SCHOOL OF DISTANCE EDUCATION

RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Roosting ecology of black-beaded tomb bats (Taphozous

melanopogon) in a temple cave.

PROPOSED BY: MOHAMAD AMINUDDIN BIN IBRAHIM

JP/10277/16
930109-03-5153

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE DEGREE BACHELOR

OF SCIENCE (BIOLOGY)
 SUPERVISOR:
Lim Lee-Sim, DPhil
Biology Section
School of Distance Education
University Sains Malaysia (USM)
11800 Penang,
Malaysia.
Tel No.: 04-6535956
INTRODUCTION :

The Black-bearded tomb bat Taphozous melanopogon Temminck, 1841 (Chiroptera:

Emballonuridae) is a wide-ranging dispersed species in South and Southeast Asia (Srinivasulu

and Srinivasulu, 2005). In Southeast Asia, it is generally dispersed from Myanmar in the west,

through Thailand, Lao PDR, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, to

Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Bali, Nusa Penida, Lombok, Sumbawa, Sulawesi, Waleabahi, Sanana,

Buru, Halmahera and Bunguran), the island of Timor (East Timor and Indonesia), the island of

Borneo (Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia), and the Philippines. This species is known from a

wide variation of forested natural surroundings in tropical districts, and has also been recorded

from metropolitan territories. It is found in mountain regions and roost in caverns, old run down

structures, old forts, sanctuaries, deserted mines, passages and churches (Lawrence 1939,

Sanborn 1952, Taylor 1934, Rickart et al. 1993, Heaney et al. 1998, Smith and Xie 2008, Phelps

et al. 2016). This species is pioneer and roosts in colonies of a couple to a large number of

individuals. It is aware, nimble and flies with fast, straight pitching flight (Bates and Harrison

1997). Single young are brought into the world after an gestation time of 120-125 days (Bates

and Harrison 1997).

The day roosts are significant in bats conservation (Lumsden et al., 2002; Evelyn et al.,

2004; Fenton, 1997). The creature uses the majority of their lives in their roost. Roosting site

deliver protection from the hunters, controls of thermoregulation, focal point for social

connections, just as safety places for maternity (Kunz, 1982; Atringham, 1996).
 They involved numerous kinds of roost, for example, caverns, rock crevices, tree hollows

or even an insect's homes. Beside from roosting in regular structures, bats additionally have

been referred to use human made structures alternative for natural roost. Burial chambers, wells

mine passages and bridges are generally utilized by specific types of bats. Lately, building is one

of the most repeated human made structures that were utilized by bats; particularly where the

natural roosts is inadequate.

Fig. 1 Cave roost of Taphozous melanopogon in an erosion dome in Thailand (Voigt and
Kingston, 2015)

Taphozous melanopogon was seeing as normal species by IUCN. Be that as it may, in

Penang, this species was limited (Yasuma et al., 2003). This species are medium sized bats;

forearm range from 60 to 65 mm and was considered as territory generalist. They roost in

numerous spots including sea cliffs and trees. With high wing stacking, high viewpoint

proportion and pointed wing-tip, Black Bearded Tomb Bats are quick fliers yet less in mobility.
Statement of problem

The roost choice in bats includes numerous commonly significant variables. Normally,

bats pick region that has lower predation hazard, diminished ectoparasite disease, higher from

ground (Psyllakis and Brigham, 2006), and quite near water supply (Evelyn et al., 2004) and

foraging region (Kunz, 1982). Thermal stability likewise one of the main factor in bats roost

choice. Lausen and Barclay (2006) clarified the fundamental purpose behind bats involved

human settlements is a direct result of thermal preferences where warm temperatures can

diminish energy consumption and furthermore offer advantage in term of productivity.

Regardless of the consistency of published studies, there is still lack of roosting

characteristic for some species around the world particularly around human settlement (Evelyn et

al., 2004). Additionally, a far too little consideration has been paid to the roosting data of bats in

jungles area (Rodriguez-Duran and Soto-Centeno, 2003). Numerous studies have been conducted

yet mostly in temperate nations. Current research has recognized roost as the most significant

element in bats conservation. Hence, such data is required as the bats stay unprotected in

numerous parts on the world.

