The Impact of Rice Phenology on Local Bat Activity and Community Composition in Gunung Keriang, Malaysia

Bats’ ecosystem services, especially as insect pest controllers, are often neglected. Studies on bats in the rice fields provide valuable insights into the bat species that forage during different phases of paddy growth. A bat detector was used to record bat activity at three identified sites in the rice fields of Gunung Keriang. A total of 947 recordings with 15 bat species were recorded for the dry season, and 1710 recordings with 12 bat species were recorded for the wet season. Overall, 16 bat species were identified from the recordings, including 11 forest foragers (Rhinolophus pusillus, Rhinolophus affinis, Rhinolophus coelophyllus, Rhinolophus stheno, Rhinolophus malayanus, Rhinolophus refulgens, Hipposideros armiger, Hipposideros bicolor, Hipposideros diadema, Hipposideros larvatus, and Myotis muricola), four edge foragers (Taphozous melanopogon, Scotophilus kuhlii, Miniopterus pusillus, and Miniopterus magnater), and one bat species of open-space forager (Chaerephon plicatus). Our study revealed a significant presence of Rhinolophus species passing through and foraging in rice fields. The results indicated that bat species associated with edges and open spaces dominated the overall bat activity in the rice fields, emphasizing the importance of rice fields as crucial foraging areas for these insectivorous bat species.