Distance from the mainland is a selective pressure for Phyllostomidae bats: the case of Maracá-Jipioca Island in the northern coast of Brazil

Abstract

Large islands near the mainland tend to have greater species richness than smaller or remote oceanic islands. This study aimed to compare the community of Phyllostomidae bats on the island of Maracá-Jipioca, in Amapá, northern Brazil, and on the adjacent mainland. We also compared the community in four vegetation types present in both areas. Sampling occurred during the wet and dry seasons of 2010 at 24 independent sampling points. We recorded 333 Phyllostomidae bats belonging to 19 species. Species richness did not differ between the island and mainland but was different among the vegetation types, with grassland being the poorest. Species composition and abundance were different between the island and mainland. This difference was significant for Carollia perspicillata and Phyllostomus elongatus, which were more abundant on the island and mainland, respectively. Artibeus concolor did not exhibit differences between the two areas but differed among the vegetation types, being more abundant in flooded forest. Our findings did reveal that isolation and distance act as selective pressures for Phyllostomidae bats.