Movements of Cave Bats in Southeastern Brazil, with Emphasis on the Population Ecology of the Common Vampire Bat, Desmodus rotundus (Chiroptera)

Abstract

JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.. The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Biotropica. ABSTRACT A mark-recapture study of cave bats was carried out in the Alto Vale do rio Ribeira, SE Brazil. The size of the colonies varied monthly, indicating the occurrence of frequent movements among caves and a low degree of roost fidelity for the commonest species: Desmodus rotundus, Carollia perspicillata, Anoura caudifer, Artibeus fimbriatus. Phyllostomines (Trachops cirrhosus, Chrotopterus auritus) and Peropteryx macrotis seem more sedentary, as suggested by their higher recapture rates. D. rotundus uses multiple roosts, mostly within relatively small areas, with a 2-3 km radius. These vampires move preferentially along valleys, males moving more than females. Frequency of movements is probably related to the availability of roosts and dimate. The climate of the Alto Ribeira is subtropical, with cool nights during the "dry" season, when part of the vampire population (and other species as well) would migrate to warmer regions. Recapture rates and the estimated individual ranges are similar to those observed for this species in other regions. The minimum population density of D. rotundus varied monthly from one to 3.5 individuals per km2. Diphylla ecaudata moves more frequently and probably has larger individual ranges than D. rotundus, possibly due to its higher feeding specialization. RESUMO A ecologia de populasoes de morcegos cavernicolas do Alto Vale do Ribeira, Sudeste do Brasil, foi estudada atraves do metodo de marcasao e recaptura. Em geral, o tamanho das col6nias de morcegos variou mensalmente, o que indica a ocorrencia de movimentos frequentes entre cavernas e um baixo grau de fidelidade ao abrigo, ao menos nas esp&cies mais comuns: Desmodus rotundus, Carollia perspicillata, Anoura caudifer, Artibeusfimbriatus. Taxas superiores de recaptura sugerem que os morcegos Phyllostominae (Trachops cirrhosus, Chrotopterus auritus), assim como Peropteryx macrotis, sao mais sedentarios. D. rotundus utiliza abrigos multiplos, em geral situados em uma area relativamente pequena, com 2 a 3 km de raio. Esses vampiros deslocam-se preferencialmente ao longo de vales, sendo que os machos movimentam-se mais que as femeas. A frequencia de deslocamentos esta provavelmente relacionada A disponibilidade de abrigos e ao dima. 0 clima do Alto Ribeira e sub-tropical, com noites frias durante a estasao "seca," quando parte das populasoes de morcegos migraria para regioes mais quentes. As taxas de recaptura e a area de vida estimada para os vampiros comuns sao similares as observadas em outras regioes estudadas. A densidade populacional minima variou mensalme...

Bats from Fazenda Intervales, Southeastern Brazil: species account and comparison between different sampling methods

“…The Fazenda [ntervales station is located in an area of karst where limestome caves provide abundant roosts for bats. There is no distinct dry season in the area, although precipitation is lower between May and September than at other times of the year (TRAJANO 1996). The annual rainfall ranges between 1000 and 2000 mm, and the mean annual temperature is about 20°C.…”

Movements of bats (Mammalia, Chiroptera) in Atlantic Forest remnants in southern Brazil

“…Examining available data on the linear distances flown by different bat species (HEITHAUS & FLEMING 1978, TRAJANO 1996, COSSON et al 1999, ESBÉRARD 2003 as well as telemetry data (BERNARD & FENTON 2003), we found a wide range in published distancies, which is probably related to differential habitat use, including spatial and temporal distribution of resources (BERNARD & FENTON 2003). As an example, we can mention the values obtained in Brazil by some authors, such as ESBÉRARD (2003) BERNARD & FENTON (2003) for natural forest fragments of Central Amazonia: C. perspicillata-1.6 to 2.5 km, and TRAJANO (1996) for São Paulo State: D. rotundus-2.0 to 3.0 km. This information reinforces the dynamic nature of the exploratory behavior of bats, which is the product of different ecological and evolutionary pressures.…”

“…In countries like Brazil, which lacks basic information on the natural history of its bats (MARINHO-FILHO & SAZIMA 1998), available information on bat movements is even less extensive. A few notable exceptions include TRAJANO (1996), who studied bat movements among caves of southeastern Brazil and BERNARD & FENTON (2003), who investigated bat movements among natural forest fragments in Central Amazonia. Additionally, there are isolated records of the distances travelled by species in Rio de Janeiro State (ESBÉRARD 2003).…”

“…These patterns, which are determined by the structure of the habitat as well as by behavioral patterns of each species (GRA-HAM 2001), are particularly noteworthy in some mammalian groups. As an example, bats are the only mammals that fly, which enables them to explore the habitat in a complex way (FENTON 1992), resulting in regular local (short distance) and seasonal (long distance) movements (TRAJANO 1996).…”

Influência do sexo de indivíduos da mesma colônia no controle químico das populações do morcego hematófago Desmodus rotundus (Phyllostomidae) no estado de São Paulo

“…Fidelidade semelhante foi observada por Trajano (1996) nas populações de Desmodus rotundus do Vale do Ribeira, sul do estado de São Paulo. A autora ressaltou que os deslocamentos entre abrigos de uma determinada área são realizados principalmente por indivíduos machos, sendo as fêmeas mais fiéis aos abrigos diurnos.…”