皮氏菊头蝠(Rhinolophus pearsoni)的栖息生态特征

皮氏菊头蝠(Rhinolophus pearsoni)是我国南方典型的洞栖食虫性蝙蝠,具有重要的生态意义。近年于湘西州及张家界市的25个溶洞中共记录到该蝠450只次,对其栖息生态特征(空间分布、姿势、体温、栖点温度和栖点安全性等)进行了较为系统的观测。结果表明:该蝠的栖点主要集中分布于离洞口440 m之内的洞段(占99.3%),栖点高度通常介于2—10 m之间(84%),主要采取双足倒挂的姿势栖息于洞顶壁或侧壁,但单足倒挂的栖息姿势也较为常见(36.2%)。体温介于10.7—25.2℃,体温总是稍高于栖点温度,但两者之间无显著性差异(P0.05),且两者呈线性正相关。约64%的栖点"安全性高",而"安全性低"和"安全性中"的栖点分别占17.6%和18.4%。减少对洞穴的人为干扰是保护该物种的有效途径。     

西南鼠耳蝠(Myotis altarium)栖息生态学

西南鼠耳蝠(Myotis altarium)是典型的洞栖性蝙蝠,是我国的准特有种。近年,在湘西州境内的13个溶洞中记录到该蝠361只次,并对其栖点的空间分布、栖息姿势、体温、栖点温度及个体的安全性进行了观测。结果表明:其栖点主要集中在距离洞口200 m的范围之内,离地面的高度通常在2—6 m之间,约74%的个体采用腹部贴壁倒挂的姿势栖息;体温变化范围在3.57—20.25℃之间,个体体温均略高于其栖点温度,但两者之间不存在显著性差异(P0.05)而不同月份之间的体温、栖点温度均存在显著性差异(P0.05);仅60.1%的个体栖息在"安全性高"的栖点,栖息在"安全性中"和"安全性低"栖点的比例分别达22.7%和17.2%。加强对地方群众的宣传教育,增强民众对蝙蝠物种、生物多样性及洞穴资源的保护意识,减少人为因素对洞穴环境和蝙蝠种群的干扰与破坏,将有助于保护该珍稀物种。     

西南鼠耳蝠(Myotisaltarium)的栖息生态学研究

西南鼠耳蝠(Myotis altarium)是典型的洞栖性蝙蝠,是我国的准特有种。近年,在湘西州境内的13个溶洞中记录到该蝠361只次,并对其栖点的空间分布、栖息姿势、体温、栖点温度及个体的安全性进行了观测。结果表明:其栖点主要集中在距离洞口200 m的范围之内,离地面的高度通常在2—6 m之间,约74%的个体采用腹部贴壁倒挂的姿势栖息;体温变化范围在3.57—20.25℃之间,个体体温均略高于其栖点温度,但两者之间不存在显著性差异(P0.05)而不同月份之间的体温、栖点温度均存在显著性差异(P0.05);仅60.1%的个体栖息在“安全性高”的栖点,栖息在“安全性中”和“安全性低”栖点的比例分别达22.7%和17.2%。加强对地方群众的宣传教育,增强民众对蝙蝠物种、生物多样性及洞穴资源的保护意识,减少人为因素对洞穴环境和蝙蝠种群的干扰与破坏,将有助于保护该珍稀物种。     

