Effects of the Anthropogenic Threats to the Egyptian Fruit Bat in the Mediterranean Region, Turkey

Abstract

An Afro-tropical species, Rousettus aegyptiacus (Geoffroy, 1810), is the only frugivorous bat distributed in Antalya, Mersin, Adana and Hatay provinces in Turkey. Despite various studies on taxonomy, distribution, karyology, bioecology and molecular genetics being undertaken, no recent data has been established on the latest status of the fruit bat populations in Turkey. The two largest permanent colonies from Adana and Hatay provinces were examined for this study. We determined negative anthropogenic threats on the Rousettus aegyptiacus colonies along with their habitats. Compared with the previous records, a serious reduction in numbers was recorded in one of the species largest colonies