A house-dwelling maternity roost of Leisler's bats was found in a small village 20 km E of Prague... more A house-dwelling maternity roost of Leisler's bats was found in a small village 20 km E of Prague, Czech Republic, in 2011. The bats were roosting in crevices behind wooden facing and under the roofing of a house located at the edge of a large woodland. In 2012, bats used the roost from early May to early September and up to 178 individuals were counted during evening emergence. Repeated findings of non-volant pups and multiple captures of fledged juveniles and lactating females proved annual reproduction of the bats. The reported finding represents the first record of stable occupancy of a house by a maternity colony of Leisler's bats in the Czech Republic and raises a question about possible increase of the use of building roosts by this species in central Europe.
During the recent decade the Cypriot population ofthe Egyptian fmit bats, the only European megab... more During the recent decade the Cypriot population ofthe Egyptian fmit bats, the only European megabat, dramatically decreased and active conservation management is urgently needed. However, quite a limited information is available on details of its life history and ecology. Our study focused on spatial activity and food habits of three nearby colonies of fruitbats in mid summer and late winter when food supply is supposed to be palticularly limited. Using radio-tracking techniques (both manual and automatic), we investigated spatial activity and food habits of 43 fruitbats (summer: 8 females, II males; winter: 9 females, 15 males). Distances to which bats travelled largely varied and reflected availability offood supply. In mid summer, most bats foraged on flowering century plants (Agave americana) and switched to figs (Ficus carica) as soon as they became available. Late winter diet consisted of dates (Phoenix dactylifera), fruits ofPersian lilac (Melia azedarach), flowers of eucalypts, fruits of garden cultivar of common myrtle (Myrtus communis), mandarines and lemons. Dates were most preferred but largely unavailable in that period. The most striking finding was {hat all but one plant species consumed by bats in any period were non-native to the island and their occurrence was mostly restricted to waste grounds ar to decorative gardens in built-up areas. Flowers of Agave americana seemed to be a very important food item in mid ·ummer, however, its distribution is very patchy, number offlowering plants highly varies etween years and its persistence in the landscape is dependent on good will ofland owners as this plant is considered as alien and invasive plant in the whole Mediterranean region. Therefore, active conservation management ofCypriot fmit bats may include controversial _ractices, such as enhancing food availability in critical times ofthe year through supporting :he occurrence of an alien plant species.
Bats (Chiroptera) of the Třeboňsko Protected Landscape Area (Sou th Bohemia). The paper sumarises... more Bats (Chiroptera) of the Třeboňsko Protected Landscape Area (Sou th Bohemia). The paper sumarises all available data on the occurrence of bats in the Třeboňsko Biosphere Reserve, an important area of about 700 km 2 in southern Bohemia. In total, 16 bat species (about 70% of the bat fauna of the Czech Republic) have been recorded in the region. The most widespread species are Myotis daubentonii, M. mystacinus, Nyctalus noctula, Pipistrellus pygmaeus, and P. nathusii. Less common but also widespread species are Myotis brandtii, M. nattereri, Eptesicus serotinus, Plecotus auritus and P. austriacus. The occurrence of some other rare species (Vespertilio murinus, Nyctalus leisleri, Eptesicus nilssonii, Pipistrellus pipistrellus) is apparently rather local and scattered. Very scarce data on the occurrence of Barbastella barbastellus and, in particular, the lack of data on Myotis bechsteinii are quite surprising, especially in the context of their known presence in the nearby areas, where extensive faunal research has been carried out. We suggest mainly the absence of larger hibernacula for the former species and a generally rather diffi cult monitoring of the latter one to be an explanation of the scarcity of data. One species, Myotis myotis, has vanished from the region by disappearance of two formerly known maternity colonies. The relative density as well as long-term trends in numbers are also discussed in most species for which a suffi cient amount of data has been gathered.