太行山南段洞栖蝙蝠的分布及栖息地重要性分析

2009年8月至2010年9月,对太行山南段的洞栖蝙蝠及栖息地进行了调查,共调查洞穴38个,其中28个洞穴为首次调查,共观察到蝙蝠约17000只,隶属2科4属9种,其中分布最广、数量最多的是马铁菊头蝠。测量洞穴的总水平长度、最大宽度和最大高度,并以洞穴内蝙蝠的种群数量(Ai)与根据物种生存状态赋值的权重(Mi)乘积之和评估洞穴重要性。在调查的洞穴中,最重要的洞穴是黄楝树水渠,有8种约2500只蝙蝠在此繁殖和冬眠;其次是涧河洞,有5种约2100只蝙蝠在此繁殖和冬眠。基于洞栖蝙蝠种类和洞穴测量数据的聚类及主成分分析,探讨了太行山南段东西两侧洞栖蝙蝠的分布状况、不同类型栖息地之间的差异以及洞栖蝙蝠对栖息地的选择。太行山南段东西两侧洞栖蝙蝠的种类和种群数量差异不显著。冬眠洞穴的总水平长度、最大宽度、最大高度、郁闭度均显著大于非冬眠洞穴。影响蝙蝠栖息地选择的主要因子有地形因子、隐蔽因子和干扰因子,这3个主成分的累计贡献率达到85.96%。目前,这些洞穴的保护现状均不理想,一些洞穴已经或正在被开发成旅游景点,这使该地区洞栖蝙蝠面临严重的生存危机。本研究结果以期能为决策者在制定开发旅游策略时提供参考和依据。     

河南济源人工引水渠隧道蝙蝠冬眠生态学特征

2017-2020年期间,每年1月份对河南省济源市邵原镇布袋沟水库人工引水渠隧道内蝙蝠进行冬眠生态学特征调查,共发现2科5属7种蝙蝠在此冬眠,包括马铁菊头蝠（Rhinolophus ferrumequinum）、小菊头蝠（R.pusillus）、华南水鼠耳蝠（Myotis laniger）、白腹管鼻蝠（Murina leucogaster）、金管鼻蝠（Mu.aurata）、奥氏长耳蝠（Plecotus ognevi）和亚洲宽耳蝠（Barbastella leucomelas）。马铁菊头蝠是优势种（约52%-73%的冬眠个体）,其次是小菊头蝠（约19%-37%）、华南水鼠耳蝠（约5%-8%）,其余蝙蝠物种数量不足3%。2017-2020年冬眠蝙蝠个体总数呈增长趋势,但仍少于早期报道的数量。有42个隧道每年均有蝙蝠冬眠,而且不同年度冬眠数量也不尽相同。通过多元线性回归分析发现,隧道长度可能是影响蝙蝠冬眠栖息场所选择的主要影响因子（Adjusted R²=0.208,P=0.001）。每个隧道内,蝙蝠具有不同的冬眠栖点位置,约4/5的蝙蝠选择温暖且环境相对稳定的隧道深处（> 30 m）作为冬眠栖点,超过95%的个体选择长度> 60 m的隧道冬眠。蝙蝠具有不同的冬眠方式,绝大多数个体采用独栖方式进行冬眠（> 90%）,少数采用聚集方式。不同的冬眠栖点和冬眠方式可能有利于冬眠成本优化。此外,栖点温度与蝙蝠体温之间呈显著正相关（R²=0.98,P < 0.001）,而且蝙蝠冬眠期间的栖点温度具有种内和种间差异。研究结果为我国蝙蝠种群保护和冬眠场所管理提供科学依据。     

普氏蹄蝠栖息地选择的研究

为了解普氏蹄蝠(Hipposideros pratti)栖息地的特征、微环境条件及影响该物种栖息地选择的因素,2016年6月至2019年9月,在我国中、南部的10个省或直辖市,对83个洞穴进行测量,记录洞穴微环境,评估洞穴内普氏蹄蝠的受干扰程度,对普氏蹄蝠生态习性进行初步观察。运用独立样本t检验和卡方检验评估普氏蹄蝠的栖息地偏好,主成分分析检验影响栖息地选择的因素。结果显示,有蝙蝠栖息的洞穴66个,有普氏蹄蝠栖息的洞穴17个,普氏蹄蝠的繁殖地主要是天然洞穴;与其他蝙蝠栖息地相比,普氏蹄蝠栖息地具有更高的洞穴最大高度与更低的洞内温度;与普氏蹄蝠非繁殖地相比,繁殖地具有更大的洞穴入口宽度、更高的温度和湿度及更短的水源距离;与非冬眠地相比,冬眠地相对湿度高而光照度低。调查发现,多数栖息地被严重干扰,许多已被开发为旅游景点,可能严重影响普氏蹄蝠的种群数量;普氏蹄蝠通常栖息在距离洞口不远的最高处,个体间保持10～15cm的距离,傍晚出洞时间晚于小体型蝙蝠,冬眠期为11月中下旬至次年4月,冬眠时一般栖息在洞穴深处。研究表明,普氏蹄蝠对栖息地具有强烈选择性。     

