Species Diversity of Bats in the Rich Limestone Complex Area of Merapoh in Lipis National Geopark, Malaysia

Merapoh, Pahang is an area rich with limestone karst located within Lipis National Geopark and home to the Sungai Relau gate of Taman Negara Pahang, a totally protected rainforest in Malaysia. Much of the research conducted here is mainly inside the national park, with few published faunal records for the Merapoh caves. Hence, this study compiled the data on the bat species diversity of eight Merapoh caves (March 2020 to March 2022) using mist nets and harp traps. Our results indicate that Chiroptera diversity at Merapoh caves is rich, with a total of 32 species recorded from 865 individuals and four new locality records for the state of Pahang namely Rousettus leschenaultii, Lyroderma lyra, Rhinolophus coelophyllus and Hipposideros pomona.. Gua Gunting has the highest diversity of bats (19 species) and also recorded the highest capture rate (640.63%, n=205 individuals).) Significant Merapoh caves that has primary colony bat roosts include Gua Jinjang Pelamin (Eonycteris spelaea & Rousettus leschenaultii), Gua Tahi Bintang (Hipposideros larvatus) and Gua Pasir Besar (Miniopterus medius). Rhinolophus convexus, previously recorded only in upper montane rainforests was also recorded in Merapoh caves indicating that this species can also be found in lower elevation than previously thought. Based on the findings of the current study and additional records from two previous studies have increased the Merapoh bat diversity checklist to 38 species. On the whole, the rich bat diversity in Merapoh is reflective of its immense limestone karst landscape highlights the reason Lipis National Geopark is recently gazetted. Future bat research should continue here and other karst in Lipis Geopark to not only better conserve biological diversity and geological structures but also raise awareness to the locals to appreciate their national heritage in aspiration to obtain the UNESCO Global Geopark status by 2025.