Radiotracking is an important and often the only possible method to explore specific habits and t... more Radiotracking is an important and often the only possible method to explore specific habits and the behaviour of animals, but it has proven to be very demanding and time-consuming, especially when frequent positioning of a large group is required. Our aim was to address this issue by making the process partially automated, to mitigate the demands and related costs. This paper presents a novel automated tracking system that consists of a network of automated tracking stations deployed within the target area. Each station reads the signals from telemetry transmitters, estimates the bearing and distance of the tagged animals and records their position. The station is capable of tracking a theoretically unlimited number of transmitters on different frequency channels with the period of 5-15 seconds per single channel. An ordinary transmitter that fits within the supported frequency band might be used with BAARA (Biological AutomAted RAdiotracking); an extra option is the use of a customprogrammable transmitter with configurable operational parameters, such as the precise frequency channel or the transmission parameters. This new approach to a tracking system was tested for its applicability in a series of field and laboratory tests. BAARA has been tested within fieldwork explorations of Rousettus aegyptiacus during field trips to Dakhla oasis in Egypt. The results illustrate the novel perspective which automated radiotracking opens for the study of spatial behaviour, particularly in addressing topics in the domain of population ecology.
Acta Soc. Zool. Bohem. 72: 1103, 2008 ISSN 1211-376X ... Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of the East... more Acta Soc. Zool. Bohem. 72: 1103, 2008 ISSN 1211-376X ... Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. Part 6. Bats of Sinai (Egypt) with some taxonomic, ecological and echolocation data on that fauna ... Petr BENDA 1,2,11), ...
Background: White-nose syndrome is a disease of hibernating insectivorous bats associated with th... more Background: White-nose syndrome is a disease of hibernating insectivorous bats associated with the fungus Geomyces destructans. It first appeared in North America in 2006, where over a million bats died since then. In Europe, G. destructans was first identified in France in 2009. Its distribution, infection dynamics, and effects on hibernating bats in Europe are largely unknown.
We radio-tracked fifteen reproductive females (5 pregnant, 5 lactating, 5 in post-lactation) of t... more We radio-tracked fifteen reproductive females (5 pregnant, 5 lactating, 5 in post-lactation) of the Daubenton’s bat in summer 2005 in order to reveal the effect of reproductive state on their foraging and roosting activity. Spatial activity of females decreased from pregnancy to lactation and increased again in the post-lactation period. Overall time spent foraging did not differ among the three study periods. However, while pregnant and lactating females spent similar proportion of the night length foraging, females in the post-lactation period were foraging for shorter part of night. The frequency of nightly visits to roosts was highest during lactation but there was a trend towards shortening of particular visits during that period. All but one roost were in tree hollows excavated by woodpeckers in spatially restricted area of ca 0.7 km2. Tree cavities used during pregnancy were located higher on a tree trunk and had larger entrance area than the cavities used in the two later periods. Bats switched roosts every 2–3 days (range 1–8) and moved to a new roost up to 800 m apart. Pregnant females tended to switch roosts more frequently than females in the two later periods. We did not observe a significant effect of minimum nightly temperature on the activity of radio-tracked Daubenton’s bats. Therefore, we suggest that observed seasonal changes in the pattern of behaviour of Daubenton’s bat females were driven by their changing energetic demands rather than by some extrinsic factors (e.g. weather conditions).
Host-parasite relationships between the Daubenton's bat, Myotis daubentonii Kuhl, 1817 (Chiropter... more Host-parasite relationships between the Daubenton's bat, Myotis daubentonii Kuhl, 1817 (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), and its haematophagous ectoparasite, the mite Spinturnix andegavinus Kolenati, 1857 (Acari: Spinturnicidae), were subjected to analyses based on data gathered during a six-year study (1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004) within a single study area in South Bohemia, Czech Republic. Seven hundred and fifty-one Daubenton's bats were examined by screening wing membranes with an intensive light source, resulting in 4,690 recorded mites. Sex, age, weight and reproductive state were evaluated for each bat. A body condition index was calculated as a ratio of weight to forearm length. The seasonal course of mite infestation displayed distinct dynamics with the peak during the lactation and post-lactation periods coinciding with occurrence of the most numerous colonies of Daubenton's bats in the study area. Infestation rates differed between the two sexes, being higher in adult females than adult males. Juvenile bats of both sexes (with no differences between males and females) were the most infested group of all. Pregnant females had a significantly higher parasite load than non-pregnant ones, while no differences in infestation rates were found between lactating and non-lactating females. The analyses of the relationship between parasite load and body condition of bats revealed no common trends for all sex-and age-related groups. Two possible explanations are suggested and discussed: (1) There is no true relationship between the two tested variables and, thus, the significant results were attained due to a random statistical effect.
