Individual Bats Research Articles

Biosonar sampling strategies in frequency-modulated echolocating bats

Echolocating bats dynamically control multiple aspects of their biosonar emissions (emission rate, frequency, bandwidth, duration, and direction) in parallel as a function of their surroundings and current goals. As environments become more difficult to navigate and tasks become more complex, bats converge on sampling strategies that have less variability in the timing and spatial changes of their echolocation. We investigated these biosonar dynamics within a virtual echo target presentation paradigm where we challenged big brown bats sitting on a platform to localize a single echo target, which was either stationary or moved unpredictably in azimuth. Acoustic clutter was also added at varying distances to investigate its effect on their sampling strategies during the task. Bats modified their biosonar strategies differently depending on the distance of added acoustic clutter and the distance that a target shifted, and individuals tended to converge on similar strategies. We also show that certain perceptual contexts can lead to unexpected biosonar strategies in individual bats, such as the use of longer-duration emissions with less emission ‘clustering’ when localizing a virtual target against nearby clutter.

Using faecal DNA metabarcoding to determine the diet of the long-tailed bat, Chalinolobus tuberculatus

ABSTRACT Dietary analysis of nocturnal aerial insectivores such as bats is not possible by direct visual observation of predation, therefore diet is traditionally determined by analysing dietary remains in scats. Analysing DNA in scats through metabarcoding can reveal dietary items not preserved in faeces but also resolve dietary preferences to species level. DNA metabarcoding analysis of scats collected from six individual long-tailed bats (Chalinolobus tuberculatus) from Whirinaki Forest Park revealed a predominance of aquatic insects (Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera) and small-bodied moths (Lepidoptera). This contrasts with earlier studies of faecal remains in this species which revealed a strong preference for Dipterans and Coleopterans. The use of DNA metabarcoding may provide a better understanding of diets, as soft-bodied insects can be detected even when not apparent in physical examinations of scat, and thus will allow for more robust comparison of differences in diets between populations and seasons. The application of DNA metabarcoding is a simple but high-resolution tool to allow further study on dietary preference in this endangered species.

Individual bat virome analysis reveals co-infection and spillover among bats and virus zoonotic potential

Bats are reservoir hosts for many zoonotic viruses. Despite this, relatively little is known about the diversity and abundance of viruses within individual bats, and hence the frequency of virus co-infection and spillover among them. We characterize the mammal-associated viruses in 149 individual bats sampled from Yunnan province, China, using an unbiased meta-transcriptomics approach. This reveals a high frequency of virus co-infection (simultaneous infection of bat individuals by multiple viral species) and spillover among the animals studied, which may in turn facilitate virus recombination and reassortment. Of note, we identify five viral species that are likely to be pathogenic to humans or livestock, based on phylogenetic relatedness to known pathogens or in vitro receptor binding assays. This includes a novel recombinant SARS-like coronavirus that is closely related to both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. In vitro assays indicate that this recombinant virus can utilize the human ACE2 receptor such that it is likely to be of increased emergence risk. Our study highlights the common occurrence of co-infection and spillover of bat viruses and their implications for virus emergence.

Do nocturnal birds use acoustic and visual cues to avoid predation by bats?

Anti-predation strategies are critical to animal survival and are fundamental to deciphering predator-prey interactions. As an important defense strategy, sensory predator detection (such as through acoustic and visual cues) enables animals to assess predation risk and execute predator-avoidance behavior; however, there are limited studies on the anti-predation behavior of nocturnal animals. The prey of bats provides an excellent representative system for examining the anti-predation behavior of nocturnal animals. Here, we broadcasted different types of echolocation calls of the bird-eating bat Ia io to two wild passerine birds, namely, Zosterops japonicus and Sinosuthora webbiana, that are preyed upon by I. io, and presented the birds with individual bats under different light intensities. The results showed that both bird species were able to perceive the low-frequency audible portion of the bats' echolocation calls; however, they did not exhibit escape responses to the acoustic stimuli. In the dark and under moonlit conditions, both bird species were unable to respond to active bats at close range and the birds only exhibited evasive flight behavior when bats approached or touched them. These results suggest that nocturnal passerine birds may not be able to use acoustic or visual cues to detect bats and adopt evasive maneuvers to avoid predation. This work suggests that bat predation pressure may not elicit primary predator-avoidance responses in nocturnal passerine birds. The results provide new insights into the anti-predation behavior of nocturnal animals.

