First ecological report of bat diversity present in Sierra de Navachiste protected area, Sinaloa, Mexico

Abstract

In Mexico, studies on bats have reported the presence of eight families and a total of 140 species, of which seven families and 55 species are reported for the state of Sinaloa. However, the Sierra de Navachiste, México is a natural protected area of state jurisdiction registered as an area subject to Ecological Conservation. studies on bat populations in this area are scarce or nonexistent, resulting in their environmental needs, current threats and the impact they have at population level being unknown. Despite finding a low species richness (five species), the migratory species Leptonycteris yerbabuenae was caught in Sierra de Navachiste. This bat is included on the IUCN red list (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) as a "vulnerable" species, and in Mexico it is listed as "Special protection" species. This bat is considered a keystone mutualist within the ecosystem due to its function as pollinator of the dominant columnar cacti and spreading its seeds though fruit consumption. These activities promote the dispersal of these plants and maintains the structure and health of the ecosystem. Due to the importance of the Sierra Navachiste as a refuge for at least five bat species, including one migratory and protected species, it is necessary to establish a management plan in order to protect the chiroptera community that depends on it.