Ecological Aspects Of Fruit Bats (Megachiroptera) In Penang Island, Malaysia

Kajian ini memfokuskan kepada taburan, ekologi, tabiat pemakanan dan pengetahuan dan kesedaran komuniti tempatan terhadap isu berkaitan konservasi kelawar buah di Pulau Pinang. Pengumpulan data telah dijalankan dari 2012 sehingga 2014. Objektif yang pertama adalah untuk menentukan sama ada urbanisasi memberikan kesan yang signifikan terhadap kekayaan spesies, kelimpahan spesies dan saiz badan kelawar buah. Sejumlah 521 individu yang terdiri daripada lapan spesies telah disampel. Terdapat perbezaan yang signifikan terhadap kelimpahan spesies kelawar apabila merentasi kawasan urban-pedalaman (ANOVA satu hala, F (2, 18) = 5.4947, p ˂ 0.0162). Kelimpahan kelawar buah adalah paling tinggi di kawasan suburban dan paling rendah di kawasan urban. Data menunjukkan urbanisasi memberi kesan positif terhadap saiz badan bagi Cynopterus sphinx. Walaubagaimanapun, korelasinya adalah korelasi yang lemah (r² = 0.333, n = 18, p ˂ 0.05). This study focuses on the distribution, ecology, feeding behaviour and knowledge and awareness of local community on conservation related issues of fruit bats in Penang Island. Data collection was conducted from 2012 until 2014. The first objective was to determine the effect of urbanisation on the species richness, species abundance and body size of fruit bats. A total of 521 individuals consisting of eight species were captured. There was a significant difference of abundance across the urban-rural gradient (one-way ANOVA, F (2, 18) = 5.4947, p ˂ 0.0162). The abundance of fruit bats was highest in suburban and lowest in urban sites. Urbanisation has a positive effect on body size of Cynopterus sphinx. However, the correlation was weak (r² = 0.333, n =18, p ˂ 0.05)