Individual Variation in Parturition Timing within and among Years for a Bat Maternity Colony.

In monoestrous species, the timing of reproduction can have important impacts on offspring survival. For heterotherms in temperate areas, parturition timing is constrained by cold weather survival strategies, such as hibernation and torpor. Female bats that are year-round residents of temperate regions, such as little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus), invest significantly in parental care resulting in sharp changes in behavior immediately following parturition. These behavior changes may include increases in nighttime roost revisits, which can be used to identify parturition dates for individual bats that have been passive integrated transponder (PIT) tagged and use monitored roosts. Using a system of tagged bats and monitored roosts in Pynn's Brook and Salmonier Nature Park Newfoundland, Canada, we estimated parturition dates for 426 female M. lucifugus in at least one year, based on changes in nighttime roost revisit patterns, and quantified the variation in parturition dates within years among individuals, and within individuals among years. Overall, we report on a wide variation in parturition dates within years among individuals as well as year-to-year variations, both across the population and within individuals. Spring weather conditions appeared to be important influences on parturition timing. Changes in spring and summer temperature and extreme weather events, as expected due to ongoing climate change, may impact parturition timing, and therefore, offspring survival of temperate bats.

Movement Patterns of Two Bat Species Active During Winter in the Southeastern United States

Abstract During winter in the southeastern United States, cavernicolous bats, many species of which are susceptible to white-nose syndrome, periodically arouse from torpor and occasionally leave hibernacula. We investigated the winter movements and habitat use of two bat species persisting during the white-nose syndrome epizootic: the gray bat Myotis grisescens and the eastern small-footed bat Myotis leibii. We deployed very-high-frequency radio transmitters on individual bats captured outside hibernacula to investigate activity, which may include foraging, during winter. We tracked bats from release at the cave entrance until their transmitter signal was lost or they remained stationary for 15 min or longer. Gray bats (n = 12) had a core range of 1.92 km2 and an overall range of 30.93 km2. Eastern small-footed bats (n = 5) had a core range of 1.98 km2 and an overall range of 20.22 km2. Gray bats used open landcover types more than expected based on availability in the core range, but they selected water and forest cover types in their overall range (P < 0.001). Eastern small-footed bats used available landcover types as expected in the core range (P = 0.1988), but they selected for developed and open landcover types within the overall range (P < 0.001). Both species remained close to the hibernaculum and used roads when flying (P < 0.005), with gray bats also flying near waterways (P < 0.001). Habitat management and the enhancement of year-round prey availability adjacent to hibernacula may benefit bat populations, especially during winter when prey resources are low and bats are physiologically stressed due to hibernation and white-nose syndrome.

A Bayesian perspective of middle-batting position in ODI cricket

The cricket fraternity described “an unsettled batting position of number four” as one of the major causes for India’s exit from International Cricket Council Men’s World Cup 2019. Consistent chopping and changing batsmen at the sensitive fourth batting position proved to be a disaster for team India then. Therefore, ranking of all the batsmen, in the then Indian cricket team, who were deemed to be eligible for this position remained a much-debated issue both before and after the World Cup 2019. In the present paper, Kaplan-Meir curves are used to make multiple comparisons for respective batting performances among the batsmen who have ever played in the middle order position. In this paper, frailty of these batsmen is studied through Bayesian analysis at the start of their innings and during the time-interval of transition to their best playing ability by considering respective run scores. Posterior summaries of innate player ability are obtained by deploying a Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm which is then used to assess and compare the individual batting performances. Estimation of incomplete innings is handled via censoring strategies.

Neural responses of the auditory midbrain to naturalistic echolocation sequences in Hipposideros armiger

The functional properties of the auditory midbrain, inferior colliculus (IC), plays a critical role in James Simmons’s SCAT model of target ranging by echolocation. This SCAT model is based solely on the big brown bat producing frequency-modulated (FM) sonar calls. By contrast, there has been very limited knowledge on how the auditory midbrain may encode target ranging information in bats that produce constant-frequency (CF) sonar calls. Here, we conducted single-unit recordings from the auditory midbrain of passively listening Hipposideros armiger using naturalistic echolocation sequences. We created echolocation sequences from recordings taken from individual bats swung on a moving pendulum that evokes Doppler shift compensation (DSC) of their sonar vocalizations. Our preliminary data revealed a population of IC neurons selectively responded to DSC information in the sequences. To our surprise, we did not find neurons that encode echo delays. Considering published data on FM bats, these results suggest that the functional role of auditory midbrain for echolocation may be distinct between FM bats and CF-FM bats.

