Effect of colony size and reproductive period on the emergence behaviour of a maternity colony of Daubenton’s Bat (Myotis daubentonii) occupying an artificial roost (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) [Vliv velikosti kolonie a období reprodukčního cyklu na výletové chování mateřské kolonie netopýra vodního (Myotis daubentonii) obývající umělý úkryt (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)]

Pages

71–81

Citation

LUČAN, Radek K.. Effect of colony size and reproductive period on the emergence behaviour of a maternity colony of Daubenton’s Bat (Myotis daubentonii) occupying an artificial roost (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) [Vliv velikosti kolonie a období reprodukčního cyklu na výletové chování mateřské kolonie netopýra vodního (Myotis daubentonii) obývající umělý úkryt (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)]. Lynx, new series. Prague: National Museum, 2009, 40(1), 71–81. ISSN 0024-7774 (print), 1804-6460 (online). Also available from: https://www.nm.cz/en/periodicals/lns/40-1/effect-of-colony-size-and-reproductive-period-on-the-emergence-behaviour-of-a-maternity-colony-of-daubentons-bat-myotis-daubentonii-occupying-an-artificial-roost-chiroptera-vespertilionidae-vliv-velikosti-kolonie-a-obdobi-reprodukcniho-cyklu-na-vyletove-chovani-materske-kolonie-netopyra-vodniho-myotis-daubentonii-obyvajici-umely-ukryt-chiroptera-vespertilionidae

Lynx, new series | 2009/40/1

Emergence behaviour of a maternity colony of Daubenton’s bat (Myotis daubentonii) occupying an artificial roost was studied between 1999 and 2009 in South Bohemia, Czech Republic. The time of emergence of the first bat (TFB), rather than the median time of emergence, was used in the analysis, as these two variables were highly correlated. Daubenton’s bats started to emerge from their roost 28±12 (mean±SD) minutes after sunset (min–max: 8–64). The onset of emergence had no relation to the size of the colony, but it was strongly affected by the period of the reproductive cycle. The most pronounced difference was observed between pregnancy and lactation. On average, the bats emerged by 14 minutes earlier during lactation than during pregnancy. The emergence pattern typically followed a unimodal distribution with a peak in the middle or in the second half of the exodus. The emergence rate was positively correlated with the total number of bats in the roost. The emergence length increased significantly with the increasing number of bats in the roost and varied between periods of the reproductive cycle. It was longest during lactation and shortest during autumn movements. The seasonal dynamic in the number of bats in the roost followed a bimodal pattern with a first peak occurring during spring movements and pregnancy followed by a decrease during lactation and a second peak during the post-lactation period. A comparison of TFB between the studied artificial roost and tree cavities (i.e. natural roosts) located in the same study area revealed that bats roosting in tree cavities followed the same seasonal pattern as in the artificial roost but emerged significantly later.

Lucan2009lynx.pdf