Roost microclimate plays an important role in the survival, growth and reproduction in microbats.... more Roost microclimate plays an important role in the survival, growth and reproduction in microbats. Entering torpor is one of the main energy saving mechanisms commonly used by microbats. The use of torpor is affected by roost microclimate and seasonally differs between the two sexes in relation to their reproductive condition. Consequently, thermal properties of male and female roosts should differ. To test this hypothesis, we compared temperature parameters of two anthropogenic day roosts of Daubenton’s bats with a different structure of the population inhabiting them. In accordance with our predictions, the roost occupied by a male-dominated colony was colder and more fluctuant than the maternity roost with a female-dominated population. However, using of the two roosts changed during the season in response to changing energetic demands of the two sexes. While males were almost absent in the warmer maternity roost during pregnancy and lactation, they appeared in this roost during the post-lactation when mating starts. In contrast, females did not use the colder (male) roost until the time of weaning of juveniles, i.e., the time when their thermoregulatory needs change and they may benefit from using colder roost. Our study provides the evidence that the same roost may be used by individuals of different sex and reproductive state in different periods of the year. Generalizations about roost selection without knowledge of temporal variation in roost use and microclimatic conditions should be taken with caution. Anthropogenic roosts may be advantageous to Daubenton’s bats as these can provide a variety of suitable microclimates and/or more space for roosting than tree cavities.
Seasonal dynamics in activity and habitat use of a bat community in the Českobudějovická pánev ba... more Seasonal dynamics in activity and habitat use of a bat community in the Českobudějovická pánev basin (S Bohemia). The paper summarizes results of two-year study (2002)(2003) of sea so nal chan ges in activity and some aspects of habitat use of a bat community in the Českobudějovická pánev basin. The course of seasonal activity of bats in Vrbenské rybníky fishpond Natural Reserve, which is a representative area of natural habitats of the basin, was assessed using a bat detector in the first half of the night. Seven species were recorded: the Noctule (Nyctalus noctula), Lesser noctule (Nycta lus leisleri), Dau ben ton's bat (Myotis dau ben to nii), Nathusius' pipistrelle (Pipistrellus nathusii), Common pi pis t rel le (Pi pis t rel lus pi pis t rellus), Pyg my pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus) and Serotine (Eptesicus se ro ti nus). Dif f e rent levels of flight and hunting activity were recorded in particular species throu g hout the year. A relatively constant level of flight activity was observed in N. noctula and M. daubentonii, with a decrease towards the autumn mi gra ti on period in the former species. The flight activity of N. leisleri showed profound seasonal dynamics with the peak in pre-lactation period and considerable decrease towards the end of the season. In all pipistrelle species, the highest level of flight activity occurred during the spring and autumn migration and pre-lacta ti on period, while it was relatively low in the rest of the year. The Serotine performed a relatively con stant level of flight activity between spring migration and the lactation period and de cre a sed flying activity in late summer onward. The hunting activity rapidly increased during the pre-lactation period. Time al lo ca ti on with respect to the period of male social calls has also been analysed in N. noctula and pi pis t rel le species. A considerable peak in presence of these calls occurred during autumn migration in N. noctula and P. pygmaeus, while social calls of P. nathusii were recorded throughout the year. The levels of flight activity of bats were studied in different parts of the basin. Ten habitats were re co gni zed: three woodland habitats (broad-leaved, mixed and coniferous forests), two aquatic habitats (reservoirs and ri vers), two urban ha bi tats (built-up areas with high and low buildings), meadows, arable land and parks. The activity of seven bat species (N. noctula, N. leisleri, P. nathusii, P. pipistrellus, P. pygmaeus, E. serotinus, M. dau ben to nii) and one species group (Myotis spp. except for M. daubentonii) was analysed. The pre sen ce of aquatic habitats strongly supported high levels of flight activity in most species except the Myotis spp. group, which was linked to woodland habitats. Water reservoirs and coniferous forests were the habitats with the highest and the lowest level of activity and species richness, respectively. Spatial se pa ra ti on of males of the two pipistrelle spe ci es (P. pipistrellus, P. pygmaeus) during the period of social voca li za ti on and mating is suggested as a target of further studies.