Shifting effects of host physiological condition following pathogen establishment.

Understanding host persistence with emerging pathogens is essential for conserving populations. Hosts may initially survive pathogen invasions through pre-adaptive mechanisms. However, whether pre-adaptive traits are directionally selected to increase in frequency depends on the heritability and environmental dependence of the trait and the costs of trait maintenance. Body condition is likely an important pre-adaptive mechanism aiding in host survival, although can be seasonally variable in wildlife hosts. We used data collected over 7 years on bat body mass, infection and survival to determine the role of host body condition during the invasion and establishment of the emerging disease, white-nose syndrome. We found that when the pathogen first invaded, bats with higher body mass were more likely to survive, but this effect dissipated following the initial epizootic. We also found that heavier bats lost more weight overwinter, but fat loss depended on infection severity. Lastly, we found mixed support that bat mass increased in the population after pathogen arrival; high annual plasticity in individual bat masses may have reduced the potential for directional selection. Overall, our results suggest that some factors that contribute to host survival during pathogen invasion may diminish over time and are potentially replaced by other host adaptations.

Predator-prey traits and foraging habitat shape the diet of a common insectivorous bat

Individual and species traits may determine the functional relationships between predators and their prey, with clear consequences for the ecosystem services potentially associated with predation. Bats are well-known potential deliverers of ecosystem services in agroecosystems through predation of pest arthropods that may affect crop production. Here we test the role of individual and prey traits in shaping the dietary habits of the Savi's pipistrelle (Hypsugo savii), a common bat species that frequently occurs in agroecosystems across the Mediterranean area, assessing diet composition and trait-based biases through molecular tools and multivariate testing techniques. DNA metabarcoding identified 173 distinct prey taxa in bats sampled in the Vesuvius National Park (Southern Italy). The diet was strongly dominated by pest insects associated with agricultural areas, which covered 57% of the overall prey diversity, some representing major pests of high economic relevance. The multivariate analyses detected strong relationships between diet composition, sampling date, and individual bat body conditions. Larger bats consumed larger prey items, and prey consumed later in the season (August) were smaller than those eaten in early summer (July) and were typical of less natural habitats. Hypsugo savii is potentially an important pest suppressor in the agroecosystems of the Mediterranean region and the functional relationships between the traits of individual bats and their prey set the basis for a quantitative assessment of the associated ecosystem service. We also remark on the value of bat diet studies in aiding the surveillance of arthropod species relevant to agriculture, human health, and biodiversity conservation.

Is Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Stricto in South America? First Molecular Evidence of Its Presence in Colombia.

The genus Borrelia encompasses spirochetal species that are part of three well-defined groups. Two of these groups contain pathogens that affect humans: the group causing Lyme disease (LDG) and the relapsing fever group (RFG). Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., which is distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, and relapsing fevers are caused by Borrelia spp., which are found in temperate and tropical countries and are an emerging but neglected pathogens. In some departments of Colombia, there are records of the presence of Borrelia sp. in humans and bats. However, little is known about the impact and circulation of Borrelia spp. in the country, especially in wildlife, which can act as a reservoir and/or amplifying host. In this context, the objective of our research was to detect and identify the Borrelia species present in wild mammals in the departments of Caldas and Risaralda in Colombia. For morphological detection, blood smears and organ imprints were performed, and molecular identification was carried out through a nested PCR directed on the flagellin B (flaB) gene. A total of 105 mammals belonging to three orders (Chiroptera, Didelphimorphia and Rodentia) were analyzed, of which 15.24% (n = 16) were positive for Borrelia. Molecularly, the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi s.s. in lung tissues of Thomasomys aureus and blood of Mus musculus (Rodentia) was detected, with 99.64 and 100% identity, respectively. Borrelia sp. genospecies from a clade branch of a bat-associated LDG sister group were identified in seven individuals of bat species, such as Artibeus lituratus, Carollia brevicauda, Sturnira erythromos, and Glossophaga soricina. Furthermore, two Borrelia genospecies from the RFG in seven individuals of bats (A. lituratus, Artibeus jamaicensis, Platyrrhinus helleri, Mesophylla macconnelli, Rhynchonycteris naso) and rodents (Coendou rufescens, Microryzomys altissimus) were documented. Additionally, the presence of a spirochete was detected by microscopy in the liver of a Sturnira erythromos bat specimen. These results contain the first molecular evidence of the presence of B. burgdorferi s.s. in South America, which merits the need for comprehensive studies involving arthropods and vertebrates (including humans) in other departments of Colombia, as well as neighboring countries, to understand the current status of the circulation of Borrelia spp. in South America.

