Abstract:
Africa faces significant challenges in reconciling economic and social development while
preserving its natural resources. Little is known about the diverse bat community on the continent,
particularly in drier ecosystems. A better understanding of the bat community will help improve
and inform the management of these ecosystems. Our study aimed to provide detailed information
on the main drivers of bat richness and activity at three different heights above the ground in a
semi-arid region of Kenya. We assessed how bat activity varied with space and height using acoustic
sampling and complementary methods. We sampled 48 sites at ground level and two sites on
meteorological masts at 20 m and 35 m above the ground. We recorded more than 20 bat species,
including one species of concern for conservation. Our models showed that the use of space varies
with bat guild, creating trade-offs in the variables that affect their activity. Low-flying bat species
are mostly associated with habitat variables, whereas high-flying species are more dependent on
weather conditions. Our study highlights the richness of bat assemblages in semi-arid environments
and emphasizes the need for management measures to protect bat diversity in the face of habitat
degradation caused by climate change, land management, and development projects.
