Riqueza, diversidade de espécies e variação altitudinal de morcegos (Mammalia, Chiroptera) no Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Abstract

This study reports the results of a chiropteran fauna survey in the Itatiaia National Park (PNI), Rio de Janeiro state, southeastern Brazil (22º16'−22º28'S and 44º34'−44°42'O) in the periods of June, August and December 2009 and February, March and July 2010. A total of 23 capture nights, in 12 sites at altitudes from 500 to 2500 m were performed in the region. The bats were caught in ground level mist-nets set in forest trails and clearings, in front of flowering and fruiting tree, next to buildings, crevices and cavities in rocks, hollow trees and over streams. The field works allowed the capture of 222 specimens of 22 species, belonging to families Phyllostomidae (14 species), Vespertilionidae (seven species) and Molossidae (one specie), updating the list of species of PNI. It is emphasized the record of Platyrrhinus recifinus, Mimon bennettii and Myotis ruber, regarded as Vulnerable in the Rio de Janeiro state Threatened Species List. The expected number of species, obtained using the Chao indice, is 28 species. The Chaos’ estimator suggests that the Park survey is 78.8% complete. The species diversity, obtained using the Shannon indice, is 2.10. Sturnira lilium is the most abundant species (40.54%). The bat assemblage in the PNI showed a greater insectivorous species richness. The altitudinal range of 500−1000 m showed greater abundance and richness, those numbers decreased with increasing altitude, thus corroborating the Stevens’s Rule. Species of the family Vespertilionidae and insectivore trophic guilds showed wide altitudinal distribution, being present throughout the gradient. The results show the importance of sampling in upland and study the relationship of the variation in richness with altitude