Mariana Fruit Bat By James Chung

Mariana Fruit Bat

Pteropus mariannus mariannus 

By James Chung

http://www.uog.edu/news-announcements/endangered-fruit-bat

Mariana Fruit Bat, also known as the Fanihi, is a subspecies that are endemic to the Mariana archipelago, within the territory of Guam and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. They are known to be within 14 of the 15 islands. Surveys done in 1983 and 2001 have shown that the northern islands have supported majority of the species. It has a recovery priority number of 9 on scale of 1c to 18, 1c being the highest and 18 being the lowest which means the species has a high potential for recovery. It was listed as endangered in 1984, but changed to threatened in 2005 by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Mariana Fruit Bat Recovery Plan,2009).

A Description About the Cute Creatures

The Mariana Fruit Bat is a medium-sized bat that can weigh from 0.66 pounds to 1.15 pounds. They have a wingspan of 25 to 27 inches They have black to brown abdomens, golden-brown necks, round ears, and large eyes creating a canine appearance (fws.gov). Mating happens year round for this subspecies, but survey in the southern islands show that peak birthing may occur in May and June. The females have one offspring per year, which explains their slow growth rate. The fruit bats are strong fliers which help with their inter-island traveling (Mariana Fruit Bat Recovery Plan,2009).

http://animal.memozee.com/ArchOLD-4/1128059751.jpg

Habitat Requirements

The Mariana Fruit Bats are known to live in colonies and establish themselves in limestone trees near each other. Their diet is well provided by their surrounding as they consume fruits, nectar, pollen and leaves. Because of their quick metabolism, these bats depend on their environment to provide a variety of food all year long thus showing that the native forests are essential to their roosting and dietary patterns. This species are also found to fly between islands and repopulating if one islands species have decreased (Mariana Fruit Bat Recovery Plan,2009). These bats are important to the ecosystem because of their critical role as pollinators and seed spreaders.

The Threats They Face

http://www.livescience.com/27449-guam-brown-tree-snake.html

http://www.guampedia.com/fanihi-mariana-fruit-bat/

Due to habitat degradation done by agriculture, introduction of non-native plants and exotic animals, the species faced a steep decline in population. Brown Tree Snakes that are present on these islands present a threat to young bats in the habitat. Other factors that have influenced the population decline are illegal hunting for their meat and natural disasters, such as volcanic eruption from the northern Mariana island of Anatahan.             Small islands are more vulnerable to random environmental changes, such as a typhoon, which may decimate the small population of bats. These factors gave an estimated forty percent decline in the number of fruit bats (Mariana Fruit Bat Recovery Plan,2009).

The Marian Fruit bat has faced many fluctuations in population sizes . The Northen islands surveyed 7,450 individuals in 1983 . In the southern islands, Rota faced severe storms which decreased the bat population to 700 in 2006. Saipan has a Navy protected site for the bats,which numbered 50 or less individuals, to prevent hunting. Tinian has observed the fruit bats only once between 2002 and 2007 (Mariana Fruit Bat Recovery Plan,2009).

http://vevesworld.com/northern-mariana-islands/

Recovery Criteria 
 
The Mariana Fruit Bat is eligible for delisting from threatened list by 2030 if these criteria are met as proposed by the recovery plan (Mariana Fruit Bat Recovery Plan,2009).

1. Population must increase and become stable so that a small island species avoids the risk of genetic risk. To do so distribution of bats from the more stable islands to help increase the population.

2. A monitoring program is needed so that after the Mariana Fruit bat is delisted any changes may be detected.

3. Habitat is restored, which includes the control of invasive species and ungulates.

4. Actions taken to reduce illegal hunting and that it no longer endangers the species.

5. Brown Tree Snakes must be controlled and there must be prevention from the spreading to the other islands.

6. Any urban development and military activities must be avoided or minimized.

With current implementations of the recovery plan, delisting may occur by 2030.

Total estimated cost of recovery from 2010 to 2014 was $13,209,000

The recovery goal is to strengthen the individual islands population and strengthen inter-island travel by the bats. Doing so will increase survival against natural disasters that may decimate the population of one or more islands (Mariana Fruit Bat Recovery Plan,2009).

Recovery Actions

Education

First step is to develop education beginning with schools teaching children and providing access to the fruit bats through zoos. Public servants would go through quarterly classes to teach them of the decline in populations of the fruit bats. The local government will involve hunters and residents in research and recovery. They will work on establishing protected roost sites for the bats.

Law Enforcement on Illegal Hunting

Stricter laws will be enforced with authorities investigating illegal hunting aggressively. The investigations will also include preventing illegal pet trades.

Restoration

Next is managing the site in order to protect and restore the habitat. To do so, ungulates and Brown Treesnakes must be eradicated or reduced depending on the sites and prevention from them spreading is needed. Next to fix the habitat, the must control all invasive non-native plants and replenish the area with native trees and shrubs.

Research and Monitoring

Due to lack of knowledge of the Mariana Fruit bats, monitoring and increased research need to be established to further update the recovery plan. This includes having research teams readily available and active recovery team.

What Can You Do

The first essential step that anyone can do is research. Becoming aware of any threatened/endangered species will help you understand how much change is occurring to our world and other species.

Volunteers and donations are always needed as research/monitor teams are always needed to help the Mariana Fruit Bats. The Anderson Airforce Base in Guam accepts volunteers to help their conservation program. (anderson.af.mil)

http://www.andersen.af.mil/

To Learn More 
Visit this link to learn more in depth details about the Mariana Fruit Bat
http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Pteropus_mariannus/

 Works Cited

 Draft Revised Recovery Plan for the Mariana Fruit Bat or Fanihi (pteropus Mariannus Mariannus). Portland, Or.: Region 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2009. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Web.

Pacific Region Web Development. "Mariana Fruit Bat - Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office." Mariana Fruit Bat - Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2016.

 White, Melissa B. "Save the Fruit Bats! First Large-scale Survey at Andersen Sets Baselin." Andersen Air Force Base. N.p., 14 July 2014. Web. 01 Dec. 2016. 

 Winter, Brianne. "Pteropus Mariannus (Marianas Flying Fox)." Animal Diversity Web. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2016.