Improved Bat Algorithm Based on Doppler Effect for Optimal Design of Special Truss Structures

Bat algorithm (BA) is one of the well-established metaheuristic algorithms based on the echolocation characteristics of microbats. Literature studies demonstrate that BA provides good results in a wide range of optimization problems due to its simple structures, easy implementation, and effectiveness. However, the standard BA has two general shortcomings when applied to complex optimization problems. The first is the high probability of falling in local optima, and the second is insufficient population diversity, leading to unwanted premature convergence. This paper proposes an improved bat algorithm based on the Doppler effect (IBA-DE) to improve the performance of the standard BA. In the proposed IBA-DE, a new equation with some idealized rules is driven from the Doppler effect and adopted for updating the bat velocities in the algorithm body. The local search part of the standard BA is also improved via searching around the better bat individuals. This part is also equipped with Lévy flight to maintain the population diversity. The performance of IBA-DE is evaluated on three real-world engineering design problems. The results obtained by these problems show that IBA-DE is superior to the basic BA and other considered algorithms. For further investigation, IBA-DE is applied to the optimal design of four special truss structures. Comparing the optimization results found by the proposed algorithm with those of some other state-of-art metaheuristics indicates that the proposed IBA-DE can be an efficient optimizer for the optimal design of real-size structures.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of biosonar in navigating Bornean Rhinolophid and Hipposiderid bats

To investigate the active sensing strategies used by echolocating bats of the genera Rhinolophus and Hipposideros, we have constructed a 9-meter long flight tunnel, which incorporates an array of 32 ultrasonic microphones distributed throughout the tunnel. Rhinolophus and Hipposideros are of special interest because of their highly flexible biosonar system; these bats emit pulses from their nasal cavities, using complex noseleaf structures to quickly and precisely alter the beam-form and direction of emissions. Additionally, each species utilizes a unique combination of constant-frequency (CF) and frequency-modulated (FM) ultrasonic signals with varying durations, repetition rates, and frequencies. We plan to trap several species of wild Bornean bats of these genera and fly individual bats through the tunnel; a time-of-arrival algorithm will be used to localize the position of each bat at the time of each biosonar pulse emission, and an amplitude-comparison method to measure the horizontal and vertical direction of each emission from the bat’s noseleaf. We will also incorporate relatively simple foliage obstacles into the tunnel; this will create complex acoustic clutter and allow us to determine how bats of different species adjust their biosonar sampling strategies in order to navigate around novel obstacles in a cluttered environment.

Applying mobile acoustic surveys to model bat habitat use across sinuous routes

AbstractMobile acoustic surveys allow estimates of overall bat activity, relative abundance, and species richness across large areas. Protocols for estimating relative abundance recommend using non‐sinuous routes to ensure individual bats are only recorded once. We conducted mobile acoustic surveys along 12 sinuous routes in the mountainous terrain of northeastern Tennessee. Our objectives were to 1) determine if more calls were recorded in sinuous segments of mobile survey routes, thus violating assumptions of mobile surveys, and 2) analyze mobile transect data to assess bat habitat use. To test for effects of road sinuosity, we divided transects into ~1.6‐km segments, calculated a sinuosity value, and summed the number of identified call files recorded for each segment. Using generalized linear models, we determined sinuosity did not affect the number of identified acoustic files. We assessed habitat use for 3 bat phonic groups (Low, Mid, Myotis), comparing 10 models with temporal detection and spatial occupancy covariates. Date were informative for all phonic groups. Low and mid‐frequency bats were more likely to be detected on later survey dates within the summer, whereas Myotis bats had a higher probability of detection earlier within the season. As proportion of agriculture around the transect segment increased, probability of use by low‐frequency bats decreased. The proportion of forest surrounding the transect segment had a positive effect on use by Myotis bats. No environmental covariates were informative regarding mid‐frequency bats. We conclude that mobile acoustic surveys are an efficient method for gathering data on habitat use by bats. We recommend following guidelines set forth by the North American Bat Monitoring Program for mobile acoustic surveys but note that sinuosity of the route did not affect the number of calls recorded in our study; thus, we suggest that sinuous roads in mountainous terrain are appropriate for mobile acoustic transects.