潇水河永州零陵段沿岸蝙蝠物种多样性调查

2011年5月—2013年8月对潇水河永州零陵段沿岸蝙蝠物种多样性进行了初步调查。共记录到蝙蝠8种,分属3科5属。从分布型看,东洋型种类占多数(62.5%);从种群数量看,东亚伏翼Pipistrellus abramus与大蹄蝠Hipposideros armiger占优势,斑蝠Scotomanes ornatus数量最为稀少。区域内蝙蝠喜栖于竹丛、树冠、岩壁、洞穴、民居与古建筑等处。上、下游所栖蝙蝠种类存在差异,但均喜好在水体与植被交接处活动而形成活动聚集地,且洞穴冬眠型蝙蝠的年活动周期较房屋冬眠型蝙蝠的短。调查结果增加了对潇水河沿岸蝙蝠生存现状的了解,可为进一步开展蝙蝠研究和保护提供参考。     

河南省洞栖蝙蝠的多样性与保护

2011 年6 月至2013 年7 月,利用雾网和抄网捕捉蝙蝠,采用直接计数、拍照等方法统计蝙蝠的数量,调查了河南省60 个洞穴中蝙蝠的种类、数量及分布,根据蝙蝠的外形及头骨特征鉴定种类,计3 科6 属17 种,其中易危(VU)物种3 种,近危(NT)和无危(LC)物种各7 种。马铁菊头蝠和菲菊头蝠为河南省广布种。依据洞穴的开发情况和人类入洞活动的频度等,评估洞穴的干扰程度,30 个洞穴属严重干扰,10 个洞穴属轻度干扰,20 个洞穴属自然状态。依据洞穴中蝙蝠的种类、数量及濒危程度,将洞穴的相对重要性划分为4 个级别,级别1 和多数级别2 的洞穴具有大的空间和复杂的洞穴系统,这些洞穴既是蝙蝠的繁殖地又是冬眠场所,其中栖息的蝙蝠种类多且数量大。对洞穴的总长度、最大宽度和最大高度进行了测量,比较4 个级别洞穴的测量数据,级别1 洞穴的总长度、最大宽度、最大高度的平均值明显大于其他级别。目前,多数洞穴未得到很好的保护,由于旅游开发等原因,洞栖蝙蝠正面临着严重的生存危机。     

四川绵阳洞栖蝙蝠多样性及受胁现状

1999～2005年,对四川省绵阳市洞栖性蝙蝠进行了凋杳。共采集到4科,5属,14种,约占四川蝙蝠种类31．8％,中国蝙蝠种类11．7％。其中,大足鼠耳蝠（Myotis ricketti）为中国特有种,中华鼠耳蝠（Myotis chinensis）已被列入《中国物种红色名录》中的易危（VU）种,南蝠（Iu io）等5种被列入近危（NT）种。调查中发现不少洞穴已被开发或正在被开发成旅游景点,人为干扰已严重威胁洞穴内蝙蝠的生存。建议对蝙蝠栖息地采取一定的保护措施,并加强保护蝙蝠的宣传教育。     

中华菊头蝠

正中华菊头蝠(Rhinolophus sinicus),隶属于菊头蝠科(Rhinolophidae),是中国最为常见、分布最广泛的洞穴蝙蝠之一。中华菊头蝠具有马蹄形鼻叶和较宽的耳,其前臂长约43～56mm。喜群居,主要栖息于天然溶洞、废弃防空洞等各种洞道之中,昼伏夜出,以双翅目和鳞翅目昆虫为食。2013年,科学家从云南一个洞穴内的中华菊头蝠样本分离出一株与SARS(非典型性肺炎)病毒高度同源的SARS样冠状病毒。自此,中华菊头蝠因其是SARS病毒潜在自然宿主而闻名。     

