Resumo
The chiropteran fauna of Barbados includes representatives of four families Noctilionidae, Phyllostomidae, Vespertilionidae, and Molossidae including 1 piscivore (Noctilio leporinus), 1 omnivore (Brachyphylla cavernarum), 1 pollenivore/nectarivore (Monophyllus plethodon), 1 frugivore (Artibeus jamaicensis), and 2 insectivorous species (Myotis nyctor and Molossus molossus). Despite an early report, we believe that preponderance of the evidence available at this time is that E. fuscus is not part of the fauna of Barbados. The Barbadian chiropteran fauna of 6 species is much smaller than those on the four neighboring Lesser Antillean islands to the west and north. We believe that this is primarily the result of two factorsgeological age and geographic isolation. Our work indicates that populations of the 6 species of bats on Barbados are in good condition in all cases, but only for Artibeus jamaicensis and Molossus molossus are the populations large enough to not be of ongoing concern. The maintenance of the chiropteran fauna can best be served by three management actions preservation of caves and associated gullies, forests, and hydrological systems.
Resumo
Almost nothing is known concerning the chiropteran fauna on the Grenadine Islands, a chain of islands between St. Vincent and Grenada located near the southern end of the Lesser Antilles. Previously, only a single speciesGlossophaga longirostrishad been reported from the Grenadines. Our research, conducted on 4 occasions over the period of 1980 to 2006, provided museum vouchers and genetic specimens for the addition of 4 other species to the known fauna of these islandsNoctilio leporinus, Artibeus lituratus, Artibeus schwartzi, and Molossus molossus. The Grenadines, being situated between St. Vincent and Grenada, occupy an important zoogeographic position. None of the 12 species of bats occurring on Grenada are Antillean endemics, whereas on St. Vincent, to the north of the Grenadines, 3 of the 12 species are Antillean endemics. The boundary of the West Indian Subregion of the Neotropical Region based on the distribution of mammals has been designated as Koopmans Line. One of the areas where placement of Koopmans Line was unresolved was among the Grenadine Islands because the chiropteran fauna of this area was essentially unknown. Based on data reported herein, we place Koopmans Line along the 14-km wide Bequia Channel that separates St. Vincent and the northern-most Grenadine island of Bequia.
Almost nothing is known concerning the chiropteran fauna on the Grenadine Islands, a chain of islands between St. Vincent and Grenada located near the southern end of the Lesser Antilles. Previously, only a single speciesGlossophaga longirostrishad been reported from the Grenadines. Our research, conducted on 4 occasions over the period of 1980 to 2006, provided museum vouchers and genetic specimens for the addition of 4 other species to the known fauna of these islandsNoctilio leporinus, Artibeus lituratus, Artibeus schwartzi, and Molossus molossus. The Grenadines, being situated between St. Vincent and Grenada, occupy an important zoogeographic position. None of the 12 species of bats occurring on Grenada are Antillean endemics, whereas on St. Vincent, to the north of the Grenadines, 3 of the 12 species are Antillean endemics. The boundary of the West Indian Subregion of the Neotropical Region based on the distribution of mammals has been designated as Koopmans Line. One of the areas where placement of Koopmans Line was unresolved was among the Grenadine Islands because the chiropteran fauna of this area was essentially unknown. Based on data reported herein, we place Koopmans Line along the 14-km wide Bequia Channel that separates St. Vincent and the northern-most Grenadine island of Bequia.
Resumo
The chiropteran fauna of Barbados includes representatives of four families Noctilionidae, Phyllostomidae, Vespertilionidae, and Molossidae including 1 piscivore (Noctilio leporinus), 1 omnivore (Brachyphylla cavernarum), 1 pollenivore/nectarivore (Monophyllus plethodon), 1 frugivore (Artibeus jamaicensis), and 2 insectivorous species (Myotis nyctor and Molossus molossus). Despite an early report, we believe that preponderance of the evidence available at this time is that E. fuscus is not part of the fauna of Barbados. The Barbadian chiropteran fauna of 6 species is much smaller than those on the four neighboring Lesser Antillean islands to the west and north. We believe that this is primarily the result of two factorsgeological age and geographic isolation. Our work indicates that populations of the 6 species of bats on Barbados are in good condition in all cases, but only for Artibeus jamaicensis and Molossus molossus are the populations large enough to not be of ongoing concern. The maintenance of the chiropteran fauna can best be served by three management actions preservation of caves and associated gullies, forests, and hydrological systems.
Resumo
Almost nothing is known concerning the chiropteran fauna on the Grenadine Islands, a chain of islands between St. Vincent and Grenada located near the southern end of the Lesser Antilles. Previously, only a single speciesGlossophaga longirostrishad been reported from the Grenadines. Our research, conducted on 4 occasions over the period of 1980 to 2006, provided museum vouchers and genetic specimens for the addition of 4 other species to the known fauna of these islandsNoctilio leporinus, Artibeus lituratus, Artibeus schwartzi, and Molossus molossus. The Grenadines, being situated between St. Vincent and Grenada, occupy an important zoogeographic position. None of the 12 species of bats occurring on Grenada are Antillean endemics, whereas on St. Vincent, to the north of the Grenadines, 3 of the 12 species are Antillean endemics. The boundary of the West Indian Subregion of the Neotropical Region based on the distribution of mammals has been designated as Koopmans Line. One of the areas where placement of Koopmans Line was unresolved was among the Grenadine Islands because the chiropteran fauna of this area was essentially unknown. Based on data reported herein, we place Koopmans Line along the 14-km wide Bequia Channel that separates St. Vincent and the northern-most Grenadine island of Bequia.
Almost nothing is known concerning the chiropteran fauna on the Grenadine Islands, a chain of islands between St. Vincent and Grenada located near the southern end of the Lesser Antilles. Previously, only a single speciesGlossophaga longirostrishad been reported from the Grenadines. Our research, conducted on 4 occasions over the period of 1980 to 2006, provided museum vouchers and genetic specimens for the addition of 4 other species to the known fauna of these islandsNoctilio leporinus, Artibeus lituratus, Artibeus schwartzi, and Molossus molossus. The Grenadines, being situated between St. Vincent and Grenada, occupy an important zoogeographic position. None of the 12 species of bats occurring on Grenada are Antillean endemics, whereas on St. Vincent, to the north of the Grenadines, 3 of the 12 species are Antillean endemics. The boundary of the West Indian Subregion of the Neotropical Region based on the distribution of mammals has been designated as Koopmans Line. One of the areas where placement of Koopmans Line was unresolved was among the Grenadine Islands because the chiropteran fauna of this area was essentially unknown. Based on data reported herein, we place Koopmans Line along the 14-km wide Bequia Channel that separates St. Vincent and the northern-most Grenadine island of Bequia.