Bats as suppressors of agroforestry pests in beech forests

Forest ecosystems are fundamental to the conservation of global biodiversity and human wellbeing, hosting high numbers of species worldwide, and providing essential regulatory, provisioning, and cultural ecosystem services. The increasing impact of drivers of environmental changes such as climate change and biological invasions endangers forests, often acting synergically with forest pests, whose effects are exacerbated. Within this context, forest bats may represent key ecosystem service providers by consuming pests such as defoliating and fruit-damaging arthropods, yet their actual role has been so far neglected. Here we pursued the hypothesis that forest bats will be important suppressors of agroforestry pest insects. We analysed the diet of two forest specialists, Barbastella barbastellus and Plecotus auritus, occurring in syntopy in beech forests of Central Italy, by adopting molecular tools. The diet of the two bat species differed significantly: only 52 out of 71 and 69 prey taxa identified in the diet of B. barbastellus and P. auritus, respectively, were shared between the two bat species. Individual bats preyed, on average, upon 10 insect taxa, and pests were especially frequent in the diet of P. auritus (up to 85% of prey eaten by an individual bat). Such pests included both agricultural and forest-damaging insects, some of which pose serious threats to agroforestry systems. This highlights the importance of preserving animal diversity in forests for the benefit of this ecosystem type as well as of the surrounding habitats, such as farmland.

Characterization of Pipistrellus pygmaeus Bat Virome from Sweden.

Increasing amounts of data indicate that bats harbor a higher viral diversity relative to other mammalian orders, and they have been recognized as potential reservoirs for pathogenic viruses, such as the Hendra, Nipah, Marburg, and SARS-CoV viruses. Here, we present the first viral metagenomic analysis of Pipistrellus pygmaeus from Uppsala, Sweden. Total RNA was extracted from the saliva and feces of individual bats and analyzed using Illumina sequencing. The results identified sequences related to 51 different viral families, including vertebrate, invertebrate, and plant viruses. These viral families include Coronaviridae, Picornaviridae, Dicistroviridae, Astroviridae, Hepeviridae, Reoviridae, Botourmiaviridae, Lispviridae, Totiviridae, Botoumiaviridae, Parvoviridae, Retroviridae, Adenoviridae, and Partitiviridae, as well as different unclassified viruses. We further characterized three near full-length genome sequences of bat coronaviruses. A phylogenetic analysis showed that these belonged to alphacoronaviruses with the closest similarity (78–99% at the protein level) to Danish and Finnish bat coronaviruses detected in Pipistrellus and Myotis bats. In addition, the full-length and the near full-length genomes of picornavirus were characterized. These showed the closest similarity (88–94% at the protein level) to bat picornaviruses identified in Chinese bats. Altogether, the results of this study show that Swedish Pipistrellus bats harbor a great diversity of viruses, some of which are closely related to mammalian viruses. This study expands our knowledge on the bat population virome and improves our understanding of the evolution and transmission of viruses among bats and to other species.

Sensory error drives fine motor adjustment

Fine audiovocal control is a hallmark of human speech production and depends on precisely coordinated muscle activity guided by sensory feedback. Little is known about shared audiovocal mechanisms between humans and other mammals. We hypothesized that real-time audiovocal control in bat echolocation uses the same computational principles as human speech. To test the prediction of this hypothesis, we applied state feedback control (SFC) theory to the analysis of call frequency adjustments in the echolocating bat, Hipposideros armiger. This model organism exhibits well-developed audiovocal control to sense its surroundings via echolocation. Our experimental paradigm was analogous to one implemented in human subjects. We measured the bats' vocal responses to spectrally altered echolocation calls. Individual bats exhibited highly distinct patterns of vocal compensation to these altered calls. Our findings mirror typical observations of speech control in humans listening to spectrally altered speech. Using mathematical modeling, we determined that the same computational principles of SFC apply to bat echolocation and human speech, confirming the prediction of our hypothesis.

