Abstract

BOTTO NUNEZ, Germán; GONZALEZ, Enrique M  and  RODALES, Ana L. Conservation of bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) from Uruguay: current situation and perspectives. Mastozool. neotrop. [online]. 2019, vol.26, n.1, pp.49-64. ISSN 0327-9383.

Bats are the second more diverse order of mammals. They are important providers of ecosystemic services and they are bioindicator species. This is the first contribution aimed to analyze specifically the conservation status of bats in Uruguay. We applied the IUCN methodology for regional assessments to establish the current conservation status. We compiled a list of threats to bat conservation in Uruguay and analyzed the susceptibility of Uruguayan species to each of them. Finally, we performed a cluster analysis to build focal conservation objects, combining species based on common features. Of the 19 studied species, three are in some risk category, and for three of them Uruguay is on the limit of the distribution. We identified a set of four threats and proposed five focal objects to be conserved, associated to: ranches in the north, Uruguay river’s islands, savanna-like forests, cities, and caves. To protect the bats from Uruguay is necessary to increase research, develop scientific collections under modern criteria, strengthen public and private institutions, develop an educational and communicational strategy, and to establish in situ conservation measures both in natural areas and anthropogenic shelters.

Keywords : Cluster analysis; Conservation focal objects; IUCN regional assessments; Threats.