The few studies that have assessed the long-term patterns of re-use of tree cavities by bats all ... more The few studies that have assessed the long-term patterns of re-use of tree cavities by bats all concern North American bats. We studied long-term re-use of tree cavities by two species of European bat, Daubenton's bats (Myotis daubentonii) and noctules (Nyctalus noctula). Cavities were inspected during consecutive years via direct capture of bats (more than 340 positive capture events, ca 2950 captured bats), observations of emerging bats, or by listening for bats during the early evening when bats emit typical vocalization (over 160 positive checks, over 450 observed bats). Between 1968 and 2007, we found 80 tree cavities used by bats (mostly excavated by woodpeckers) in the Czech Republic. Although more than half of the cavities were occupied for 4 summers, 28 cavities (35%) were re-used for 5-10 years. The longest period a cavity was used was 11 and 16 years for Daubenton's and noctule bats, respectively. Sixteen tree cavities (20%) were occupied solely by Daubenton's bats and 33 cavities (41%) were occupied only by noctules. The other 31 cavities (39%) were used by both species, either at separate times or simultaneously. Our data suggest that the larger volume of a cavity, the longer duration of re-use and the greater the probability of being occupied by both species. Continuous excavation of cavities by woodpeckers prevented the overgrowth of old cavities by calluses, which keep cavities accessible to bats. We suggest that woodpeckers may be the most important providers of suitable roosts for forest bats in Central Europe. Roosts were found in both economically valuable trees (Quercus robur and Tilia cordata) and less valuable tree species (Salix fragilis and Alnus glutinuosa). Economically valuable trees in our study area were long-lived and likely provide roosting habitat for longer periods but matured at a greater age. However, less economically valuable trees reached maturity and started to decay in a relatively short time, which may provide suitable cavities at a younger age. Maintaining both types of trees within forests may help provide suitable roosting oportunities for tree-dwelling bats in the Czech Republic.
Between 2001 and 2008, we recorded Myotis alcathoe at nine sites within three distant areas in th... more Between 2001 and 2008, we recorded Myotis alcathoe at nine sites within three distant areas in the Czech Republic. The species identification was confirmed with cyt b sequences and four distinct haplotypes were identified. All the localities exhibit surprisingly uniform habitat characteristics: (1) old full-grown oak-hornbeam forests, with (2) numerous large trees in advanced stages of decay are present, and (3) a very small to large water bodies and/or patches of riparian vegetation surrounded by the forest. Using radiotracking techniques, we discovered 27 day roosts of M. alcathoe, located mostly in big oak, birch and lime trees inside extensive forest stands. All roosts were fissures or small cavities in a tree trunk and in branches in the canopies, some 16 m above the ground. Bats preferred trees that were higher, had higher canopy and canopy basement and had larger diameter at breast height than other available trees. Roost trees were surrounded by lower trees with lower canopy basements than available trees. Roost trees were in a poorer condition than other available trees. Roosts were occupied by up to 83 individuals in July but usually single individuals were found in the roosts in September. In contrast to syntopic M. mystacinus and M. brandtii, M. alcathoe has never been found in an anthropogenic roost (except for a fissure in concrete electricity pole). Preliminary analysis of the diet showed that nematoceran flies were the most important prey item along with spiders, caddis flies, small moths and neuropterans. In the observed ecological characteristics, M. alcathoe markedly differs from other European species of the genus Myotis. Its restricted habitat requirements are perhaps responsible for an islet-like pattern of its distribution and suggest an essential conservation value of the habitats of its occurrence.
