ANALYSIS OF THE NON- HEMATOPHAGOUS BAT SPECIES CAPTURED WITHIN THE PLAN OF ERADICATION OF Desmodus rotundus (E. GEOFFROY, 1810) IN THE COLOMBIAN BIOGEOGRAPHIC CHOCÓ

Abstract

Between November 2002 and April 2003 we carried out mist-netting samples in the Central region of the Colombian Biogeographic Chocó to determine bat species potentially affected by a vampires era- dication plan taking place at this area. A total of 417 individuals were captured representing the families: Phyllostomidae, Vespertilionidae, and Molossidae, corresponding to 9 subfamilies, 16 genera, and 30 species. Only 7.91% (N = 33) of the captures corres- ponded to hematofagous bats showing a low pro- portion in comparison with non-hematofagous species. A high variability in bat species composition was found among sampling localities. Our data indicate that species affinity and species richness at the Central portion of the Chocó may be influenced by the ecosystemic complexity of the region and the degree of disturbance at each sampling locality respectively. The hematophagous species Desmodus rotundus was found as part of all bat species assemblages among our sampling localities. Therefore, a differential effect of non-hemato- phagous species affected by eradication plans in Central Chocó is expected.