Influência da estrutura da paisagem na diversidade de espécies em comunidades de morcegos na Mata Atlântica

Abstract

Bats provide important ecosystem services, such as seed dispersal, pollination, and pest control. However, the composition and diversity of bat communities can be influenced by landscape changes. In this study, we evaluated how different landscape metrics relate to bat data collected in 18 distinct Atlantic Forest landscapes within the Cantareira–Mantiqueira Corridor in southeastern Brazil. A 2-km buffer was applied around each sampling site to calculate metrics including percentage of native vegetation cover, total edge length, patch area, and landscape heterogeneity. For bats, we computed Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Chao-1, observed richness, and abundance. Statistical analyses were performed using Generalized Linear Models (GLMs), and spatial autocorrelation was assessed using Moran’s I index. Functional groups were established based on dietary preferences and body size to facilitate the identification of potential patterns of response among ecologically similar species. In addition to analyses at the community and functional group levels, we also explored relationships between the most abundant species (N > 20) and landscape metrics. Sampling effort totaled 17.280 m²h (mist-net hours), collecting 501 individuals from 26 species, of which 80.6% were frugivorous, 10.3% insectivorous, 5.2% hematophagous, 3.2% nectarivorous, and 0.6% omnivorous. Abundance per site ranged from 2 to 65 individuals, and species richness from 2 to 11 species. GLMs did not reveal statistically significant relationships between landscape metrics and either community or functional group attributes. However, Sturnira lilium showed a significant positive relationship with native vegetation cover (p = 0.0141), with higher abundances observed in landscapes containing 10–35% native vegetation. This pattern may reflect greater food availability, as pioneer species from the Solanaceae family, preferred dietary items for S. lilium, are often more abundant in disturbed landscapes. These findings highlight the species' potential role in seed dispersal and ecological restoration in anthropogenically altered areas.