Comparison on the diversity of bats in oil palm plantation and a fragmented forest

Sampling was conducted for three different period in Wilmar Oil Palm Plantation, Miri to determine and compare the bat diversity between the fragmented forest and in the oil palm plantation. The first sampling was conducted for four days from 2nd-5th November 2013 in Wilmar Oil Palm Plantation, Miri. Second sampling was then conducted for six days which are from 14''- 19th January 2014 at the same location but different new transects. Last sampling was conducted for nine days from 4`h-12th April 2014 which reused the first site of sampling before. During the sampling, approximately 21 mist nets and two to six harp traps were set up along the trails in the fragmented forest and in the oil palm with a total effort of 21 net night and two to six trap nights. A total of 427 individuals from 19 species of bat had been captured throughout the samplings period. Cvnopterus brachvotis was recorded as the most abundance species with 326 individuals (76.35%) and followed by Balionycteris maculata with 35 individuals (8.2%). The Shannon Index, Simpson Index and Zar t-test were calculated with Estimate S software. There was no significant difference on the bat diversity between oil palm and forest (p>0.05) but a significant difference was noted between Forest and edge area