Habitat loss and fragmentation are major threats to biodiversity worldwide, and little is known about their effects on bats in Africa. We investigated effects of forest fragmentation on bat assemblages at Kakamega Forest, western Kenya, examining captures at edge and interior locations in three forest fragments (Buyangu, 3950 ha; Kisere, 400 ha; and Malava, 100 ha) varying in forest area and human-use regimes. Basal area, canopy cover, tree density and intensity of human use were used as predictors of bat abundance and species richness. A total of 3456 mist-net hours and 3168 harp-trap hours resulted in the capture of 4983 bats representing 26 species, eight families and four foraging ensembles (frugivores, forest-interior insectivores, forest-edge insectivores and open-space insectivores). Frugivores were frequently captured at the edges of the larger, better-protected forests, but also in the interior of the smaller, more open fragment. Forest-interior insectivores and narrow-space foragers predominated in the interiors of larger fragments but avoided the smallest one. Forest specialists showed positive associations with forest variables (canopy cover, basal area and tree density), whereas frugivores responded positively to the human-use indicators. On these bases, specialist species appear to be especially vulnerable to forest fragmentation.

中文翻译：

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栖息地破碎化对肯尼亚西部卡卡梅加森林蝙蝠的影响

栖息地丧失和破碎化是全球生物多样性面临的主要威胁，人们对它们对非洲蝙蝠的影响知之甚少。我们调查了肯尼亚西部 Kakamega 森林的森林破碎化对蝙蝠群落的影响，检查了三个森林碎片（Buyangu，3950 公顷；Kisere，400 公顷；和 Malava，100 公顷）的边缘和内部位置的捕获量，森林面积和人类不同-使用制度。基底面积、树冠覆盖、树木密度和人类使用强度被用作蝙蝠丰度和物种丰富度的预测因子。总共 3456 小时的雾网和 3168 小时的竖琴陷阱捕获了 4983 只蝙蝠，代表 26 个物种、8 个科和 4 个觅食群（食果动物、森林内部食虫动物、森林边缘食虫动物和开放空间食虫动物）。食果动物经常在较大、保护较好的森林边缘被捕获，但也在较小、更开阔的碎片内部。森林内部的食虫动物和狭窄空间的觅食者在较大碎片的内部占主导地位，但避开了最小的碎片。森林专家表现出与森林变量（树冠覆盖、基底面积和树木密度）的正相关，而食果动物对人类利用指标的反应是积极的。在这些基础上，专业物种似乎特别容易受到森林破碎化的影响。森林专家表现出与森林变量（树冠覆盖、基底面积和树木密度）的正相关，而食果动物对人类利用指标的反应是积极的。在这些基础上，专业物种似乎特别容易受到森林破碎化的影响。森林专家表现出与森林变量（树冠覆盖、基底面积和树木密度）的正相关，而食果动物对人类利用指标的反应是积极的。在这些基础上，专业物种似乎特别容易受到森林破碎化的影响。