Abstract Recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot, coastal forests in eastern Africa are currently reduced to fragments amidst human modified habitats. Managing for biodiversity depends on our understanding of how many and which species can persist in these modified areas. Aiming at clarifying how habitat structure changes affect bat assemblage composition and richness, we used ground-level mist nets at Arabuko-Sokoke Forest (ASF) and adjacent farmlands. Habitat structure was assessed using the point-centered quarter (PCQ) method at 210 points per habitat. We captured a total of 24 bat species (ASF: 19, farmlands: 23) and 5217 individuals (ASF: 19.1%, farmlands: 82.9%). Bat diversity was higher at ASF (H′, ASF: 1.48 ± 0.2, farm: 1.33 ± 0.1), but bat richness and abundance were higher in farmlands [Chao1, ASF: 19 (19–25), farmlands: 24 (24–32) species (95% confidence interval [CI])]. Understory vegetation and canopy cover were highest at ASF and the lower bat richness and abundance observed may be the result of the under-sampling of many clutter tolerant and high flying species. Future surveys should combine different methods of capture and acoustic surveys to comprehensively sample bats at ASF. Nonetheless, the rich bat assemblages observed in farmlands around ASF should be valued and landowners encouraged to maintain orchards on their farms.

中文翻译：

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肯尼亚阿拉布科-索科克森林和邻近农田蝙蝠组合的组成和多样性

摘要 作为公认的全球生物多样性热点，东非的沿海森林目前在人类改造的栖息地中已沦为碎片。生物多样性的管理取决于我们对有多少和哪些物种可以在这些改造地区生存的理解。为了阐明栖息地结构变化如何影响蝙蝠组合的组成和丰富度，我们在阿拉布科-索科克森林 (ASF) 和邻近农田使用了地面雾网。栖息地结构使用以点为中心的四分之一 (PCQ) 方法在每个栖息地 210 个点进行评估。我们总共捕获了 24 种蝙蝠（ASF：19，农田：23）和 5217 只蝙蝠（ASF：19.1%，农田：82.9%）。ASF 的蝙蝠多样性较高（H'，ASF：1.48 ± 0.2，农场：1.33 ± 0.1），但农田的蝙蝠丰富度和丰度较高 [Chao1，ASF：19 (19-25)，农田：24 (24–32) 个物种（95% 置信区间 [CI]）]。ASF 的林下植被和冠层覆盖率最高，观察到的蝙蝠丰富度和丰度较低可能是许多耐杂波和高飞物种采样不足的结果。未来的调查应结合不同的捕获方法和声学调查，在 ASF 中对蝙蝠进行全面采样。尽管如此，在 ASF 周围的农田中观察到的丰富的蝙蝠组合应该受到重视，并鼓励土地所有者在他们的农场维护果园。未来的调查应结合不同的捕获方法和声学调查，在 ASF 中对蝙蝠进行全面采样。尽管如此，在 ASF 周围的农田中观察到的丰富的蝙蝠组合应该受到重视，并鼓励土地所有者在他们的农场维护果园。未来的调查应结合不同的捕获方法和声学调查，在 ASF 中对蝙蝠进行全面采样。尽管如此，在 ASF 周围的农田中观察到的丰富的蝙蝠组合应该受到重视，并鼓励土地所有者在他们的农场维护果园。