A house-dwelling maternity roost of Leisler's bats was found in a small village 20 km E of Prague... more A house-dwelling maternity roost of Leisler's bats was found in a small village 20 km E of Prague, Czech Republic, in 2011. The bats were roosting in crevices behind wooden facing and under the roofing of a house located at the edge of a large woodland. In 2012, bats used the roost from early May to early September and up to 178 individuals were counted during evening emergence. Repeated findings of non-volant pups and multiple captures of fledged juveniles and lactating females proved annual reproduction of the bats. The reported finding represents the first record of stable occupancy of a house by a maternity colony of Leisler's bats in the Czech Republic and raises a question about possible increase of the use of building roosts by this species in central Europe.
During the recent decade the Cypriot population ofthe Egyptian fmit bats, the only European megab... more During the recent decade the Cypriot population ofthe Egyptian fmit bats, the only European megabat, dramatically decreased and active conservation management is urgently needed. However, quite a limited information is available on details of its life history and ecology. Our study focused on spatial activity and food habits of three nearby colonies of fruitbats in mid summer and late winter when food supply is supposed to be palticularly limited. Using radio-tracking techniques (both manual and automatic), we investigated spatial activity and food habits of 43 fruitbats (summer: 8 females, II males; winter: 9 females, 15 males). Distances to which bats travelled largely varied and reflected availability offood supply. In mid summer, most bats foraged on flowering century plants (Agave americana) and switched to figs (Ficus carica) as soon as they became available. Late winter diet consisted of dates (Phoenix dactylifera), fruits ofPersian lilac (Melia azedarach), flowers of eucalypts, fruits of garden cultivar of common myrtle (Myrtus communis), mandarines and lemons. Dates were most preferred but largely unavailable in that period. The most striking finding was {hat all but one plant species consumed by bats in any period were non-native to the island and their occurrence was mostly restricted to waste grounds ar to decorative gardens in built-up areas. Flowers of Agave americana seemed to be a very important food item in mid ·ummer, however, its distribution is very patchy, number offlowering plants highly varies etween years and its persistence in the landscape is dependent on good will ofland owners as this plant is considered as alien and invasive plant in the whole Mediterranean region. Therefore, active conservation management ofCypriot fmit bats may include controversial _ractices, such as enhancing food availability in critical times ofthe year through supporting :he occurrence of an alien plant species.
Bats (Chiroptera) of the Třeboňsko Protected Landscape Area (Sou th Bohemia). The paper sumarises... more Bats (Chiroptera) of the Třeboňsko Protected Landscape Area (Sou th Bohemia). The paper sumarises all available data on the occurrence of bats in the Třeboňsko Biosphere Reserve, an important area of about 700 km 2 in southern Bohemia. In total, 16 bat species (about 70% of the bat fauna of the Czech Republic) have been recorded in the region. The most widespread species are Myotis daubentonii, M. mystacinus, Nyctalus noctula, Pipistrellus pygmaeus, and P. nathusii. Less common but also widespread species are Myotis brandtii, M. nattereri, Eptesicus serotinus, Plecotus auritus and P. austriacus. The occurrence of some other rare species (Vespertilio murinus, Nyctalus leisleri, Eptesicus nilssonii, Pipistrellus pipistrellus) is apparently rather local and scattered. Very scarce data on the occurrence of Barbastella barbastellus and, in particular, the lack of data on Myotis bechsteinii are quite surprising, especially in the context of their known presence in the nearby areas, where extensive faunal research has been carried out. We suggest mainly the absence of larger hibernacula for the former species and a generally rather diffi cult monitoring of the latter one to be an explanation of the scarcity of data. One species, Myotis myotis, has vanished from the region by disappearance of two formerly known maternity colonies. The relative density as well as long-term trends in numbers are also discussed in most species for which a suffi cient amount of data has been gathered.
