Abstract
In 2000–2002 bat droppings were collected under the emerging crevice of a nursery colony of Pipistrellus pygmaeus. The locality was situated in a floodplain forest at the confluence of the Dyje and Morava rivers (S Moravia, Czech Republic). In total, 27 samples (20 pellets in one sample) of droppings were used to analyze prey remains. In the diet, 40 taxonomic groups of invertebrates were found. As expected, small dipteran insects were the main food item in which Nematocera dominated. Besides Chironomidae and Ceratopogonidae also a high percentage of nematoceran eggs were recorded. Surprisingly, a relatively high percentage of Brachycera was recorded. Further frequent prey items belonged to the orders of Trichoptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera and Sternorrhyncha. A heterodyne bat detector was used to follow foraging activity of P. pygmaeus on line transects in forest and water habitats in the vicinity of the colony. A significant decrease in foraging activity over water habitats and in forest sites during the late pregnancy (mid-May — early June) and an increase during the lactation and post-lactation periods (mid-June — early August) were found. Changes in the frequency of occurrence of Chironomidae, Neuroptera, Trichoptera, Aphidinea and Simuliidae were correlated with the bats’ foraging activity.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adams R.A. 1997. Onset of volancy and foraging patterns of juvenile little brown bats, Myotis lucifugus. J. Mammal. 78: 239–246.
Ahlén I. 1990. Identification of Bats in Flight. Swedish Society for Conservation of Nature & The Swedish Youth Association for Enviromental Studies and Conservation, 50 pp.
Andreas M., Reiter A., Benda P. & Zukal J. 2001. Research of the diet ecology of bat community in Ledové sluje in National park Podyjí. Thayensia 4: 5–18.
Arnold A., Häussler U. & Braun M. 2002. Comparative study of the diets of two pipistrelle species (Pipistrellus pygmaeus/mediterraneus and P. pipistrellus) in Southwest Germany. Bat Res. News 43: 72.
Arnold A., Häussler U. & Braun M. 2003. Feeding ecology of common and soprano pipistrelles (Pipistrellus pipistrellus and P. pygmaeus) in Heidelberg communal forest (SW-Germany). Carolinea 61: 177–183.
Barlow K. 1997. The diets of two phonic types of the bat Pipistrellus pipistrellus in Britain. J. Zool. Lond. 243: 597–609.
Barlow K., Jones G. & Barratt E.M 1997. Can skull morphology be used to predict ecological relationships between bat species? A test of two cryptic species of pipistrelle. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 264: 1695–1700.
Barratt E.M., Bruford M.W., Burland T.M., Jones G., Racey P.A. & Wayne R. 1995. Characterization of mitochondrial DNA variability within the microchiropteran genus Pipistrellus: approaches and applications. Symp. Zool. Soc. Lond. 67: 377–386.
Barratt E.M., Deaville R., Burland T.M. & Bruford M.W. 1997. DNA answers the call of pipistrelle bat species. Nature 387: 138–139.
Bárta Z. 1975. Diet of brown big-eared bat (Plecotus auritus L.). Lynx n.s. 17: 5–6.
Bartonička T. & Řehák Z. 2004. Flight activity and habitat use of Pipistrellus pygmaeus in a floodplain forest. Mammalia 68: 365–375.
Bartonička T. & Řehák Z. 2007. Influence of the microclimate of bat boxes on their occupation by the soprano pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus: possible cause of roost switching. Acta Chiropterologica, 9(2), in press.
Bauerová Z. 1978. Contribution to the trophic ecology of Myotis myotis. Folia Zool. 27: 305–316.
Bauerová Z. & Červený J. 1986. Towards an understanding of the trophic ecology of Myotis nattereri. Folia Zool. 35: 55–61.
Bauerová Z. & Ruprecht A.L. 1989. Contribution to the knowledge of the trophic ecology of parti-coloured bat, Vespertilio murinus. Folia Zool. 38: 227–232.
Beck A. 1995. Fecal analyses of European bat species. Myotis 32–33: 109–119.
Botvinkin A.D., Šilenkova Yu.V. & Šilenkov V.G. 1998: Sravnenie pitaniya burogo ushana (Plecotus auritus L.) v kontrastnykh mestoobytaniyakh Vostochnoĭ Sibiri. Plecotus et al. 1: 27–34.
