Postnatal growth and reproductive biology of Rhinolophus hipposideros (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae)

Abstract

The timing of birth and postnatal growth in lesser horseshoe bats Rhinolophus hipposideros were studied during 2000 and 2001 at three maternity roosts located in the provinces of Carinthia and Salzburg, Austria. Postnatal growth curves for length of forearm and body mass were determined separately for the different colonies and years. Cooler weather during June 2001 coincided with a median birth date that was 8 days later than in 2000, whilst the difference between colonies was 4 and 5 days, respectively, for the pooled data of both years. Cool temperatures in June also coincided with a longer duration of the parturition period. Postnatal growth rates were higher than in most other bat species but differences between years and colonies were considerable. These differences may be attributed to the ambient roost temperatures, whereby the young of two cooler roosts showed significantly reduced growth rate during 8 days of cool weather in 2000. Moreover, later born and therefore smaller pups were more strongly affected by low temperatures than earlier born and larger ones. The mean length of forearm of young lesser horseshoe bats at the beginning of September equalled that of adult bats, whilst their body mass was still lower. Non-volant juveniles did not cluster following the nightly emergence of adult females, and a preferred location within the roosts could not be identified. High and very low roost temperatures, however, did have an influence on the location of non-volant young in the colonies.

Roosting behaviour and phenology of the Lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) in a breeding colony in Sintra, Portugal

“…During the two years of the study, 2010 and 2012, births happened relatively early when compared with the patterns described in other locations (Schofield 1996, Reiter 2004, Ifrim 2007. In our study, births started in 27 th May in 2010 while in Wales and in Romania births only started in the end of June and in the second half of July, respectively (Schofield 1996, Ifrim 2007.…”

Growth of horseshoe bats (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae) in temperate continental conditions and the influence of climate

“…Since bats are heterothermic, their body temperature and physiological activities are also strongly affected by changes in their roost temperature. Several studies have shown a clear correlation between birth time, prevailing climatic temperatures, and the size of juvenile bats, especially horseshoe bats (Rhinolophidae), along the respective species' northern distribution ranges (Ransome 1989(Ransome , 1998McOwat and Andrews 1995;Hoying and Kunz 1998;Koehler and Barclay 2000;Kunz and Hood 2000;Hood et al 2002;Reiter 2004). Sustained foraging flight in bats requires a mature, rigid skeleton (Burnett and Kunz 1982), and their wing bone growth takes place during the first few weeks of life.…”

Postnatal development of morphological features and vocalization in the pomona leaf-nosed bat Hipposideros pomona

“…Additionally, body mass of neonates are 11-43% of that of adults (Altringham 1996;Kunz et al 2009). In this study, the mean mass at birth of neonates of H. pomona was relatively large (39.7% of that of adults), which is generally associated with an advanced stage of development and is believed to aid the conservation of heat generated to maintain constant body temperature when the mother leaves the roost to forage (Reiter 2004). Carrying a heavier fetus during pregnancy and the associated increase in wing loading, however, can reduce flight maneuverability of pregnant females, which may, in turn, have increased predation risks from raptorial birds (McLean and Speakman 2000).…”