Abstract
Synanthropic roosting may allow cave-dwelling bats to cope with habitat fragmentation provided that suitable buildings are sustainably protected. This study on Asinara Island, Sardinia, focuses on roost requirements in synanthropy at different life stages of two endangered bat species, Rhinolophus hipposideros and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum. We rated the roost potential of 532 buildings and compared it with actual roost usage. Microclimate was compared across different roost types and between species, and bat composition and behaviour in nurseries of R. hipposideros were related to roost structure and microclimate. The two species occupied 25% of structures rated as “high potential”, versus 5% and 0% rated as “intermediate” and “low potential”. Concerning microclimate, R. hipposideros preferred warmer and drier day roosts, with higher temperature fluctuations during summer, while winter, and night, roost microclimate was comparable between species. In larger, warmer, and drier nurseries, colony size and proportion of reproductive females were higher and parturition started earlier. Before parturition, roost temperatures were inversely correlated to clustering, supporting its thermoregulatory function. Mothers spent in total 50% of the night inside the nursery caring the pup. Roost microclimate, size, and location close to foraging areas may thus promote breeding success. We conclude that a structure-based rating of roost potential supplemented by species-specific microclimatic requirements constitutes a promising predictor of roost usage. Moreover, adequate buildings support the complete life cycle of R. hipposideros in the absence of suitable caves. Buildings thus deserve increased protection measures in fragmented Mediterranean landscapes to ensure sustainable bat conservation.
Highlights
The recent global loss of biodiversity puts a focus on effective species conservation in hot spots such as the Mediterranean basin (Myers et al 2000; Grill et al 2007)
The importance of microclimate has been studied for some roost types of R. hipposideros and R. ferrumequinum
We found six nurseries of R. hipposideros which, in general, hosted a higher number of individuals than other day roosts
Summary
The recent global loss of biodiversity puts a focus on effective species conservation in hot spots such as the Mediterranean basin (Myers et al 2000; Grill et al 2007). As habitat fragmentation is an essential driving factor for biodiversity loss (e.g., Fahrig 2003; Barnosky et al 2011), the habitat directive protects foraging areas as well as roosting sites of species of “community interest” (92/43/EEC, Annex IV). This includes all European bat species, as they react sensitively to habitat 38 Page 2 of 13. Synanthropic roosting of the two species has been reported from their main distribution range, the Mediterranean basin (Mucedda and Pidinchedda 2010; Maltagliati et al 2013; Lisón et al 2013), which emphasizes the urgency of protecting adequate buildings in this region
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