Chapter I Analysed a Part of My Data Collection from Radio-Tracking (N = 13 ♀♀ and 10 ♂♂), Prey-Attack-Rate and Food Intake and Pooled It with Data from Jorge A
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INFLUENCE OF REPRODUCTION ON THERMOREGULATION, FOOD INTAKE AND FORAGING STRATEGIES OF FREE-RANGING FEMALE AND MALE DAUBENTON’S BATS, MYOTIS DAUBENTONII (VESPERTILIONIDAE) DISSERTATION zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades Dr. rer. nat. der Fakultät für Naturwissenschaften der Universität Ulm vorgelegt von MARKUS DIETZ aus Hungen 2006 AMTIERENDER DEKAN: PROF. DR. KLAUS-DIETER SPINDLER ERSTGUTACHTER: PROF. DR. ELISABETH K.V. KALKO ZWEITGUTACHTER: PROF. DR. HARALD WOLF TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... 9 General Introduction...........................................................................................................9 Correlation of food availability and reproduction in bats of the temperate zone.............11 Energy demand of female and male bats during reproduction.........................................11 Objectives of the thesis, study animal and study area ......................................................12 Hypotheses and results .....................................................................................................13 General conclusion ...........................................................................................................19 Implications for bat conservation strategies.....................................................................20 Publication of the results of this thesis and contributions from other scientists ..............21 ZUSAMMENFASSUNG.................................................................................... 23 REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................... 31 APPENDIX COLOUR PLATES........................................................................ 36 1 SEASONAL CHANGES IN DAILY TORPOR PATTERNS OF FREE- RANGING FEMALE AND MALE DAUBENTON’S BATS (MYOTIS DAUBENTONII) ................................................................................................. 41 ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................................... 41 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................ 41 MATERIALS AND METHODS ......................................................................................... 43 Study area and animals.....................................................................................................43 Telemetry..........................................................................................................................44 Definitions ........................................................................................................................45 Statistical analyses............................................................................................................46 RESULTS............................................................................................................................. 47 Thermoregulation .............................................................................................................47 Use of torpor.....................................................................................................................51 Influence of ambient temperature.....................................................................................52 DISCUSSION....................................................................................................................... 52 REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................... 56 2 REPRODUCTION AFFECTS FLIGHT ACTIVITY IN FEMALE AND MALE DAUBENTON’S BATS MYOTIS DAUBENTONII .............................. 61 5 Table of contents ABSTRACT..........................................................................................................................61 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................62 MATERIAL AND METHODS............................................................................................64 Study area and tagged bats............................................................................................... 64 Telemetry ......................................................................................................................... 66 Definitions........................................................................................................................ 66 Statistical analyses ........................................................................................................... 67 RESULTS .............................................................................................................................67 Feeding sites and foraging areas...................................................................................... 67 Time of emergence and return ......................................................................................... 69 Nightly flight time and activity patterns of females ........................................................ 70 Nightly flight time and activity patterns of males ........................................................... 71 Comparative flight times of females and males............................................................... 72 Influence of temperature on flight time ........................................................................... 74 Number of foraging flights and foraging areas................................................................ 75 Cumulative flight distances per night .............................................................................. 75 DISCUSSION .......................................................................................................................78 Time of emergence and return ......................................................................................... 78 Flight activity................................................................................................................... 78 Influence of temperature on flight time ........................................................................... 80 Usage of foraging areas ................................................................................................... 80 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 81 REFERENCES......................................................................................................................82 3 ESTIMATION OF FOOD INTAKE AND INGESTED ENERGY IN DAUBENTON’S BATS (MYOTIS DAUBENTONII) DURING PREGNANCY AND SPERMATOGENESIS .............................................................................87 ABSTRACT..........................................................................................................................87 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................88 MATERIALS AND METHODS..........................................................................................90 Field site........................................................................................................................... 90 Capture of bats ................................................................................................................. 90 Radio-tracking.................................................................................................................. 90 Observations with light-sticks.......................................................................................... 91 Body mass and caloric content of Chironomidae ............................................................ 92 Calculation of food intake and energy ingestion ............................................................. 93 6 Table of contents Statistical analysis ............................................................................................................94 RESULTS............................................................................................................................. 94 Foraging time and prey attack rate of Daubenton’s bats..................................................94 Body mass and caloric content of Chironomidae.............................................................96 Food intake and energy ingestion of Daubenton’s bats....................................................96 DISCUSSION....................................................................................................................... 99 Foraging activity...............................................................................................................99 Capture rates.....................................................................................................................99 Food intake and ingested energy of Daubenton’s bats...................................................100 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................... 102 4 SMALL SCALE DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS OF FEMALE AND MALE DAUBENTON’S BATS (MYOTIS DAUBENTONII) - IMPLICATIONS FOR BAT MONITORING AND CONSERVATION STRATEGIES..................... 105 ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................................