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Journal of Wildlife and Parks, 36: 75-93 (2021)
Journal of Wildlife and Parks, 36: 75-93 (2021)

SEED AND POLLEN DISPERSAL BY SMALL PTEROPODID
BATS IN LOWLAND FORESTS OF TERENGGANU,
PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

Mohammad Naufal Mohammad Shah , Khairul Bariah Mohd
1
1
2
2,3
Johan , Azuan Roslan , Hasrul Zaman Hassan Basri , Elizabeth
Pesiu , Muhammad Aidil Zahidin , Mohd Tajuddin Abdullah 2,5,6 &
2,4
2
1
*Mohamed Nor Zalipah

1 Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia
Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
2 Institute of Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development,
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu,
Malaysia.
3 Current address: Biodiversity and Forestry Management Division,
Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Level 12, Wisma Sumber Asli,
Presint 4, 62574, Putrajaya, Malaysia.
4 Current address: School of Medical Science, Universiti Sains Malaysia
(Health Campus), 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
5 Current address: Fellow Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Level 20, West
Wing, Tingkat 20, Menara MATRADE, Jalan Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah,
50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
6 Current address: Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Universiti
Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.

*Corresponding author’s email: zalipah@umt.edu.my

ABSTRACT

Understanding plant-bat mutualisms such as seed dispersal and pollination is still
limited in Malaysia. Thus, this study was conducted from mid-July to the end of
August 2016, to determine the potential role of small pteropodid bats as seed
dispersal and pollinating agents in selected lowland rainforests of Terengganu.
Bats were netted and swabbed for pollen load and faeces were collected to
examine the seeds ingested by the bats. A total of 64 pteropodid bats were
captured consisting of six species. The predominant bat species captured were
Cynopterus brachyotis with 34 individuals (53 % of the total captures) and C.
horsfieldii with 12 individuals (19 %). These two frugivorous bat species were
the important seed dispersal and pollinating agents at the study sites, as these bats
ingested a high number of seeds and carried multiple pollen grains on their bodies.
Conversely, the nectarivorous Macroglossus sobrinus was found to only carrying
pollen grains, indicating that the species is not a seed disperser whilst it is an