Article

André B. Malekani, University of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Prescott A. Musaba, University of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Guy-Crispin T. Gembu, University of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Elie P. Bugentho, University of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Alfred S. Toengaho, University of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Gabriel B. Badjedjea, University of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Jean C. Ngabu, University of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Patrick K. Mutombo, University of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Anne Laudisoit, University of Antwerp, Belgium
Corneille N. Ewango, Wildlife Conservation Society, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Victor Van Cakenberghe, University of Antwerp, Belgium
Erik Verheyen, University of Antwerp, Belgium
Justin A. Asimonyo, University of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Franck M. Masudi, University of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Gédéon N. Bongo, University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Koto-te-Nyiwa Ngbolua, University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; University of Gbadolite, Democratic Republic of the Congo; e-mail: jpngbolua@unikin.ac.cd

Malekani A.B., Musaba P.A., Gembu G.-C.T., Bugentho E.P., Toengaho A.S., Badjedjea G.B., Ngabu J.C., Mutombo P.K., Laudisoit A., Ewango C.N., Van Cakenberghe V., Verheyen E., Asimonyo J.A., Masudi F.M., Bongo G.N., Ngbolua K.N. 2018. Preliminary inventory of bats (Mammalia, Chiroptera) in three Protected Areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nature Conservation Research 3(1): 92–96. https://dx.doi.org/10.24189/ncr.2018.006

As part of biodiversity monitoring in the Kisangani Forest Region, a survey of bats was conducted in three protected areas, specifically Lomami, Yangambi and Epulu. In this pilot study, a total of 201 specimens were collected using Japanese nets of different lengths (6, 9 and 12 m long) and a height of 2 m with a mesh size of 2 × 2 cm to capture bats. Captured specimens were identified using determination keys appropriate for the study area. The results of inventories in the three sites revealed that 201 specimens of captured bats belong to 2 sub-orders, 4 families, 9 genera and 12 species. The most abundant species were Epomops franqueti, Megaloglossus woermannii and Myotis bocagii. The following species, Epomops franqueti, Megaloglossus woermanii, Casinycteris argynnis, and Hipposideros caffer were found at all three sites. Based on the Shannon Index, it was observed that the Lomami site has a higher specific diversity than the two other areas (Yangambi and Epulu) 1.74 against 1.51 and 1.42 respectively.

biodiversity, Chiroptera, Epulu, Lomami, Protected Area, Yangambi

Received: 18.07.2017

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