Roost Switching and Activity Patterns in the Soprano Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pygmaeus, during Lactation

We studied roost switching and habitat selection of 16 P. pygmaeus females tagged in two nursery colonies. There were differences in overnight roosting and flying. The highest foraging activity was observed over water bodies, at forest edges and near street lamps. During each night, each female visi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annales zoologici fennici 2008, Vol.45 (6), p.503-512
Main Authors: Bartonička, Tomáš, Bielik, Andrej, Řehák, Zdeněk
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bats
Female animals
Foraging
Forest habitats
Habitat conservation
Habitat preferences
Habitat selection
Lactation
Pipistrellus pygmaeus
Reproduction
Zoology
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Summary:We studied roost switching and habitat selection of 16 P. pygmaeus females tagged in two nursery colonies. There were differences in overnight roosting and flying. The highest foraging activity was observed over water bodies, at forest edges and near street lamps. During each night, each female visited at least one night-roost, and five females regularly visited two roosts. On average, the females visited a roost 3.7 times per night. After parturition, the distances between night roosts and day roosts increased. The number of night roosts used declined as pups neared weaning. Five females changed day roosts after two nights. Based on the observation of flightless young in new roosts a conclusion was reached that some females transported their offspring to new roosts at night. After lactation began, some females visited roosts occupied by vocalizing males of P. pygmaeus and P. nathusii.
ISSN:0003-455X
1797-2450
DOI:10.5735/086.045.0605