Publication details
Cave visitation by temperate zone bats: effects of climatic factors
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2010 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Journal of Zoology |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Zoology |
| Keywords | cave; bats;hibernation; activity; climatic factors |
| Description | We investigated the effects of climatic variables on the flight activity of bats at the entrance of a hibernaculum (Katerinska cave, Moravian Karst, CZ). Activity was recorded automatically using a double infrared-light logging system. Climatic factors influenced not only seasonal but also night-to-night and overnight patterns in cave visitation. The effect of individual variables and their contribution to variability in activity levels changed during the year. (1) Flight activity during late hibernation (5 March - 14 April) was positively affected by the mean ambient temperature (Tavg) and negatively affected by previous day minimal temperature. (2) During the departure period (15 April - 4 June), nightly activity correlated with Tavg and Pavg (mean barometric pressure). Previous day rainfall caused a decline in the activity levels. (3) Summer activity (5 June - 26 July) increased as the range of daily temperature (Tdif maxmin) increased and was suppressed by previous day rainfall. |
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