Attraction to conspecific social-calls in a migratory, solitary, foliage-roosting bat (Lasiurus cinereus)

As a migratory, cryptic, foliage-roosting bat with a mostly solitary roosting behavior we have an incomplete understanding of the social behavior of the hoary bat, Lasiurus cinereus. In this species most social interactions between conspecifics are thought to involve mating behavior or territorial disputes. Developing a more complete understanding of the social behavior of this species would provide critical insight to address conservation challenges including high fatality rates from wind turbines during the period of fall migration. We tested the response of hoary bats to conspecific social call playback during the spring and fall migration to: (1) test whether conspecific social call broadcasting attracts or repels individual bats; (2) examine whether there are seasonal differences in these responses; (3) describe the structure and variation of recorded social calls; and (4) test whether conspecific social call playback can increase capture success. Hoary bats were attracted to social call broadcasting during both the spring and fall migration. Hoary bats produced social calls during the spring and fall migration, and when only males were present, suggesting a social function not associated with mating. While calls were variable in frequency and length, social calls tended to be a consistent upsloping shape. Attraction to social calls suggests social interactions not associated with mating behavior in hoary bats, and this technique proved successful as an acoustic lure to aid in capture and study of this elusive species.

Social networks of the greater horseshoe bat during the hibernation season: a landscape-scale case study

Bats are highly social animals, and the interactions between individuals are likely to be important to their ecology and conservation. Social structures are affected by the physical environment (spatial factors), as well as varying over time and seasons (temporal factors). Compared with many other taxa, individual bats are capable of moving large distances, so experience a range of spatial locations. They have long life spans, providing opportunities to interact with others over a long period, and are often highly gregarious. Using a long-term data set, we examined the social behaviour, along with spatial and temporal influences, of greater horseshoe bats, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum , during hibernation using social network approaches. Across 17 years, 2808 individuals were monitored, yielding a total of 5952 records at 21 roost locations. We investigated how individuals’ life history traits (sex, age and breeding status of females) and the frequency of observation affected social associations and identified factors that influenced the movement of individuals between locations. Older and male animals were significantly more central in the social network, and adult males may act as a link between socially separate individuals within the society. The social network had high nonrandom dyadic structuring, with assortment by age stronger in females than males, and this was likely to be influenced by spatiotemporal factors. In general, higher weighted betweenness scores were recorded in a noncore hibernaculum, suggesting that these sites, despite low numbers of bats being present, may act as locations to connect less-connected individuals, as well as communities. Finally, movements between hibernacula were only associated with the frequency of observation rather than any life history trait. These results illustrate the interconnectivity across sites, stressing the need for appropriate cross-jurisdiction species management plans to be created for species that utilize and move between multiple sites within the landscape. • Older and male bats are more central in social networks during hibernation. • Assortment by age is stronger in female bats compared to males. • Assortment is likely to be influenced by spatiotemporal factors. • Movement between hibernation sites was only affected by frequency of observation.

Longitudinal Survey of Coronavirus Circulation and Diversity in Insectivorous Bat Colonies in Zimbabwe

Background: Studies have linked bats to outbreaks of viral diseases in human populations such as SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV and the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Methods: We carried out a longitudinal survey from August 2020 to July 2021 at two sites in Zimbabwe with bat–human interactions: Magweto cave and Chirundu farm. A total of 1732 and 1866 individual bat fecal samples were collected, respectively. Coronaviruses and bat species were amplified using PCR systems. Results: Analysis of the coronavirus sequences revealed a high genetic diversity, and we identified different sub-viral groups in the Alphacoronavirus and Betacoronavirus genus. The established sub-viral groups fell within the described Alphacoronavirus sub-genera: Decacovirus, Duvinacovirus, Rhinacovirus, Setracovirus and Minunacovirus and for Betacoronavirus sub-genera: Sarbecoviruses, Merbecovirus and Hibecovirus. Our results showed an overall proportion for CoV positive PCR tests of 23.7% at Chirundu site and 16.5% and 38.9% at Magweto site for insectivorous bats and Macronycteris gigas, respectively. Conclusions: The higher risk of bat coronavirus exposure for humans was found in December to March in relation to higher viral shedding peaks of coronaviruses in the parturition, lactation and weaning months of the bat populations at both sites. We also highlight the need to further document viral infectious risk in human/domestic animal populations surrounding bat habitats in Zimbabwe.