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Reproductive and age classes do not change spatial dynamics of foraging long-fingered bats (Myotis capaccinii)

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Abstract

Spatial dynamics of foraging long-fingered bats (Myotis capaccinii) were studied in the Eastern Iberian Peninsula. We analysed the locations of 45 radio-tracked individuals during three discrete periods through the breeding season and measured the spatial parameters related to their foraging behaviour in order to test whether variations in spatial use occur. Colony range, measured as the minimum convex polygon through all the radiolocations, was 345 km2, but the area used during each period was smaller. During pre-breeding, foraging bats gathered at two stretches of different tributary rivers; during lactation, they scattered throughout the river system; and during weaning, they aggregated at a stretch of the main river. Individuals on average flew 5.7 km from roosts to foraging areas, with a maximum absolute distance of 22.7 km. Individual foraging ranges were measured linearly, because the bats foraged mostly along rivers; their values averaged 1.3 km/night and overlapped extensively between neighbouring bats (>65% on average). The sampling period, rather than the bats’ reproductive status, age, or sex, explained the observed variability in spatial distribution and size of hunting sites. We did not find differences in spatial parameters between lactating females and non-lactating bats, nor between juveniles and adults. This is the first study to split the independent effects of season and population class in order to enable unconfounded interpretations of the spatial dynamics of foraging reproductive females and juveniles. We speculate that the relationship between colony size and prey availability ruled the observed changes in foraging area through seasons. The considerable overlap in individual foraging ranges may be a necessary adaption to large colonies forced by the specific roost requirements of the long-fingered bat and the narrow foraging niche they appear to occupy.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank all the people who kindly helped us with the fieldwork. This study was part of a LIFE project (LIFE00NAT/E/7337) coordinated by Carlos Ibáñez, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), and was co-funded by the Conselleria de Territori i Habitatge of the Generalitat Valenciana and the European Commission. Support for this study was also provided by the CPEMN “La Granja de El Saler”, the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), and the Basque Government. The contracts for DA and ES were sponsored by CSIC and UPV/EHU, and that of UG by the Basque Government and UPV/EHU. This study was performed with the permission of the Valencian Government.

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  1. Zoologia Saila, University of the Basque Country, 644 PK, E-48080, Bilbao, The Basque Country

    David Almenar, Joxerra Aihartza, Urtzi Goiti, Egoitz Salsamendi & Inazio Garin

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  1. David Almenar
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  2. Joxerra Aihartza
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  3. Urtzi Goiti
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  4. Egoitz Salsamendi
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  5. Inazio Garin
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Correspondence to Inazio Garin.

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Communicated by C. Gortázar

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Almenar, D., Aihartza, J., Goiti, U. et al. Reproductive and age classes do not change spatial dynamics of foraging long-fingered bats (Myotis capaccinii). Eur J Wildl Res 57, 929–937 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-011-0507-0

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