Population structure of Daubenton’s bats is responding to microclimate of anthropogenic roosts

Abstract

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.

Contrasting effects of climate change on the timing of reproduction and reproductive success of a temperate insectivorous bat

“…building roost with stable occupancy) provided unique conditions to gather a long‐term data that could hardly be acquired from tree roosts. Thus, colony has been studied in detail since the late 1960s (Lučan, ; Lučan & Hanák, 2011 a , b ). Despite some degree of disturbance because of the research activity, we did not observe any negative effects on bats.…”

Bats and Caves: Activity and Ecology of Bats Wintering in Caves

“…This type of activity suggests that, during this period, the cave may be being used as a night roost between peaks in foraging activity or as a transitional day roost [11,18]. At this time, the cave entrance is visited almost exclusively by males [34,35] as adult females occupy maternity roosts during lactation and return to these between foraging bouts, night roosts being used sporadically and for brief periods [36,37].…”

Metal and metalloid exposure and oxidative status in free-living individuals of Myotis daubentonii

“…However, individuals do show area roost fidelity (Lucan andHanak 2011, Ngamprasertwong et al 2014). Generally, M. daubentonii become sexually mature at their first year, being able to reproduce in late summer (Encarnação et al 2004).…”