Rare species are those that have low abundances and/or small ranges. Rabinowitz (1981) identified seven forms of rarity based on three traits that all species possess: Geographic Range: Whether a species occurs over a broad area or whether it is endemic to a particular small area; Habitat Specificity: The degree to which a species occurs in a variety of habitats or is restricted to one or a few specialized sites; Local Population Size: Whether a species if found in large populations somewhere within its range or has small populations wherever it is found.
Rare species can be identified through many variables: abundance, habitat specificity, taxonomic distinctness, range size, and persistence through evolutionary or ecological time. Of these variables, the most commonly used are abundance and range size.
Some bat species may be very rare in Egypt; the relative rareness of bats in arid regions, especially in the Sinai Mountains, makes regular bat projects difficult.
The Sinai barbastelle is an important component of the Egyptian fauna, there is very little knowledge of their ecology and behavior.
It is necessary to improve basic knowledge of the distribution and systematic of the bats of Egypt, to serve as a basis for further scientific studies and conservation planning and to raise awareness for the necessity of conservation efforts. |
