 = 143, n2 = 106). A rarefaction-extrapolation curve indicated that more species were caught in the dry season compared to the wet. The main threats to the chiropteran fauna of the park were bushfires, transhumance, hunting, and forestry operations, with hunting accounting for 70.31% of all incidents. Additionally, human activities were most common in the southwest region of the MDNP.