Effects of agricultural intensification on the assemblage of leaf-nosed bats (Phyllostomidae) in a coffee landscape in Chiapas, Mexico

Published source details Williams-Guillén K. & Perfecto I. (2010) Effects of agricultural intensification on the assemblage of leaf-nosed bats (Phyllostomidae) in a coffee landscape in Chiapas, Mexico. Biotropica, 42, 605-613.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Retain or plant native trees and shrubs amongst crops (agroforestry) Action Link

Retain or plant native trees and shrubs amongst crops (agroforestry)

A replicated, site comparison study in 2006–2007 of 44 sites in coffee agroforestry plantations and native rainforest fragments in Chiapas, Mexico (Williams-Guillén & Perfecto 2010) found that traditional agroforestry plantations had a similar number of leaf-nosed Phyllostomidae bat species to more intensively managed agroforestry plantations, but species composition differed and more bats were captured in traditional plantations. A similar number of bat species but more bats were captured in traditional agroforestry plantations (24 species, average 2.5 bats/mist net/hour) than in plantations with moderate (22 species, 1.6 bats/mist net/hour) or high intensity management (22 species, 1.4 bats/mist net/hour). A similar number of bat species were also captured in native forest (24 bat species). The proportion of bat species in all feeding groups decreased as management intensity increased, except for large fruit-eating bat species which increased in proportion (from 30% in native forest and traditional plantations to 48% in high intensity plantations). Bats were sampled in traditional agroforestry coffee plantations (coffee and other plants grown under original forest trees, 12 sites), moderate intensity coffee plantations (coffee grown under a variety of fruit and timber trees, 11 sites), high intensity coffee plantations (coffee grown under shimbillo Inga spp. trees, 10 sites) and native forest fragments (11 sites). At each of 44 sites, bats were captured with mist nets for 8–10 h during one night between November 2006 and August 2007.

(Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)