Investigations of the Cave Atmosphere of a Mexican Bat Colony

Roosting Ecology of Bats

“…If modifications are severe, this mayexplain why some roosts become temporarily or permanently abandoned. The accumulation of nitrogeneous wastes and feces may create high concentrations of ammonia in some caves (Constantine, 1958b(Constantine, , 1967Mitchell, 1964;Dwyer and Hamilton-Smith, 1965;Brosset, 1966) and cause physiological stress on its inhabitants or alter species composition. As the concentration of atmospheric ammonia increases in caves, species diversity tends to decrease (Studier, 1966).…”

Carbon Dioxide Retention: A Mechanism of Ammonia Tolerance in Mammals

“…Ammonia is exhaled by the guano bat upon its return from highly ammoniated air to normal air in amounts equivalent to the elevation in blood ammonium levels produced through inhalation of ammoniated air (Studier 1966). There is no significant rise in urinary urea and ammonium nitrogen in the California leaf-nosed bat after exposure to high inhaled levels of ammonia (Mitchell 1963). For these reasons, it appears that most of the elevation in blood urea and ammonia nitrogen found in the species tested, particularly guano bats, results wholly from increased blood ammonium levels.…”

“…The metabolic response of mice and their inability to retain carbon dioxide in response to elevated levels of inhaled ammonia may explain the observations that hypercapnia and hypoxia tend to augment the toxicity of injected ammonium salts (Warren andSchenker 1960, 1962). Both of these conditions exist normally in the roosting environment of guano bats (Mitchell 1964) and apparently aid in their ability to tolerate high inhaled ammonia levels.…”

“…gross survival, to inhaled ammonia in air mixtures (Weedon, Hartzell, and Setterstrom 1940;Henderson an(l Haggard 1943;Studier, Beck, and Lindeborg 1967). The ability of bats and rabbits to withstand high levels of inhaled ammonia has prompted general studies on tolerance mechanisms in those groups (Boyd, MacL-achlan, and Perny 1944;Mitchell 1964;Studier, Beck and Lindeborg 1967). Most studies concerning mechanisms of tolerance to inhaled ammonia in mammals can be divided into twc general areas: (i) the interaction of ammonia and respiratory tract mucous (Studier 1966, 1969) and(ii) homeostatic mechanisms concerned with neutralization oi alkali excess (Mitchell 1964;Studier 1965).…”

“…The ability of bats and rabbits to withstand high levels of inhaled ammonia has prompted general studies on tolerance mechanisms in those groups (Boyd, MacL-achlan, and Perny 1944;Mitchell 1964;Studier, Beck and Lindeborg 1967). Most studies concerning mechanisms of tolerance to inhaled ammonia in mammals can be divided into twc general areas: (i) the interaction of ammonia and respiratory tract mucous (Studier 1966, 1969) and(ii) homeostatic mechanisms concerned with neutralization oi alkali excess (Mitchell 1964;Studier 1965). Additionally, much of the work concerned with the toxic effects of hyperammonemia resulting from metabolic disorders in normal ammonium detoxification pathways also applies to the variance in tolerance to inhaled ammonia exhibited by mammals (Warren and Schenker 1964;Shorey, McCandless, and Schenker 1967;Schenker et al 1967).…”