Intra- and interspecific competition in western barbastelle bats (Barbastella barbastellus, Schreber 1774) [Elektronische Ressource] : niche differentiation in a specialised bat species, revealed via radio-tracking / Jessica Hillen

Sujets

• Biologie

Informations

• Publié par: johannes_gutenberg-universitat_mainz
• Publié le: 01 janvier 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 470
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 7 Mo

Extrait

Intra- and interspecif petition ern barbastelle bats
(Bbastella barbastellus
Niche differentiat a specialised bat species, revealed v
radio-track


Dissertation
zu
"Doktor der Naturwissenschafte


Fachberei Biologie
der Johannes Gutenberg-Universit in Mainz


Jessica Hillen
geb. am 09.01. n l)

Mainz




















































Tag der m? Pr?fun

















Western barbastel bats in their tree roost.
Background: Vi he brook vall Ahringsbachtal'.


Contents

Conte

Abstract.

General introduction. ..........................................................................................................................7

Chapt Spatial organisation and foraging site fidelity a population of female western barbastelle
bats...................................................................................................................................................
Abstract....................................................................................................................................
Introduction.....................................................................................................................
Materials and methods......................................................................................................
Results.............................................................................................................................
Discussion........................................................................................................................
Acknowledgements. .................................................................................................................

Chapter II. Interannual fideli to roosting habitat and flight path female western barbastelle bats
.........................................................................................................................................................
Abstract.
Introduction.
Materials and methods......................................................................................................
Results.............................................................................................................................
Discussion........................................................................................................................
Acknowledgements.

Chapter II x-specif habitat selec habitat specialis e weste barbastelle bat
.........................................................................................................................................................
Abstract....................................................................................................................................
Introduction.....................................................................................................................
Materials and methods......................................................................................................
Results.
Discussion.
Acknowledgements. .................................................................................................................

Chapter IV. Resource partitioning three syntopic forest-dwelling bat species
.........................................................................................................................................................
Abstract....................................................................................................................................
Introduction.
Materials and method
Results.............................................................................................................................
Discussion........................................................................................................................
Acknowledgements. .................................................................................................................

References........................................................................................................................................

Person gran o illen and addition funding. ...........................................................................

Appendix..........................................................................................................................................

Zusammenfassung. .........................................................................................................................104

Danksagung....................................................................................................................................106


4 Abstract
Abstract.

the present th I exami nd sex-specific habit ite fidelity in the
western barbastelle bat, Barbastella barbastellus, using data from a four-year monitoring in a
Speci Conservati in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The western barbastelle
occurs central and southern Euro rom Portugal to the Caucasus, b consid o be
rar parts of it now, long-term f udi o assess interannual site
fidelity and the possib fects of intra- and interspecific competition have not been studi
his spec Nevertheless, such data provide important details to estimate the specific
spatial requirements of its populations, which in turn can be incorporated in extended
conservation actions.

I used radio-telemetry, ho n nalyses und automat ltrasound detectio assess
t relation between landscape elements a western barbastelle bats a their roost In
addition, I estimat he degr f interspecific niche overlap with t select orest-
dwelli chstein's bat ( hsteinii ) a t brown long-eared bat
(Plecotus auritus

Intra- and interannual home ran verlap analyse barbastellus led th
fidelity to individual foraging grounds, i.e. a traditional use of particular site to effect
t spatial distribution of home ranges more than intraspecif competition amo
communally roosting females. The results of a joint analysis of annual maternity roost
selection and flight activities along commuting corrido highlight the necessity to protect
roost complexes in conjuncti with commuting corridors.

Using radio-tracking data and an Euclidean distance approach I quanti he sex-specific
and individual habit and male western barbastelle bats within their home
ranges. My data indicat partial sexual segregatio mm habitat Females were
found in deciduo o patch ferably foraged along li lements within the
forest. Males foraged closer fo d habitat
5 Abstract

Finally, I examined the reso titio the western barbastelle b and t
syntopic bat species with a potential for interspecific competition due to similarities
foraging strategie prey selection and roost preference Simultaneo radio-tracking of
mixed-species pair tial spatial separation of the three syntopic b species along
a gradient from t fo abitats and o at found
clo o open habitats whic voided t oth wo specie barbas preferred
lan elements (edge habitat and forest hsteinii al preferred fo
habitats. Only little overl n terms roost structu and tree speci selecti was foun


6 Introduction
General introductio

Bat communiti e unique in terms of s richness, niche diversity and li histo
characteristic ich are unusual for mammals of small body Kunz & Fenton, 2003).
Compared to oth mmals, bats show a pronounced seasonality, with specif irements
on each of their seasonal habitats: summer (maternity and male) roosts, mating places and
hibernacu emperate-zone species The majority of the kno species needs a set of
suitable roosts embedded in a matrix of a variety of habit patche ovi quality
food resources fo least the reproductive perio Mo b species forage clo o oth
on the same food resource, flying, and non-flyi insects. ires reso itio
in one more niche dimensions: foraging tim oraging habitat and prey type.

Numero fie udies on the home ran flight distanc nd habit use of bats
are available. They used radio telemetry techniqu o eith indiv 'homing
in on the animal' or synchronised triangulation by two or more observers (White & Garrot,
1990; Millspaugh & Marzluff, Individuals of the same speci n in particular,
members of the sa maternity roost, have similar spatial an they are the sa
reproducti atus, energetic requirements and therefo occupy the same ecological nich
mi intraspecific competition, mechanisms of reso partitioni within a
population's home ran hould exist, itional ran v intra- and interspeci fic
competition. Intraspecific interactio et individuals, either simultaneo foraging or
exclu ilisation of individual foragi en repo Robinson & Stebbings,
1997; Winkelma 2000; Kerth