Latest Articles from Subterranean Biology Latest 5 Articles from Subterranean Biology https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 06:45:27 +0200 Pensoft FeedCreator https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/i/logo.jpg Latest Articles from Subterranean Biology https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/ Bat fauna and conservation assessment of Kurdistan caves, Iran https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/73282/ Subterranean Biology 42: 79-95

DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.42.73282

Authors: Vahid Akmali, Siavash Abedini, Zahra Malekpour Fard

Abstract: The populations of cave-dwelling bat species are encountering a remarkable decline all over the world. To plan effective conservation projects for bats and their cave roosts, collecting data on their distribution in a particular region is essential. Furthermore, developing an applicable index that incorporates both biotic and abiotic parameters relevant to caves is useful to prioritize caves for conservation management. Recently, there has been a growing interest in studying bat fauna of Iran. The Kurdistan province in west of the country is entirely mountainous, having a suitable geological substratum for formation of caves. Previously, five bat species were reported from Kurdistan. The current study has improved the data by doubling the number of cave-dwelling bat species of the province. A total number of 61 records of 10 species were documented. Overall, of 28 caves studied, 26 caves were used by bats. Each cave hosted one to six bat species. To prioritize Kurdistan caves for conservation programs, the Bat Cave Vulnerability Index (BCVI) was employed for 26 caves explored in this study. Four caves, including Karaftu, Kamtaran, Darvish Ouliya, and Kouna Sham-Sham, were highlighted due to their highest BCVI value. The other 22 caves received medium or low priority values. In the current study, we provided data on the bat fauna of Kurdistan caves, in addition to evaluate their conservation priorities by applying an assessing index for the first time in the country.

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Research Article Fri, 18 Feb 2022 09:36:08 +0200
Host-parasite associations in a population of the nectarivorous bat Anoura geoffroyi (Phyllostomidae) in a cave in a Brazilian ferruginous geosystem https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/64552/ Subterranean Biology 39: 63-77

DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.39.64552

Authors: Luísa Lauren Lima Vidal, Leopoldo Ferreira Oliveira Bernardi, Sonia Aparecida Talamoni

Abstract: Parasitic relationships between Neotropical bats and their ectoparasites are not well known, even though parasitism is one of the factors that can affect the fitness of a host population. This study characterized parasite-host relationships in relation to sex, age, body size and reproductive status in a population of Anoura geoffroyi using the indices of Prevalence, Mean Intensity and Mean Abundance. Total prevalence for 93 sampled bats was 94.6%. Two species of streblid flies that are considered primary parasites of A. geoffroyi, Exastinion clovisi (n = 203) and Anastrebla modestini (n = 152), were the most abundant ectoparasites, followed by Trichobius sp. (n = 7). Two mite species, Periglischrus vargasi (Spinturnicidae) (n = 98) and Spelaeorhynchus praecursor (Spelaeorhynchidae) (n = 11), were also found. We recorded higher mean abundance and intensity of parasitism in pregnant females compared to reproductive males and reproductively inactive females, for different specific associations of ectoparasites. Host age and body condition had no effect on the parasitological indices. Even with high rates of parasitism, parasitic load did not influence host body condition, but infestation rates by mites were higher in reproductive males and higher by flies in reproductive females, showing that ectoparasites can have variable influences between the different stages of the life history of these host bats. Thus, the reproductive activity of the hosts could be an adverse factor for resistance to parasite infestations.

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Research Article Wed, 9 Jun 2021 08:12:59 +0300
Siberian weasel Mustela sibirica Pallas, 1773 predatism on bats during winter period https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/46617/ Subterranean Biology 32: 111-117

DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.32.46617

Authors: Alexander Zhigalin

Abstract: This work presents the results of a three-year natural environment experiment in a cave in Barsukovskaya, Siberia), aimed at assessing the possible impact of mammals preying on a wintering group of bats. The average consumed biomass amount per year was about 2108 g and the estimated number of prey animals was 214, which is about 20% of the maximum number of animals observed. The biomass consumed poorly correlates with the number of animals in the cave. The proportion of the various species remaining in the excrement of predators is strongly determined by the number of these species in the accessible part of the cave. The amount of excrement indicates the regular predatism on bats and, therefore, the presence of specific behavioural adaptation in Mustela sibirica.

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Research Article Fri, 6 Dec 2019 08:49:39 +0200
Two caves in western Honduras are important for bat conservation: first checklist of bats in Santa Bárbara https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/35420/ Subterranean Biology 30: 41-55

DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.30.35420

Authors: Manfredo Alejandro Turcios-Casco, Diego Iván Ordoñez Mazier, José Alejandro Soler Orellana, Hefer Daniel Ávila-Palma, Eduardo Javier Ordoñez Trejo

Abstract: Caves are important reservoirs for species, including bats, but in Honduras there is little known information about these biodiverse ecosystems. We describe the importance of two caves in Ceguaca in western Honduras, based on the species richness of each cave. From December 2015 to May 2016, we used three mist-nets in seven journeys (74.27 mist-net/hours). We captured 139 bats belonging to 23 species of four families. We recorded 10 species in the crop of Quita Sueño, 10 in the cave of El Peñón, and 12 in the cave of Monte Grueso. In overall, 17% of the bats were captured in the crops of Quita Sueño, 62% in the cave of Monte Grueso, and 21% in the cave of El Peñón. About 9% of bat species of the total account for Honduras could be found in the cave of El Peñón, and 10% in the cave of Monte Grueso. If we consider the number of the species that have been recorded since 1979, between 20.9 and 49.2% of the expected species are still unrecorded, this suggests that despite low sampling effort there is a high diversity. However, the diversity of bats species using these caves embraced on the Tropical Dry Forest of Ceguaca is threatened by the fragmentation of the ecosystem due to the following reasons: intentional fires in the caves, extensive cattle raising, replacement of native plants with extensions of crops, and human-vampire conflicts (Desmodus rotundus).

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Research Article Thu, 27 Jun 2019 15:31:39 +0300
First record of albinism for the doglike bat, Peropteryx kappleri Peters, 1867 (Chiroptera, Emballonuridae) https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/34223/ Subterranean Biology 30: 33-40

DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.30.34223

Authors: Leopoldo Ferreira de Oliveira Bernardi, Xavier Prous, Mariane S. Ribeiro, Juliana Mascarenhas, Sebastião Maximiano Correa Genelhú, Matheus Henrique Simões, Tatiana Bezerra

Abstract: Albinism is a type of deficient in melanin production could be the result of genetic anomalies that are manifest as the absence of coloration of part or the entire body of an organism. This type of chromatic disorder can affect several vertebrate species, but is rarely found in nature. Among bats, more than 450 cases of total or partial loss of body pigmentation have been reported. Herein we provide the first report of albinism for the bat species Peropteryx kappleri (Chiroptera: Emballonuridae) with two such specimens being observed from iron formation caves in a conservation unit “Floresta Nacional de Carajás”, Amazon forest, northern of Brazil.

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Short Communication Wed, 29 May 2019 09:15:39 +0300