Radiotracking is an important and often the only possible method to explore specific habits and t... more Radiotracking is an important and often the only possible method to explore specific habits and the behaviour of animals, but it has proven to be very demanding and time-consuming, especially when frequent positioning of a large group is required. Our aim was to address this issue by making the process partially automated, to mitigate the demands and related costs. This paper presents a novel automated tracking system that consists of a network of automated tracking stations deployed within the target area. Each station reads the signals from telemetry transmitters, estimates the bearing and distance of the tagged animals and records their position. The station is capable of tracking a theoretically unlimited number of transmitters on different frequency channels with the period of 5-15 seconds per single channel. An ordinary transmitter that fits within the supported frequency band might be used with BAARA (Biological AutomAted RAdiotracking); an extra option is the use of a customprogrammable transmitter with configurable operational parameters, such as the precise frequency channel or the transmission parameters. This new approach to a tracking system was tested for its applicability in a series of field and laboratory tests. BAARA has been tested within fieldwork explorations of Rousettus aegyptiacus during field trips to Dakhla oasis in Egypt. The results illustrate the novel perspective which automated radiotracking opens for the study of spatial behaviour, particularly in addressing topics in the domain of population ecology.
Acta Soc. Zool. Bohem. 72: 1103, 2008 ISSN 1211-376X ... Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of the East... more Acta Soc. Zool. Bohem. 72: 1103, 2008 ISSN 1211-376X ... Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. Part 6. Bats of Sinai (Egypt) with some taxonomic, ecological and echolocation data on that fauna ... Petr BENDA 1,2,11), ...
Background: White-nose syndrome is a disease of hibernating insectivorous bats associated with th... more Background: White-nose syndrome is a disease of hibernating insectivorous bats associated with the fungus Geomyces destructans. It first appeared in North America in 2006, where over a million bats died since then. In Europe, G. destructans was first identified in France in 2009. Its distribution, infection dynamics, and effects on hibernating bats in Europe are largely unknown.
We radio-tracked fifteen reproductive females (5 pregnant, 5 lactating, 5 in post-lactation) of t... more We radio-tracked fifteen reproductive females (5 pregnant, 5 lactating, 5 in post-lactation) of the Daubenton’s bat in summer 2005 in order to reveal the effect of reproductive state on their foraging and roosting activity. Spatial activity of females decreased from pregnancy to lactation and increased again in the post-lactation period. Overall time spent foraging did not differ among the three study periods. However, while pregnant and lactating females spent similar proportion of the night length foraging, females in the post-lactation period were foraging for shorter part of night. The frequency of nightly visits to roosts was highest during lactation but there was a trend towards shortening of particular visits during that period. All but one roost were in tree hollows excavated by woodpeckers in spatially restricted area of ca 0.7 km2. Tree cavities used during pregnancy were located higher on a tree trunk and had larger entrance area than the cavities used in the two later periods. Bats switched roosts every 2–3 days (range 1–8) and moved to a new roost up to 800 m apart. Pregnant females tended to switch roosts more frequently than females in the two later periods. We did not observe a significant effect of minimum nightly temperature on the activity of radio-tracked Daubenton’s bats. Therefore, we suggest that observed seasonal changes in the pattern of behaviour of Daubenton’s bat females were driven by their changing energetic demands rather than by some extrinsic factors (e.g. weather conditions).
Host-parasite relationships between the Daubenton's bat, Myotis daubentonii Kuhl, 1817 (Chiropter... more Host-parasite relationships between the Daubenton's bat, Myotis daubentonii Kuhl, 1817 (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), and its haematophagous ectoparasite, the mite Spinturnix andegavinus Kolenati, 1857 (Acari: Spinturnicidae), were subjected to analyses based on data gathered during a six-year study (1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004) within a single study area in South Bohemia, Czech Republic. Seven hundred and fifty-one Daubenton's bats were examined by screening wing membranes with an intensive light source, resulting in 4,690 recorded mites. Sex, age, weight and reproductive state were evaluated for each bat. A body condition index was calculated as a ratio of weight to forearm length. The seasonal course of mite infestation displayed distinct dynamics with the peak during the lactation and post-lactation periods coinciding with occurrence of the most numerous colonies of Daubenton's bats in the study area. Infestation rates differed between the two sexes, being higher in adult females than adult males. Juvenile bats of both sexes (with no differences between males and females) were the most infested group of all. Pregnant females had a significantly higher parasite load than non-pregnant ones, while no differences in infestation rates were found between lactating and non-lactating females. The analyses of the relationship between parasite load and body condition of bats revealed no common trends for all sex-and age-related groups. Two possible explanations are suggested and discussed: (1) There is no true relationship between the two tested variables and, thus, the significant results were attained due to a random statistical effect.
