Diversity, Vulnerability Threats, and Conservation of Cave- Roosting Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in Barangay Masiag, Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat

Bats are a mammalian species that successfully exploit and thrive in cave environments, While the Philippines has recorded 30 cave-roosting bat species, available data on cave bat populations on the island of Mindanao, particularly in the SOCCSKSARGEN Region, remains few and limited. This gap impedes the crafting and implementation of appropriate conservation strategies addressing the declining local bat populations. This study assessed the species diversity and threats to the conservation of cave-roosting bats in three cave sites in Barangay Masiag, Municipality of Bagumbayan in the Province of Sultan Kudarat, South-Central Mindanao. The study employed mist- netting techniques. Captured bats were documented and released immediately. Cave physicochemical conditions were recorded. A total of 33 cave-roosting bat individuals were captured and classified into three families, five genera, and five species. Family Pteropodidae included Rousettus amplexicaudatus and Ptenochirus jagori. Family Verpertilionidae included Pipistrellus cf. javanicus and Miniopterus cf. tristis, while Family Rhinolophidae included Rhinolophus cf. arcautus. P. jagori was found endemic to the Philippine islands and listed as "Other Wildlife Species" in the DAO 2019-09 List, meanwhile the R. cf. arcautus was listed as "Data Deficient" in the IUCN Red List 2022- 2 while the remaining species are "Least Concern". Preliminary assessment using Bat Cave Vulnerability Index revealed all three caves as Low Priority, suggesting that the cave is less vulnerable due to low-level species diversity and population. However, various cave threats were observed that may drive the population decline of cave-roosting bats, requiring the implementation of measures to protect and conserve cave bat fauna.