Aplicación de métodos no invasivos y convencionales en el estudio ecológico de Natalus primus (Chiroptera: Natalidae), uno de los murciélagos más amenazados de Cuba

Abstract

To combine not invasive technologies and conventional research methods could be the key stone to support strategies of conservation of threatened species. One of the species most threatened species in the west of Cuba is Natalus primus, one of the species with the smallest distribution in the world. N. primus, now in critical danger of extinction, have luck of ecological information who affect the conservation strategies on the specie. The main objective of this work was to analyze the effectiveness of not invasive technology and conventional methods, to collect ecological information of Natalus primus, one of the threatened bats in Cuba. The main results showed that, the population of N. primus stays relatively stable with a relative density of 576 copies. N. primus leaves the day refuge between 30 and 50 minutes after the sunset, traveling specific paths and avoiding the high densities of other species. The Natalidae Family presented the smallest values of density with a 5.3% of the total value of the colony. The use of mist-nets for the capture of N. primus proved to be a not efficient method to analyze habitat use, while the use of hand-nets inside the refuge was ratified as the main method for the capture of specimens.