Roost microclimate plays an important role in the survival, growth and reproduction in microbats.... more Roost microclimate plays an important role in the survival, growth and reproduction in microbats. Entering torpor is one of the main energy saving mechanisms commonly used by microbats. The use of torpor is affected by roost microclimate and seasonally differs between the two sexes in relation to their reproductive condition. Consequently, thermal properties of male and female roosts should differ. To test this hypothesis, we compared temperature parameters of two anthropogenic day roosts of Daubenton’s bats with a different structure of the population inhabiting them. In accordance with our predictions, the roost occupied by a male-dominated colony was colder and more fluctuant than the maternity roost with a female-dominated population. However, using of the two roosts changed during the season in response to changing energetic demands of the two sexes. While males were almost absent in the warmer maternity roost during pregnancy and lactation, they appeared in this roost during the post-lactation when mating starts. In contrast, females did not use the colder (male) roost until the time of weaning of juveniles, i.e., the time when their thermoregulatory needs change and they may benefit from using colder roost. Our study provides the evidence that the same roost may be used by individuals of different sex and reproductive state in different periods of the year. Generalizations about roost selection without knowledge of temporal variation in roost use and microclimatic conditions should be taken with caution. Anthropogenic roosts may be advantageous to Daubenton’s bats as these can provide a variety of suitable microclimates and/or more space for roosting than tree cavities.
Seasonal dynamics in activity and habitat use of a bat community in the Českobudějovická pánev ba... more Seasonal dynamics in activity and habitat use of a bat community in the Českobudějovická pánev basin (S Bohemia). The paper summarizes results of two-year study (2002)(2003) of sea so nal chan ges in activity and some aspects of habitat use of a bat community in the Českobudějovická pánev basin. The course of seasonal activity of bats in Vrbenské rybníky fishpond Natural Reserve, which is a representative area of natural habitats of the basin, was assessed using a bat detector in the first half of the night. Seven species were recorded: the Noctule (Nyctalus noctula), Lesser noctule (Nycta lus leisleri), Dau ben ton's bat (Myotis dau ben to nii), Nathusius' pipistrelle (Pipistrellus nathusii), Common pi pis t rel le (Pi pis t rel lus pi pis t rellus), Pyg my pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus) and Serotine (Eptesicus se ro ti nus). Dif f e rent levels of flight and hunting activity were recorded in particular species throu g hout the year. A relatively constant level of flight activity was observed in N. noctula and M. daubentonii, with a decrease towards the autumn mi gra ti on period in the former species. The flight activity of N. leisleri showed profound seasonal dynamics with the peak in pre-lactation period and considerable decrease towards the end of the season. In all pipistrelle species, the highest level of flight activity occurred during the spring and autumn migration and pre-lacta ti on period, while it was relatively low in the rest of the year. The Serotine performed a relatively con stant level of flight activity between spring migration and the lactation period and de cre a sed flying activity in late summer onward. The hunting activity rapidly increased during the pre-lactation period. Time al lo ca ti on with respect to the period of male social calls has also been analysed in N. noctula and pi pis t rel le species. A considerable peak in presence of these calls occurred during autumn migration in N. noctula and P. pygmaeus, while social calls of P. nathusii were recorded throughout the year. The levels of flight activity of bats were studied in different parts of the basin. Ten habitats were re co gni zed: three woodland habitats (broad-leaved, mixed and coniferous forests), two aquatic habitats (reservoirs and ri vers), two urban ha bi tats (built-up areas with high and low buildings), meadows, arable land and parks. The activity of seven bat species (N. noctula, N. leisleri, P. nathusii, P. pipistrellus, P. pygmaeus, E. serotinus, M. dau ben to nii) and one species group (Myotis spp. except for M. daubentonii) was analysed. The pre sen ce of aquatic habitats strongly supported high levels of flight activity in most species except the Myotis spp. group, which was linked to woodland habitats. Water reservoirs and coniferous forests were the habitats with the highest and the lowest level of activity and species richness, respectively. Spatial se pa ra ti on of males of the two pipistrelle spe ci es (P. pipistrellus, P. pygmaeus) during the period of social voca li za ti on and mating is suggested as a target of further studies.