Braun M. & Häussler U. 1999. Funde der Zwergfledermaus-Zwillingsart Pipistrellus pygmaeus (Leach, 1825) in Nordbaden. Carolinea 57: 111–120.
Buchar J., Ducháč V., Hůrka K. & Lellák J. 1995. Klíč k určování bezobratlých [Handbook of invertebrates]. Scientia, Prague, 285+LXIV pp.
Davidson-Watts I. & Jones G. 2006. Differences in foraging behaviour between Pipistrellus pipistrellus Schreber, 1774 and Pipistrellus pygmaeus Leach, 1825. J. Zool. Lond. 268: 55–62.
Döring E. 1955. Zur Morphologie der Schmetterlingseier. Akademie-Verlag, Berlin, 154+LXI pp.
Doskočil J. 1977. Klíč zvířeny ČSSR V, Diptera [Handbook of fauna ČSSR V, Diptera]. Academia, Prague, 373 pp.
Gaisler J., Řehák Z. & Bartonička T. 2002. Mammalia: Chiroptera, pp. 139–149. In: Řehák Z., Gaisler J. & Chytil J. (eds), Vertebrates of the Pálava Biosphere Reserve of UNESCO. Folia Fac. Sci. Nat. Univ. Masaryk. Brun. Biol. 106.
Gajdošík M. & Gaisler J. 2004. Diet of two Eptesicus bat species in Moravia (Czech Republic). Folia Zool. 53: 7–16.
Gregor F. & Bauerová Z., 1987. The role of Diptera in the diet of Natterer’s bat, Myotis nattereri. Folia Zool. 36: 13–19.
Hoare L.R. 1991. The diet of Pipistrellus pipistrellus during the prehibernal period. J. Zool. Lond. 225: 665–670.
Chinery M. 1993a. Insects of Britain andWestern Europe. Harper Collins Publishers, London, 320 pp.
Chinery M. 1993b. Insects of Britain and Northern Europe. Harper Collins Publishers, London-Glasgow-New York-Sydney-Auckland-Toronto-Johannesburg, 320 pp.
Chvála M., Hůrka K., Chalupský J., Knoz J., Minář J. & Országh I. 1980. Krevsající mouchy a střečci — Diptera [Blood-sucking flies and botflies — Diptera]. Fauna ČSSR, Vol. 22, Academia, Prague, 538 pp.
Jones G. & van Parijs S.M. 1993. Bimodal echolocation in pipistrelle bats: are cryptic species present? Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 251: 119–125.
Knoz J. 1965. Identification of Czechoslovakian Black-Flies (Diptera, Simuliidae). Folia Fac. Sci. Nat. Univ. Purkyn. Brun. Biol. 2, 53 pp.
Jedlička L. & Knoz J. 2006. Simuliidae. In: Jedlička L., Kúdela M. & Stloukalová V. (eds), Checklist of Diptera of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Electronic version 1, CD ROM edition, Comenius University, Bratislava. Available also online at http://zoology.fns.uniba.sk/diptera/Titul.htm (retrieved 15.12.2007)
Knoz J. & Šašinková V. 1969. Zur Kenntnis der Kriebelmücken (Simuliidae, Diptera) im Dyje-Gebiet in Morava. Folia Fac. Sci. Nat. Univ. Purkyn. Brun. Biol. 25: 13–44.
Labee A.H. & Voute A.M. 1983. Voedselkeuze vaneen kolonie laatvliegers Eptesicus serotinus. Lutra 26: 12–19.
Mayer F. & von Helversen O. 2001. Sympatric distribution of two cryptic bat species across Europe. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 74: 365–374.
McAney M. & Fairley J.S. 1988. Activity patterns of lesser horseshoe bat Rhinolophus hipposideros at summer roost. J. Zool. Lond. 216: 325–338.
McAney C.M., Shiel C.B., Sullivan C.B. & Fairley J.S. 1991. Analysis of bat droppings. The Mammal Society, London, 48 pp.
Nakano S. & Murakami M. 2001. Reciprocal subsidies: Dynamic interdependence between terrestrial and aquatic food webs. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 98: 166–170.