Study areas

The study was conducted in Tua Peh Kong temple at the foot of Penang Hill in Ayer

Itam, Penang. The study area was focused on area inside the cave. Built in the 1900's, this temple

has a cave inside it where thousands of bats dwell.

 Expected outcomes

The obvious outcome was the presence of hundreds of the bats inside the temple at the

foot of Penang Hill. The Temple is sacred spot for Buddhist and it generally connected with

tidiness and the present of bats inside cave create ruckus. Stable temperature and relative

humidity and defence from hunters in all likelihood took care of the danger roost with human.

Warm temperatures diminish energy consumption and furthermore offer advantage in term of

productivity. Social activities likewise should be possible easily without danger from hunters.

Significance of this study

Current research has identified roost as the most critical component in bats conservation.

Hence, such data is critically required as the bats stay unprotected in numerous parts in the

world. More understanding about the animal’s needs and their behaviour may be able to provide

solution for human-bats conflicts since bats always regarded as nuisance and frequently

persecuted.

OBJECTIVE :

1) To investigate microclimate of a long term Taphozous melanopogon’s roost in a temple

cave.

2) To determine the roost count on the bats during day when the bats are all back in the

roost and resting.

3) To investigate relationship between the colony’s daily emergence time and returning time

to the roost and the daily weather.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Bat Captures and Handling

For this, individual bats were caught inside cave utilizing either a hand net or mist nets.

Mist nets were set up inside the cavern before 7.30pm, and thereafter were checked with a time

interval of 15 minutes for each. From each caught bat, a few measurements were taken including

those for the outside body parts and weight. In view of this measurement plus a couple of

subjective characters, caught bats were recognized to species using keys provided by Kingston et

al. (2006) and Francis (2008). Caught bats were release after the process.

Bat Occurrence, Physical Conditions and Microclimates of the Roosts

During the bat survey conducted, an area inside temple was affirmed to be used by bats

as roost. For these bat roost, we recorded their geographic directions, significant living space

materials and opening headings. Furthermore, an estimating tape was utilized to gauge their

measurements including lengths, widths, heights of the floors over the ground and heights from

the floors to the roofs. Visits were made to the bat roost from November 2020 to January 2021,

during which day by day records were made of the number of roosting bats around early

afternoon (12.00 pm) without conducting bat catches.

 During this research period, a Lutron multifunction meter model EM-9300SD was

utilized to measure the microclimate parameter inside the roost including temperature (°C),

humidity (%), light intensity (Lux) and wind speed (m/s). Estimations of these parameters were

automatically recorded by the Lutron meter every day at 8:00 h (for example a period during the

day when most bats had quite recently gotten back from searches, and hence microclimates then

could be generally related to bats' dynamic decisions of the roost) and 12:00 h (for example

during the mid-day which roost exterior got the most daylight and indoor temperature is required

to be the most highest, with all the bats completely settling down and at rest).

Data Analysis

All gathered microclimate parameters were examined to get their daily average and its

standard deviation for morning readings, early afternoon readings and overall daily (total of

morning and early afternoon) readings separately. The median, minimum and maximum of every

parameter for the morning time period were likewise decided for both particular roost. The

contrasts between the bat roost as far as the four chose microclimate parameters were assessed

using Wilcoxon marked positioned (WSR) tests. All counts were performed in the coin package

(Hothorn et al., 2006; Hothorn et al., 2008) of (R Core Team, 2016).

 GANTT CHART

Table 1: Gantt chart for project research

Nov Feb Mac Apr May Jun Jul
2020 2021 2021 2021 2021 2021 2021
Dis Jan
Tasks
2020 2021

Week 1
Week 2

Week 2

Week 4

Week 2

Week 4

Week 2

Week 4

Week 2
Week 3

Week 4

Week 1

Week 3

Week 1

Week 3

Week 1

Week 3

Week 1

Week 3
Week 4
Title
Literature review and early writing
Discussion with supervisor
Proposal writing
Materials checking
Proposal checking by supervisor
Proposal submission
Writing report
Field work tests
Collecting and analyze data
Submission of report (draft)
Early presentation
Complete the project report
Submission of report for assessment and
viva
Final presentation
Final report correction
Submission of project thesis (final)
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