The aim of this project was to investigate the ecology of fruit bats within an area of old growth lowland dipterocarp forest in Peninsular Malaysia, with particular reference to <I>Balionycteris maculata.</I> Food particle size and crop size were two important factors that influenced diet choice and the partitioning of food resources throughout the fruit bat community at Kuala Lompat (Krau Wildlife Reserve, Pahang). <I>Balionycteris maculata </I>was the only species that fed regularly on the small, low-density fruits of understorey trees. Because they exploit food resources that are locally available throughout the year, male <I>B. maculata </I>are able to divide their nightly activity time between foraging and roost defence. Hence this species has developed a harem-based polygynous mating system, in which the roost cavity represents a critical resource for the recruitment of females. The roost cavities occupied by <I>B. maculata </I>were found within a variety of forest structures, including ant nests, termite nests, and epiphyte root masses. The consistent shape and positioning of these roost cavities, along with a single observation of cavity enlargement, indicate that <I>B. maculata </I>plays an active role in their creation. <I>Balionycteris maculata </I>has a polyoestrous reproductive cycle and gives birth to up to two litters per year. Although lactating females were captured throughout the year, the highest incidence of lactation was recorded between May and November. This period coincided approximately with the fruiting season of a number of large-seeded non-pioneer food plant species. Hence the reproductive timing of this species may have evolved in response to seasonal variation in the quantity and/or nutritional quality of available food resources. A botanical survey of one hectare of old growth forest revealed that 14% of trees (> 15 cm g.b.h.) were at least partially dependent upon fruit bats for pollination and/or seed dispersal. Hence fruit bats are likely to play a significant role in maintaining the biological diversity of Malaysian forests. Since several fruit bat species are strongly associated with old growth forest, the greatest threat to their survival comes from habitat destruction and agricultural expansion. The Krau Wildlife Reserve, and other protected areas in Malaysia, are therefore of critical importance for the long-term conservation of these species.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Committee on Evolutionary Biology, June 2001. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.Phil) - University of Queensland, 2005. / Includes bibliography.

Throughout their world distribution, fruit bats (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) play an extremely important role in forest ecology through seed dispersal and pollination. However, the recognition of their role in maintaining forest ecological diversity has been largely overshadowed by the fact that fruit bats are known to cause damage to a wide variety of cultivated fruits and, as a result, significant effort is undertaken to control fruit bat numbers in areas where crop damage frequently occurs. In Australia, fruit bats of the genus Pteropus (or flying foxes) are well known for their role in destroying valuable fruit crops, particularly along the east coast from Cairns to Sydney. Historical evidence suggests that flying foxes have been culled as an orchard pest in large numbers for the past 80 years. Uncontrolled culling both on-farm and in roosts coupled with extensive habitat destruction in the past century, has resulted in noticeable declines both in flying fox distribution and local population numbers. In New South Wales, flying foxes have been 'protected' under the National Parks and Wildlife Act (1974) since 1986. From that time, fruitgrowers have been required to obtain a licence (referred to as an occupier's licence) from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to cull flying foxes causing damage to fruit crops. However, despite the 'protected' status of the species, flying foxes continue to be culled in large numbers as an orchard pest. An examination of the management of flying foxes in NSW, has shown that, between 1986-1992, fifteen NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Districts issued a combined total of 616 occupier's licences to shoot flying foxes with an total allocation of over 240,000 animals. In addition, most flying foxes are culled when the female is carrying her young under wing or when the young remain in the camp but continue to be dependent on her return for survival. Further evidence on the extent of culling includes a widely distributed fruitgrower survey with responses indicating that as few as 50% of the fruitgrowers shooting flying foxes in NSW obtain the required licence from the National Parks and Wildlife Service. While the NPWS has undertaken research into the role of flying foxes in seed dispersal and pollination, management effort largely continues to focus on resolving conflicts between fruitgrowers and flying foxes primarily by issuing culling permits to fruitgrowers. At present, there is no NPWS policy on the management of flying foxes in NSW to guide the administration of the permit system. As a result, the process of issuing permits for flying foxes is largely inconsistent between NPWS Districts. The absence of comprehensive goals and objectives for the management of flying foxes has resulted in the current situation where large numbers of flying foxes are being culled both legally and illegally in the absence of any data on the impacts of unknown culling levels on local flying fox populations. The NPWS has a statutory obligation to manage flying foxes consistent with the 'protected' status of the species in NSW and several well known principles of wildlife management. However, current management of flying foxes in indicates that the Service may be in violation of the requirement to 'protect' and 'conserve' flying foxes as required under the National Parks and Wildlife Act (1974). This study recommends that licences issued to fruitgrowers to cull flying foxes be discontinued immediately and that adequate enforcement be engaged to reduce illegal shooting. This action should continue until such time that research on flying fox populations is able to demonstrate that the culling of flying foxes will not lead populations into decline. Furthermore, management effort should focus on the development of alternative strategies to reduce crop damage by flying foxes and provide incentives for growers to utilize existing control strategies such as netting.