Do two cryptic pipistrelle bat species differ in their autumn and winter roosting strategies within the range of sympatry?

• Main Authors: Kaňuch, P. (Peter), Fornůsková, A. (Alena), Bartonička, T., Bryja, J. (Josef), Řehák, Z.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: Pipistrellus; ecology; hibernacula; invasions; PCR-identification; Pipistrellus pipistrellus
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0186685

Large hibernating aggregations and behaviour called late summer or autumn "invasions" when large groups of bats enter buildings are known in pipistrelles. We investigated differences in roosting behaviour between common pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, and soprano pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pygmaeus during autumn and winter periods. In total 463 bats were sampled in both caves and buildings during the period of late summer and autumn mating and presumable migrations, and in all known types of hibernacula. Sampling sites were located within the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia and Romania in areas where the two species occur sympatrically throughout the summer. Using a DNA-based identification method, all but four individuals were identifi ed as P. pipistrellus. It means that winter roosts of P. pygmaeus remain largely unknown in the area. Similarly, no P. pygmaeus was found in the "invasion" assemblages suggesting that roosting behaviour during this time may be species-specific.