Does size matter? Bat diversity and the use of rock shelters in Brazil

A positive correlation between cave size and bat diversity has been recorded by some authors for different cave areas in South America. We analyzed published and otherwise available data from three Brazilian karst areas and phytogeography domains, including NE and SE Atlantic Forest and Cerrado (sa...

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Main Authors: Eleonora Trajano, Matheus Fragoso Etges
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PAGEPress Publications 2023-05-01
Series:Tropical Zoology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.pagepress.org/biology/tz/article/view/108
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author Eleonora Trajano
Matheus Fragoso Etges
author_facet Eleonora Trajano
Matheus Fragoso Etges
author_sort Eleonora Trajano
collection DOAJ
description A positive correlation between cave size and bat diversity has been recorded by some authors for different cave areas in South America. We analyzed published and otherwise available data from three Brazilian karst areas and phytogeography domains, including NE and SE Atlantic Forest and Cerrado (savannah-like vegetation), encompassing a wide range of cave sizes. We found no such correlation, as expected in view of previous observations by researchers and speleologists. We discuss the ecological implications of different ways to measure bat diversity, i.e. the accumulative number of species (sequential use of caves) vs. the number of species at a given occasion (species in actual cohabitation) vs. bat abundance (numbers of individuals), as well as speleological topics related to the concept of caves (based on an anthropomorphic definition, not applicable to other species), the problems of estimating topographic variables such as cave area and volume, and the value of including cave temperatures in the analyses. Multiple interacting variables may influence the composition of cave bat communities and bat species richness and abundance. The most important ones would be the density of caves in a given area (related to lithology – calcareous vs. siliciclastic caves), regional climates, and degree of preservation of epigean habitat. Cave morphology, number and size of entrances, and presence of water bodies, as well as interactions with other species, must also be considered. In conclusion, as a general statement for tropical and subtropical bats, cave size (in the human sense) by itself does not matter, except perhaps for one-off situations. Finally, a brief overview of the diversity of cave bats in Brazil is presented.
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spelling doaj.art-8e73fe46fa0b42a89bb9b423da38e02e2023-05-25T12:46:38ZengPAGEPress PublicationsTropical Zoology0394-69751970-95282023-05-01353-410.4081/tz.2022.108Does size matter? Bat diversity and the use of rock shelters in BrazilEleonora Trajano0Matheus Fragoso Etges1Instituto de Biociências da Universidade de São Paulo, San PauloLaboratório de Manejo e Conservação da Vida Silvestre, Department of Ecology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre A positive correlation between cave size and bat diversity has been recorded by some authors for different cave areas in South America. We analyzed published and otherwise available data from three Brazilian karst areas and phytogeography domains, including NE and SE Atlantic Forest and Cerrado (savannah-like vegetation), encompassing a wide range of cave sizes. We found no such correlation, as expected in view of previous observations by researchers and speleologists. We discuss the ecological implications of different ways to measure bat diversity, i.e. the accumulative number of species (sequential use of caves) vs. the number of species at a given occasion (species in actual cohabitation) vs. bat abundance (numbers of individuals), as well as speleological topics related to the concept of caves (based on an anthropomorphic definition, not applicable to other species), the problems of estimating topographic variables such as cave area and volume, and the value of including cave temperatures in the analyses. Multiple interacting variables may influence the composition of cave bat communities and bat species richness and abundance. The most important ones would be the density of caves in a given area (related to lithology – calcareous vs. siliciclastic caves), regional climates, and degree of preservation of epigean habitat. Cave morphology, number and size of entrances, and presence of water bodies, as well as interactions with other species, must also be considered. In conclusion, as a general statement for tropical and subtropical bats, cave size (in the human sense) by itself does not matter, except perhaps for one-off situations. Finally, a brief overview of the diversity of cave bats in Brazil is presented. https://www.pagepress.org/biology/tz/article/view/108batscavesBraziluse of sheltercave size
spellingShingle Eleonora Trajano
Matheus Fragoso Etges
Does size matter? Bat diversity and the use of rock shelters in Brazil
Tropical Zoology
bats
caves
Brazil
use of shelter
cave size
title Does size matter? Bat diversity and the use of rock shelters in Brazil
title_full Does size matter? Bat diversity and the use of rock shelters in Brazil
title_fullStr Does size matter? Bat diversity and the use of rock shelters in Brazil
title_full_unstemmed Does size matter? Bat diversity and the use of rock shelters in Brazil
title_short Does size matter? Bat diversity and the use of rock shelters in Brazil
title_sort does size matter bat diversity and the use of rock shelters in brazil
topic bats
caves
Brazil
use of shelter
cave size
url https://www.pagepress.org/biology/tz/article/view/108
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