Roost use by bats in Espírito Santo, Brazil: comparison of a protected area, a rural landscape, and an urban landscape

摘要

Bats use a wide array of roosts that have several important roles for bats. The present study was conducted in three areas in the state of Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil: a protected area, a rural landscape, and an urban landscape. In each area we actively searched for roosts, and when one was found we set mist-nets (from one to four, depending on roost size) close to the roost entrance. These mist-nets stayed open from three to six hours after sunset. We observed bats using several types of roosts: hollow trees, foliage, caves, rock crevices, buildings, abandoned houses, bridges, and rain pipes. We found a total of 12 roosts, four in each sampled area. To our knowledge we present the first record of Lonchorhina aurita using man-made roosts. Roosts are of paramount importance to the persistence of bat populations. Therefore, bat roost ecology will play a vital role in managing and conserving bat species.KEY WORDSRoost ecology, urban landscape, rural landscape, Atlantic Forest, Chiroptera.