Abstract

GARCIA, FRANGER J. et al. Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) associated with a cave in Yurubí National Park, Sierra de Aroa, Yaracuy State, Venezuela. Caldasia [online]. 2015, vol.37, n.2, pp.381-391. ISSN 0366-5232.  https://doi.org/10.15446/caldasia.v37n2.53986.

For bats, caves represent an important resource within forests because they offer protection and favorable microclimatic conditions for reproduction, especially for cave-dwelling bats. Over 12 months (2013-2014), we studied a cave used by bats in an evergreen forest in the Yurubí National Park-Sierra de Aroa, Yaracuy State, Venezuela. For one night each month, we placed one harp trap in the entrance to the cave and activated it before the bats emerged from the cave. We captured six species from the families Mormoopidae and Phyllostomidae. Pteronotus parnellii, Anoura geoffroyi and Carollia perspicillata were recorded in every month, occasionally with signs of reproductive activity for some individuals. In every month, P. parnellii and A. geoffroyi showed the highest number of individuals. On the other hand, Phyllostomus hastatus, Lonchorhina aurita and Desmodus rotundus used the roost only in some months, without any evidence of reproductive activity. Overall, in the cave there were substantial changes in species composition and size of the colonies over time, indicating that it was a permanent roost for some species (which might use it for reproduction) but only an occasional shelter for other species.

Keywords : Mormoopidae; Phyllostomidae; roosts; cave use.

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