The Southernmost Tip of the Yungas Forests, their Bats and a Threatened Colony

TATIANA SÁNCHEZ; GAMBOA ALURRALDE S.; LOPEZ BERRIZBEITIA, MARIA FERNANDA; PEREZ, MARÍA JULIETA; GAUDIOSO, PABLO; MERCEDES NUÑEZ STONE; M. MÓNICA DÍAZ

San José

Congreso; 16th International Bat Research Congress (IBRN); 2013

PCMCr y Universidad de Costa Rica

Dam is located. For many years, the dam attracted the attention of biologists due to the presence of a huge colony of Tadarida brasiliensis, probably the largest in a manmade construction, with approximately 10 million individuals. Early studies leading to define the population number of the colony were conducted by our group in 1992 and 2000. Years later, several anthropic actions have impacted negatively and affected the health of the colony. To define the current status of the species composition of the area, and attempting to reverse the damage to the colony, we developed studies between September 2012 and March 2013, at different sites around the dam; the bats were captured using mist nets active for six hours after sunset every netting day. Our results have permitted to add 10 species of bats to the area, and evaluate that the original number of individuals in the colony has dropped dramatically due to manmade blockades. Additionally there have been actions in education, given lectures at community centers and schools in the area which, together with the development of brochures, are useful tools for the future of conservation actions of the site. The results will be used to propose the Escaba dam as a SICOM (Site of Importance for Bat Conservation) and the region as an AICOM (Area of Importance for Bat Conservation), thus advancing in the process of protection of species and their shelters.