Characterization of caves as bat roosts in the brazilian-paranense biogeographic region of Bolivia

Abstract

Bats play vital roles in nature as pollinators, seed dispersers, and natural controllers of insect pests. They serve as indicators of habitat disturbance and provide an insight into the health status of an ecosystem. This enormous importance contrasts with the lack of information on the current state of their roosts in Bolivia, particularly as regards caves and caverns. A search for caves and caverns was carried out in the eastern department of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, corresponding to the Brazilian-Paranense biogeographic region. Subsequently, an environmental-structural characterization of the caves was conducted to obtain biological information by capturing and identifying bats in eastern Bolivia. Interspecific associations in caves and the relationship between roost characteristics and bat diversity were explored and described based on the variables evaluated. A total of 19 caves were evaluated. A correlation between environmental and structural parameters was investigated, showing a relationship between cave length and humidity. Seven species of cave bats were identified, and two species of threatened Bolivian bats (Lonchorhina aurita and Natalus macrourus) were found in four caves. The caves evaluated are new records of this vital habitat for bats in the country. The presence or absence of bat species was found to depend on the structural characteristics of the cave (length, complexity), but not on temperature, although humidity may play a role in the presence of species. Among the species found, those highly specialized in the selection and use of roosts at caves could be prone to local extinctions. It is suggested that further investigations should be carried out on the ecology of these cave-dwelling bat species to identify the roosting patterns of bats and their distribution range, to elaborate conservation and management programs for caves and the animal communities sheltered. Los murciélagos cumplen roles muy importantes en la naturaleza como polinizadores, dispersores de semillas, controladores naturales de plagas de insectos, son indicadores de niveles de perturbación de hábitats y ofrecen una amplia visión de la salud de un ecosistema. Esta enorme importancia contrasta con la falta de información sobre el estado actual de sus refugios en Bolivia, particularmente aquella relacionada con cuevas y cavernas. Se realizó una búsqueda de cuevas y cavernas en el este del departamento de Santa Cruz, Bolivia, correspondiente a la región biogeográfica Brasileño-Paranense. Posteriormente, se registraron las características ambientales-estructurales de las cuevas y se obtuvo información biológica mediante captura e identificación de murciélagos en el este de Bolivia. Se determinó la asociación interespecífica en las cuevas y la relación existente entre las características de los refugios con la diversidad de murciélagos con la finalidad de describir estos refugios en función a sus variables evaluadas. Un total de 19 cuevas fueron evaluadas. Los parámetros ambientales se correlacionaron con los estructurales mostrand...

Population structure and habitat preference of cave crickets (<i>Rhaphidophora</i> sp. (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae)) in Sanghyang Kenit cave, Citatah karst area, West Java

“…Bats population in Sanghyang Kenit was distributed from twilight to dark zones, which generated guano piles on the cave floor. Commensurate with cave crickets, bats prefer humid and dark places for their roosting sites (Furey & Racey 2016;Lizarro et al 2020;Newman et al 2021). The measurement of soil pH showed that twilight and dark zones have more acidic pH than the entrance.…”

Morcegos da Bacia do Alto Paraguai: revisão da fauna e distribuição de registros

“…Na BAP, foi registrada no planalto, nas regiões de Bonito, Miranda, Cuiabá, Corixo Grande, Tucavaca, Bolívia e Paraguai; e na planície, nas regiões de Nabileque e Miranda (E. Gonçalves & Gregorin, 2004;E. Fischer et al, 2015;Bordignon & Shapiro, 2018;Lizarro et al, 2020). Utiliza ambientes florestais associados a corpos d'água.…”

“…Oliveira, 2016;Silveira, 2016;Bordignon & Shapiro, 2018;N. Carvalho, 2017;Lizarro et al, 2020;Silveira et al, 2020;C. Santos et al, 2021).…”

“…Na BAP, foi localizada pricipalmente no planalto, nas regiões Corixo Grande, Departamento de Santa Cruz (Bolívia), Tucavaca, Miranda, Taquari e Itiquira-Piquiri (Brasil) (Taddei & Uieda, 2001;Aguirre, 2007;E. Fischer et al, 2015Lizarro et al, 2020); registrada também na planície, na região do Nabileque (Bordignon & Shapiro, 2018). Consome exclusivamente insetos pequenos.…”

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“…Na BAP, foi registrada no planalto, nas regiões de Bonito, Miranda, Cuiabá, Corixo Grande, Tucavaca, Bolívia e Paraguai; e na planície, nas regiões de Nabileque e Miranda (E. Gonçalves & Gregorin, 2004;E. Fischer et al, 2015;Bordignon & Shapiro, 2018;Lizarro et al, 2020). Utiliza ambientes florestais associados a corpos d'água.…”