Host specificity in bat ectoparasites: A natural experiment

We undertook a field study to determine patterns of specialisation of ectoparasites in cave-dwelling bats in Sri Lanka. The hypothesis tested was that strict host specificity (monoxeny) could evolve through the development of differential species preferences through association with the different host groups. Three species of cave-dwelling bats were chosen to represent a wide range of host-parasite associations (monoxeny to polyxeny), and both sympatric and allopatric roosting assemblages. Of the eight caves selected, six caves were “allopatric” roosts where two of each housed only one of the three host species examined: Rousettus leschenaulti (Pteropodidae), Rhinolophus rouxi and Hipposideros speoris (Rhinolophidae). The remaining two caves were “sympatric” roosts and housed all three host species. Thirty bats of each species were examined for ectoparasites in each cave, which resulted in a collection of nycteribiid and streblid flies, an ischnopsyllid bat flea, argasid and ixodid ticks, and mites belonging to three families. The host specificity of bat parasites showed a trend to monoxeny in which 70% of the 30 species reported were monoxenous. Odds ratios derived from χ²-tests revealed two levels of host preferences in less-specific parasites (i) the parasite was found on two host species under conditions of both host sympatry and host allopatry, with a preference for a single host in the case of host sympatry and (ii) the preference for a single host was very high, hence under conditions of host sympatry, it was confined to the preferred host only. However, under conditions of host allopatry, it utilized both hosts. There appears to be an increasing prevalence in host preferences of the parasites toward confinement to a single host species. The ecological isolation of the bat hosts and a long history of host-parasite co-existence could have contributed to an overall tendency of bat ectoparasites to become specialists, here reflected in the high percentage of monoxeny.     

贵州省松桃县东部地区翼手目物种多样性

2008年7月至2009年2月,对贵州省松桃县东部地区的14个镇(乡)47洞穴翼手目的种类、数量、分布及生境进行调查研究。通过标本的采集、鉴定,确定该地区共有翼手目动物3科14种,其中2种为待定种;爪哇伏翼(Pipistrellus javanicus)、棒茎伏翼(P.paterculus)、单角菊头蝠(Rhinolophusmonoceros)3种在贵州省首次发现,其中单角菊头蝠是在中国大陆首次发现。另外,还对该地区蝙蝠的冬眠行为、对冬眠地的选择以及栖息环境的受胁现状进行了初步调查,发现不同种类蝙蝠的冬眠行为是不一样的;同时发现,洞外捕食生境的不同会造成洞穴内分布翼手目种类的不同。     

Distribution and underground habitats of cave-dwelling bats in China

To understand the distribution and relative abundance of cave-dwelling bats and to identify those sites that would be important for conservation of bat species, 25 underground sites that had not been previously surveyed were investigated in this 3-year study (from December 2003 to April 2006) in Funiu Mountain of Henan province, China. Approximately 80 000 bats were recorded, representing 12 species. The most abundant species were Rhinolophus affini s, Miniopterus schreibersi and Hipposideros pratti . The roosts were evaluated for their conservation importance. The most important sites in the area are Yunhua and Nanzhao caves, which serve as hibernaculums and nursery roosts to c . 13 740 and 11 803 bats, respectively, representing seven species. By means of cluster and correspondence analysis, the distribution of bat species was different between the two sides of the mountain and was highly dependent on the size of the cave. The underground sites in the south region hosted c . 80% of the total bats, representing 11 species. The sites in the north region hosted 20% of the total bats, representing seven species. Presently, none of the caves in the region has adequate protection and some bat populations are under serious threat. Many large caves that contained large bat populations and several species of concern had been developed as tourist sites, and so some advice on protecting the most important local habitats was sought based on the assessment of the conservation status of underground sites. This paper presents basic data concerning the distribution of cave-dwelling bats and the patterns of cave use on Funiu Mountain. The data will help local governments and policy-makers develop suitable strategies to promote local tourisms while protecting important habitats of animal species.     

