Who Else Would Plant The Trees? A Status Update on the Pemba Flying Fox
Class Year
2013
Document Type
Student Research Paper
Date of Creation
Fall 2012
Department 1
Center for Global Education
Abstract
This study assesses the current population of Pemba Flying Fox, Pteropusvoeltzkowi, at four key locations on Pemba Island off the coast of Tanzania previously noted as highly populated roost sites: Ngezi National Forest, Wete, Kidike, and MsituwaMbiji. We evaluate local knowledge, perceptions, and practices of communities surrounding the Pemba Flying Fox. This study also documents roosting and migratory patterns of the bats. We hypothesize a growth in bat population, an overall positive community perception of the bats, and a greater amount of conflict between fruit farmers and Pteropusvoeltzkowi. Results showed a decrease in estimated population. Additionally, reverse correlation was found between mean roost tree height and colony size, and 50% of bats roosting in Antiaristoxicaria. MsituwaMbiji had the highest level of habitat disruption while Kidike showed the lowest. All informants had a positive opinion on bats. For all roost sites except Ngezi, all respondents claimed the nearby roost site had been in use for a “long time”. All respondents mentioned that bats could be seen every day and every season, although about half of respondents reported seasonal variation. Little evidence of farmer-bat conflict was found, and most respondents claimed that no bat hunting was done in the area. However, physical evidence suggested that hunting was still ongoing. About half of all residents interviewed knew of no ongoing educational efforts concerning the bats. Evidence suggests that colonies of bats are migrating to protected areas, forming larger colonies in smaller spatial areas with a consistent proportion of available tall trees, forcing bats to occupy smaller roosting trees. However, this could be due to the negligible hunting pressure found in the areas with larger colonies. Deforestation proves a considerable threat to continued conservation of the Pemba Flying Fox. Environmental education and community-based protection organizations based on economic, environmental and intrinsic appreciation of the bats is the key to this species’ continued success.
Copyright Note
This is the author's version of the work. This publication appears in Gettysburg College's institutional repository by permission of the copyright owner for personal use, not for redistribution.
Recommended Citation
Grose, Hannah B. and Clemmens, Catherine G., "Who Else Would Plant The Trees? A Status Update on the Pemba Flying Fox" (2012). Student Publications. 243.
https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/student_scholarship/243
Required Publisher's Statement
Original version is available from SIT Graduate Institute - Study Abroad Program at: http://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/1419/
Comments
This paper was written during the author's study abroad experience as part of the SIT Graduate Institute - Study Abroad Program. It is part of the Independent Study Project Collection.