The Contribution of Fruit bats, Eidolon helvum, to biodiversity on the University of Energy and Natural Resources’ Campus, Sunyani, Ghana

Abstract

The dispersal ability of straw coloured fruit bats (Eidolon helvum), was investigated on the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) Campus in Sunyani from January 2013 to December 2014. A reconnaissance exercise was conducted in the UENR in order to stratify the campus into bat-occupied and unoccupied zones (strata) based on the presence or absence of roost trees occupied by bats. The Wildlife Sanctuary represented the main bat roost site (bat-occupied zone) whilst the rest of the campus constituted the unoccupied zone. Using 64 (4m x 4m) quadrats and 32 seed traps made from plastic sheets were set up randomly in the bat occupied areas. Seeds dispersed were collected on the seed traps and identified. The contribution of the dispersed seeds to the regeneration of the total plant population in the undergrowth wasestimated at 1.7%. Notable species which were dispersed by bats were Mallotus opposotifolius, (16.1%), Broussonetia papyrifera (10.6%), Ficus exasperate (6.6%), Solanum erianthum (6.2%) and Morus mesozygia (4.6%) of total seeds dispersed. These plants were found to have been introduced by E. helvum into the study area and are contributing to the ecological improvement by increasing biodiversity through regeneration.

Key Words: Eidolon helvum, disperse, seeds, reconnaissance