Activity and shelter selection by Myotis myotis and Rhinolophus hipposideros hibernating in the Kateřinská cave (Czech Republic)

In 1992–1993, the bat species Myotis myotis and Rhinolophus hipposideros hibernating in the Kateřinská cave were investigated by means of regular censuses without any handling and marking of the animals. Three basic parameters of their shelters were recorded (position in cave, type and relative height). In total, during 26 checks we registered 1141 findings of nine bat species. Movement activity, expressed as percentage of new findings during a particular visit, was registered during the whole winter season. Its level fluctuated in different ways and the hibernation period of R. hipposideros could be divided into three different parts, while the level of M. myotis movement activity was relatively high during all season. The shelter selection of R. hipposideros was not dependent on the part of cave where the bats were hibernating, and it did not change during the season. Hibernating specimens of R. hipposideros most frequently used exposed places, in which they were always hanging free. Myotis myotis was registered in all types of shelter with one exception. Rhinolophus hipposideros used mainly the middle part of the cave at a distance between 121 and 180 m from the entrance. The most preferred part of the cave by M. myotis was a small segment of Corridor (between 21 and 30 m), i.e., the entrance part of the cave. Rhinolophus hipposideros is a highly specialized species which prefers parts of the cave with very stable microclimatic conditions and, on the contrary, M. myotis appears to be indifferent to all parameters studied, and it uses the shelters indiscriminately.     

Can wing morphology inform conservation priorities for Southeast Asian cave bats?

Adaptations for foraging in the complex airspaces of forest interiors may make bat species in the Asian tropics particularly susceptible to forest loss. However, ecomorphological analysis of Vietnamese bat assemblages challenges the hypothesis that, due to their greater vagility, cave‐roosting bats are less vulnerable to habitat fragmentation than foliage‐roosting species. Of the 13 most highly adapted forest‐interior species in our study, eight were cave‐roosting members of the Rhinolophidae and Hipposideridae and had wing morphologies closely resembling five foliage‐roosting members of the Murininae and Kerivoulinae—species typically thought to have low vagility. Overall, both cave‐roosting and foliage‐roosting bats exhibited a wide range of flight indices and species' wing designs corresponded with preferred foraging habitats, suggesting that foraging strategy may outweigh roost preference as a determinant of bat wing morphology and flight performance. Consequently, where such variation occurs, cave‐roosting bat ensembles are likely to include species with low vagility and similar sensitivity to habitat fragmentation. This could have important conservation implications as Asian karst formations support high cave densities and important bat diversity yet increasingly represent forest refugia in anthropogenic landscapes. We, therefore, advocate greater consideration of species vagility in determining conservation priorities for the region's bat fauna.     

Geographical variation in echolocation call and body size of the Okinawan least horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus pumilus (Mammalia: Rhinolophidae), on Okinawa-jima Island, Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan

The Okinawan least horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus pumilus, is a cave-dwelling species endemic to the central and southern Ryukyus, Japan. We analyzed variation in the constant frequency (CF) of the echolocation call and in forearm length (FAL) of this species on Okinawa-jima Island on the basis of data for 479 individuals from 11 caves scattered over the island. CF values in samples from six caves, all located in the southwestern half of Okinawa-jima, were significantly higher than those in samples from five caves in the northeastern half of the island. Also, FAL was significantly greater in the latter group than in the former group, although the ranges of variation in this character substantially overlapped between the two groups. These results suggest substantial differentiation between R. pumilus populations on Okinawa-jima. The implications of our findings for the conservation of this endangered bat species are briefly discussed.     

Ammonia oxidation (amoA) and nitrogen fixation (nifH) genes along metasandstone and limestone caves of Brazil

Abstract

Many cave-dwelling microorganisms have been studied, but little is known about whether genes related to the nitrogen cycle are present in this environment, particularly in sandstone caves. The profiles of nitrogen fixation (nifH) and archaeal and bacterial ammonia oxidation (amoA) genes were analyzed along a cave of metasandstone and limestone lithologies. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and quantitative PCR to evaluate these genes, we analyzed the variations in the microorganisms and frequency of these genes along the caves. In both caves analyzed for nifH, different community profiles were observed, particularly in entrance samples. Quantitative PCR of the genes showed that samples from the entrance of the caves contained a larger number of copies of amoA. In addition, archaeal amoA was predominant compared to bacterial amoA. The present study demonstrated that the genes for nitrogen fixation and ammonia oxidation are present in both cave lithologies and that their frequency and the organisms present along the caves vary with factors such as the characteristics of the cave itself.