ROOST CAVITY SELECTION BY NYCTALUS NOCTULA AND N. LEISLERI (VESPERTILIONIDAE, CHIROPTERA) IN BIAqOWIEZ_ A PRIMEVAL FOREST, EASTERN POLAND ...

• Main Author: Ski, Ireneusz Ruczyn
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Zenodo 2005
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Mammalia; Chiroptera; Chordata; Animalia; bats; bat; Nyctalus noctula
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13407393; https://zenodo.org/doi/10.5281/zenodo.13407393

(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) The selection of roost cavities by Nyctalus noctula and N. leisleri, 2 widespread species of mainly Eurasian distribution, was examined in Bia1owiez_a Primeval Forest in eastern Poland from May to August in 1998–2002. Because N. noctula is one of the most common forest-dwelling bats in Europe, whereas the smaller N. leisleri is relatively rare across its range (except in Ireland) and more limited to ancient forests, we hypothesized that these 2 taxa may differ significantly in their tree-cavity selection. Twenty-five N. noctula and 26 N. leisleri were radiotracked to 52 and 50 roost trees, respectively. For each accessible cavity roost occupied by N. noctula (n ¼ 28) and N. leisleri (n ¼ 39), 16 features were measured and compared with potentially available cavities (n ¼ 72). Both species were selective in roost choice, and preferred cavities located higher (averaging 19 m above the ground), in more open surroundings, with smaller entrances, and with greater ...