Local concentration of foraging noctule bats (Nyctalus noctula) as a possible tool to assess the density of bats in large forest complexes

Polakowski, M.; Broniszewska, Monika; Ruczyński, Ireneusz

doi:10.3906/zoo-1304-15

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Noctule bats in our studies started their emergences as much as 25 min before sunset. This is consistent with observations by Polakowski et al (2014) over the Siemianowka reservoir, where noctule bats started to forage as much as 15 min before sunset. In both noctule and Leisler's bats, ambient temperature determined also the duration of being out of the roost.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Insect activity is highly positively correlated with ambient temperature (Abdullah 1961;Taylor 1963;Bale et al 2002). Low temperature constrains insect activity patterns, so insect density becomes much lower soon after sunset, when temperature decreases (Kunz 1973;Racey and Swift 1985;Rydell et al 1996;Polakowski et al 2014). A second peak of insect density starts at the end of the night (Racey and Swift 1985;Rydell et al 1996).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Activity patterns of two syntopic and closely related aerial-hawking bat species during breeding season in Białowieża Primaeval Forest

et al. 2016

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Temporal and spatial activity of bats is species specific and shaped by many factors such as energy requirements, climate conditions and food distribution. Pregnancy and lactation are the most energy-demanding periods throughout the female life cycle. During these periods, females have to optimize their activity patterns to maximize foraging success; however, they simultaneously need to take care of their young. In addition, daily and seasonal fluctuations of insect availability strongly affect bat foraging activity. If females, which are under strong energy constraints, belong to closely related species, they may potentially suffer from competition. One of the mechanisms that allows them to avoid competition is temporal and spatial niche partitioning. Noctule and Leisler's bats are closely related forest-dwelling species whose diet is similar and consists mainly of ephemeral insects. The aim of our study was to test if they exhibit similar patterns in relation to the time and duration of their nocturnal activity. In Białowieża Forest, we demonstrated that female nocturnal activity of both noctule and Leisler's bats was shaped mostly by reproductive period and ambient temperature. We did not observe significant differences in the activity patterns of the two noctule species, which suggests that physiological constraints connected with reproduction and environmental conditions affect these species in a similar way and outweigh the competition between species.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%