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...
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