Nicholls B. & Racey P.A. 2006. Contrasting homerange size and spatial partitioning in cryptic and sympatric pipistrelle bats. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 61: 131–142.
Norberg U.M. & Rayner J.M 1987. Ecological morphology and flight in bats: wing adaptions, flight performance, foraging strategy and echolocation. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B 316: 335–427.
Oakeley S.F. & Jones G. 1998. Habitat around maternity roost of the 55 kHz phonic type of pipistrelle bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus). J. Zool. Lond. 245: 222–228.
Pereira M.J.R., Rebelo H., Rainho A. & Palmeirim J.M. 2002. Prey selection by Myotis myotis (Vespertilionidae) in a Mediterranean region. Acta Chiropter. 4: 183–193.
Reichholf-Riehmová H. 1996. Motýli [Butterflies]. Ikar, Prague, 287 pp.
Reichholf-Riehmová H. 1997. Hmyz a pavoukovci [Insect and arachnids]. Ikar, Prague, 287 pp.
Robinson M.F. 1990. Prey selection by the brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus). Myotis 28: 5–18.
Roer H. 1970. Probleme der Ernährung und des Jagdverhaltens insektenfressender Fledermäuse. Myotis 8: 3–8.
Rozkošný R. & Vaňhara J. (eds) 1998. Diptera of the Pálava Biosphere Reserve of UNESCO. Folia Fac. Sci. Nat. Univ. Masaryk. Brun. Biol. 99, 219 pp.
Shiel C.B., Duvergé P.L., Smiddy P. & Fairley J.S. 1998. Analysis of the diet of Leisler’s bat (Nyctalus leisleri) in Ireland with some comparative analyses from England and Germany. J. Zool. Lond. 246: 417–425.
Shiel C.B., McAney C.M. & Fairley J.S. 1991. Analysis of the diet of Natterer’s bat Myotis nattereri and the common longeared bat Plecotus auritus in the West of Ireland. J. Zool. Lond. 223: 299–305.
Sullivan C.M., Shiel C.B., McAney C.M. & Fairley J.S. 1993. Analysis of the diets of Leisler’s Nyctalus leisleri, Daubenton’s Myotis daubentoni, and pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus bats in Ireland. J. Zool. Lond. 231: 656–663.
Swift S.M. & Racey P.A. 1983. Resource partitioning in two species of vespertilionid bats (Chiroptera) occupying the same roost. J. Zool. Lond. 200: 249–259.
Swift S.M., Racey P.A. & Avery M.I. 1985. Feeding ecology of Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) during pregnancy and lactation. II. Diet. J. Anim. Ecol. 54: 217–225.
Vaughan N. 1997. The diets of British bats (Chiroptera). Mammal Rev. 27: 77–94.
Vaughan N., Jones G. & Harris S. 1997. Habitat use by bats (Chiroptera) assessed by means of broad-band acoustic method. J. Appl. Ecol. 34: 716–730.
Whitaker J.O., Jr. 1972. Food habits of bats from Indiana. Can. J. Zool. 50: 877–883.
Whitaker J.O., Jr. 1988. Foods habits analysis of insectivorous bats, pp. 171–189. In: Kunz T. H. (ed.), Ecological and behavioral methods for the study of bats, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D. C., 533 pp.
Wolz I. 1993a. Untersuchungen zur Nachweisbarkeit von Beutetierfragmenten im Kot von Myotis bechsteini (Kuhl, 1818). Myotis 31: 5–25.
Wolz I. 1993b. Das Beutespektrum der Bechsteinfledermaus Myotis bechsteini (Kuhl, 1818) ermittelt aus Kotanalysen. Myotis 31: 27–68.
Zar J.H. 1984. Biostatistical analysis. Simon and Schuster, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, USA, 718 pp.
Zingg P.E. 1990. Akustische Artidentifikation von Fledermäusen (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in der Schweiz. Rev. Suisse Zool. 97: 263–294.
Zukal J. & Řehák Z. 2006. Flight activity and habitat preference of bats in the karstic area by usizng bat detectors. Folia Zool. 55: 273–281.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bartonička, T., Řehák, Z. & Andreas, M. Diet composition and foraging activity of Pipistrellus pygmaeus in a floodplain forest. Biologia 63, 266–272 (2008). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-008-0034-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-008-0034-y