Bat distribution and habitat protection degree along an elevational gradient in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Abstract

Aim: We aim to identify areas with greater favourability for bat occurrence in the Serra da Mantiqueira, southeastern Brazil, analyse gaps in bat distribution and evaluate the level of protection of areas with the greatest bat diversity. Location: Serra da Mantiqueira, Atlantic Forest, Brazil. Taxon: Bats. Methods: We compiled data from 115 bat inventories carried out there for 25 years. Based on the presence/absence of 61 bat species and 47 explanatory variables, we used the favourability function as a modelling algorithm to predict species richness and distribution. We also calculated an Insecurity Index to estimate the degree of protection of favourable Atlantic Forest areas for each species and the overall richness of bat species. Results: Models were obtained for 50 species based on the 10 best variables, of which the top five were the proportion of savanna formation (41.2%), spatial component (39.2%), the extension of roads (39.2%), proportion of forest formation (33.3%) and proportion of rocky outcrop (27.5%). We found that 37% of the area with 10 or more species has more than 70% of their surface protected, while ~74% are either not protected or have < 10% protected. However, ~22% of the most favourable areas still lack legal protection. Main Conclusions: The highlands of the Serra da Mantiqueira are a hotspot for bat species richness and diversity in the Atlantic Forest, and our results facilitate more local discussions oriented to supporting the creation, improvement and implementation of tools focused on the conservation of species and ecosystems in Brazil in this changing world. In this sense, in our study area, ecological corridors coupled with ecological restoration, in addition to improvements in the effectiveness of existing protected areas already implemented throughout the entire region, are extremely necessary.