The few studies that have assessed the long-term patterns of re-use of tree cavities by bats all ... more The few studies that have assessed the long-term patterns of re-use of tree cavities by bats all concern North American bats. We studied long-term re-use of tree cavities by two species of European bat, Daubenton's bats (Myotis daubentonii) and noctules (Nyctalus noctula). Cavities were inspected during consecutive years via direct capture of bats (more than 340 positive capture events, ca 2950 captured bats), observations of emerging bats, or by listening for bats during the early evening when bats emit typical vocalization (over 160 positive checks, over 450 observed bats). Between 1968 and 2007, we found 80 tree cavities used by bats (mostly excavated by woodpeckers) in the Czech Republic. Although more than half of the cavities were occupied for 4 summers, 28 cavities (35%) were re-used for 5-10 years. The longest period a cavity was used was 11 and 16 years for Daubenton's and noctule bats, respectively. Sixteen tree cavities (20%) were occupied solely by Daubenton's bats and 33 cavities (41%) were occupied only by noctules. The other 31 cavities (39%) were used by both species, either at separate times or simultaneously. Our data suggest that the larger volume of a cavity, the longer duration of re-use and the greater the probability of being occupied by both species. Continuous excavation of cavities by woodpeckers prevented the overgrowth of old cavities by calluses, which keep cavities accessible to bats. We suggest that woodpeckers may be the most important providers of suitable roosts for forest bats in Central Europe. Roosts were found in both economically valuable trees (Quercus robur and Tilia cordata) and less valuable tree species (Salix fragilis and Alnus glutinuosa). Economically valuable trees in our study area were long-lived and likely provide roosting habitat for longer periods but matured at a greater age. However, less economically valuable trees reached maturity and started to decay in a relatively short time, which may provide suitable cavities at a younger age. Maintaining both types of trees within forests may help provide suitable roosting oportunities for tree-dwelling bats in the Czech Republic.
Between 2001 and 2008, we recorded Myotis alcathoe at nine sites within three distant areas in th... more Between 2001 and 2008, we recorded Myotis alcathoe at nine sites within three distant areas in the Czech Republic. The species identification was confirmed with cyt b sequences and four distinct haplotypes were identified. All the localities exhibit surprisingly uniform habitat characteristics: (1) old full-grown oak-hornbeam forests, with (2) numerous large trees in advanced stages of decay are present, and (3) a very small to large water bodies and/or patches of riparian vegetation surrounded by the forest. Using radiotracking techniques, we discovered 27 day roosts of M. alcathoe, located mostly in big oak, birch and lime trees inside extensive forest stands. All roosts were fissures or small cavities in a tree trunk and in branches in the canopies, some 16 m above the ground. Bats preferred trees that were higher, had higher canopy and canopy basement and had larger diameter at breast height than other available trees. Roost trees were surrounded by lower trees with lower canopy basements than available trees. Roost trees were in a poorer condition than other available trees. Roosts were occupied by up to 83 individuals in July but usually single individuals were found in the roosts in September. In contrast to syntopic M. mystacinus and M. brandtii, M. alcathoe has never been found in an anthropogenic roost (except for a fissure in concrete electricity pole). Preliminary analysis of the diet showed that nematoceran flies were the most important prey item along with spiders, caddis flies, small moths and neuropterans. In the observed ecological characteristics, M. alcathoe markedly differs from other European species of the genus Myotis. Its restricted habitat requirements are perhaps responsible for an islet-like pattern of its distribution and suggest an essential conservation value of the habitats of its occurrence.
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Papers by Radek Lucan