Spatial Behavior and Habitat Use of Two Sympatric Bat Species
Movement behavior and habitat use of the long-eared bat species <i>Plecotus auritus</i> and <i>Plecotus austriacus</i> were studied in the Havelland region in Brandenburg (Germany). Data collection included mist-netting, radiotelemetry, reconstruction of prey items, and monit...
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/12/3460 |
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| author | Nicole Starik Thomas Göttert Ulrich Zeller |
| author_facet | Nicole Starik Thomas Göttert Ulrich Zeller |
| author_sort | Nicole Starik |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Movement behavior and habitat use of the long-eared bat species <i>Plecotus auritus</i> and <i>Plecotus austriacus</i> were studied in the Havelland region in Brandenburg (Germany). Data collection included mist-netting, radiotelemetry, reconstruction of prey items, and monitoring of roosting sites. Body measurements confirm a high degree of phenotypic similarity between the two species. Total activity areas (100% Minimum Convex Polygons, MCPS) of <i>Plecotus austriacus</i> (2828.3 ± 1269.43 ha) were up to five-fold larger compared to <i>Plecotus auritus</i> (544.54 ± 295.89 ha). The activity areas of <i>Plecotus austriacus</i> contained up to 11 distinct core areas, and their mean total size (149.7 ± 0.07 ha) was approximately three-fold larger compared to core areas of <i>Plecotus auritus</i> (49.2 ± 25.6 ha). The mean distance between consecutive fixes per night was 12.72 ± 3.7 km for <i>Plecotus austriacus</i> and 4.23 ± 2.8 km for <i>Plecotus auritus.</i> While <i>Plecotus austriacus</i> was located most frequently over pastures (>40%) and meadows (>20%), <i>P. auritus</i> was located mostly within deciduous (>50%) and mixed forests (>30%) in close vicinity to its roosts. Roost site monitoring indicates that the activity of <i>P. austriacus</i> is delayed relative to <i>P. auritus</i> in spring and declined earlier in autumn. These phenological differences are probably related to the species’ respective diets. Levins’ measure of trophic niche breadth suggests that the prey spectrum for <i>P. auritus</i> is more diverse during spring (B = 2.86) and autumn (B = 2.82) compared to <i>P. austriacus</i> (spring: B = 1.7; autumn: B = 2.1). Our results give reason to consider these interspecific ecological variations and species-specific requirements of <i>P. auritus</i> and <i>P. austriacus</i> to develop adapted and improved conservation measures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:39:45Z |
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| id | doaj.art-8f2b55e05efc47e39617595f8f1898a7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:39:45Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-8f2b55e05efc47e39617595f8f1898a72023-11-23T03:27:19ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-12-011112346010.3390/ani11123460Spatial Behavior and Habitat Use of Two Sympatric Bat SpeciesNicole Starik0Thomas Göttert1Ulrich Zeller2Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10115 Berlin, GermanyResearch Center [Sustainability–Transformation–Transfer], Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, Schicklerstr. 5, 16225 Eberswalde, GermanyAlbrecht Daniel Thaer-Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10115 Berlin, GermanyMovement behavior and habitat use of the long-eared bat species <i>Plecotus auritus</i> and <i>Plecotus austriacus</i> were studied in the Havelland region in Brandenburg (Germany). Data collection included mist-netting, radiotelemetry, reconstruction of prey items, and monitoring of roosting sites. Body measurements confirm a high degree of phenotypic similarity between the two species. Total activity areas (100% Minimum Convex Polygons, MCPS) of <i>Plecotus austriacus</i> (2828.3 ± 1269.43 ha) were up to five-fold larger compared to <i>Plecotus auritus</i> (544.54 ± 295.89 ha). The activity areas of <i>Plecotus austriacus</i> contained up to 11 distinct core areas, and their mean total size (149.7 ± 0.07 ha) was approximately three-fold larger compared to core areas of <i>Plecotus auritus</i> (49.2 ± 25.6 ha). The mean distance between consecutive fixes per night was 12.72 ± 3.7 km for <i>Plecotus austriacus</i> and 4.23 ± 2.8 km for <i>Plecotus auritus.</i> While <i>Plecotus austriacus</i> was located most frequently over pastures (>40%) and meadows (>20%), <i>P. auritus</i> was located mostly within deciduous (>50%) and mixed forests (>30%) in close vicinity to its roosts. Roost site monitoring indicates that the activity of <i>P. austriacus</i> is delayed relative to <i>P. auritus</i> in spring and declined earlier in autumn. These phenological differences are probably related to the species’ respective diets. Levins’ measure of trophic niche breadth suggests that the prey spectrum for <i>P. auritus</i> is more diverse during spring (B = 2.86) and autumn (B = 2.82) compared to <i>P. austriacus</i> (spring: B = 1.7; autumn: B = 2.1). Our results give reason to consider these interspecific ecological variations and species-specific requirements of <i>P. auritus</i> and <i>P. austriacus</i> to develop adapted and improved conservation measures.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/12/3460<i>Plecotus</i>resource partitioningradio-trackingactivity areasfecal analysis |
| spellingShingle | Nicole Starik Thomas Göttert Ulrich Zeller Spatial Behavior and Habitat Use of Two Sympatric Bat Species Animals <i>Plecotus</i> resource partitioning radio-tracking activity areas fecal analysis |
| title | Spatial Behavior and Habitat Use of Two Sympatric Bat Species |
| title_full | Spatial Behavior and Habitat Use of Two Sympatric Bat Species |
| title_fullStr | Spatial Behavior and Habitat Use of Two Sympatric Bat Species |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spatial Behavior and Habitat Use of Two Sympatric Bat Species |
| title_short | Spatial Behavior and Habitat Use of Two Sympatric Bat Species |
| title_sort | spatial behavior and habitat use of two sympatric bat species |
| topic | <i>Plecotus</i> resource partitioning radio-tracking activity areas fecal analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/12/3460 |
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