Spatial and temporal movement patterns of the flying fox, Pteropus tonganus, in American Samoa

The flying fox (Pteropus tonganus) is 1 of the most widely distributed Pteropus species but is restricted to island habitats. Flying foxes experienced a precipitous population decline on American Samoa during the early 1990s due to the impact of hurricanes and overhunting. At that time, little was known about its breeding biology, resource needs, activity patterns, and spatial requirements. To make wise conservation decisions to facilitate population recovery, we used radiotracking and observational techniques to determine space use and activity patterns of P. tonganus. juvenile males were netted with greater frequency (50%, n = 14) than other age and sex classes. Radiocollars were placed on 18 animals. Daytime activity included grooming and intraspecific interactions at the colonial roost. Collared animals departed from day roosts to forage in the early evening an average of 17 (+/-4 SE) min after sunset. Movement patterns and roost locations of P. tonganus divided the island into 2 groups, 1 east and 1 west of Pago Pago. Individuals with roosts on the west side of the island flew farther-22.8 (+/-8.3 SE) km-in a single night than individuals from the cast side-4.8 (+/-0.6 SE) km. Roost shifts were occasionally documented in both collared and non-collared animals. Foraging was noted in both agroforest and primary forest spanning the entire island. Shifts in foraging sites were common. These results suggest that the population of P. tonganus on Tutuila, American Samoa, should be managed as a cohesive group and that primary forest should be protected to provide adequate roosting and foraging habitat for this species.