INTRODUCTION:

In the last 50 years Tabasco has changed significantly its original vegetation; most of them were converted to pastureland and croplands. These changes have been threatening biodiversity. In response to this problem, system states of protected natural area was created, with the main goal of the conservation of natural systems and save guard the ecosystem. In fact the knowledge about bats in Tabasco is poor and its importance is not known in protected natural areas. This study is to identify and quantify the richness of bats species in each of the protected natural areas in Tabasco.

METHODS:

The data of the presence of bat species were obtained through the research of literature studies of bats in different protected areas of the state of Tabasco and fieldwork. The literature research was performed in national and international articles. The field surveys were conducted during the period between January 2006 and December 2010. Every natural protected area was sampled one time by three consecutive nights. The bats capture was done through six mist nets.

RESULTS:

We registered six families, 35 gender and 55 bat species in eight natural protected areas. The family Phyllostomidae is the one who had the highest number of species (37) and the frugivore e insectivore were the most diversity trophic guild. We recorded 13 bat species that have some categories of protection in the NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010. The most complementarity sites in natural protected areas were between Parque Estatal Agua Blanca and Reserva Ecológica Río Playa. The state park Agua Blanca and La Sierra are the natural areas with the highest richness in species, this shows the importance of the natural protected area in the conservation of bats.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

The seven protected natural areas studied harbors 90 % of bat species recorded in the state, most of them in State Parks possibly the most studied ones. Although none is endangered, high percentage are species that live in large continuous forest or forest fragments and are sensitive to changes in coverage of natural vegetation. The diversity of bats reported in this study, is result to the different habitats that are represented in the different protected natural areas. This situation shows the importance of the maintaining of the different habitat types for the conservation of bat diversity in the state. We recommend systematic studies within and outside of protected areas such as inventories, studies on biology and ecology of bats.