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The conservation status of monarch butterflies in North America is a topic of intense scrutiny and debate. It is clear that winter colonies in Mexico are declining, yet some recent studies suggest that summer breeding populations are relatively stable and similar to historical abundances. One possible explanation for these discordant patterns is that fall migration success has been recently disrupted. Here, we use a relatively unexplored citizen-scientist dataset on the size of monarch “roosts,” which are resting aggregations on vegetation, to infer changes in monarch abundance along the fall migration route over the last 17 y. We found that the timing of migration remained relatively unchanged while the flyway has generally become warmer and greener. Warmer and greener conditions were associated with larger roosts, yet we found steady, dramatic declines in roost sizes through time that were independent of climate and landscape factors. Roost sizes have declined as much as 80%, with losses increasing from north to south along the migration route. These findings suggest that failure during the fall migration could explain the apparent drop in monarch numbers from summer breeding to overwintering populations. This in turn suggests that conservation efforts that support fall migration success are most needed, such as providing high quality nectar plants along the migration route or limiting the planting of nonnative milkweeds that enhance monarch parasite loads. Overall, it appears the fall migration of monarch butterflies is under imminent threat, even if the species’ overall survival is not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barbastella leucomelas is a peripheral species for Russia, whose occurrence is known only in Dagestan. Before 1980, the species was known only from single finds and for the next 50 years there was no confirmation of its occurrence in the region. The research we have undertaken since 2018 has allowed us to collect a large amount of factual material on the distribution, taxonomy and ecology of the species. Some of this material has already been published, but a great deal remains inaccessible to the reader. The aim of this publication was to summaries all available information on this species in the region. Another objective of our study was to construct a probabilistic model of the species' habitat in Dagestan and to establish the key factors of this habitat. Material for the work was collected in all seasons from 2018 to 2024. Bats were captured with spider nets and searched in potential refuges. Echolocation signals were recorded using a BATLOGGER M detector, which were then analyses manually in BatSound 3.31 software. Statistical processing was performed using the STATISTICA 6.0 package. Bioclimatic modeling of probabilistic propagation was done using MaXent. The external structure, skull and dental system are described. During the research it was found that B. leucomelas in Dagestan is found from its southernmost borders to the latitude of Khasavyurt in the north, from the Primorskaya lowland in the east to the mountainous areas in the west. In the mountains it rises to a height of 2000 m above sea level. The main habitats are arid foothill and mountain- steppe landscapes, which are confirmed by the results of bioclimatic modeling. Areas with low winter temperatures, medium isothermally and minimum precipitation during the driest period of the year are predicted to have a high probability of habitat. Analysis of echolocation signals showed that B. leucomelas emits loud narrow-band FM calls (Type 1) with a peak frequency of about 29 kHz and weak frequency-time qCF-FM calls (Type 2) with a peak frequency of about 38 kHz. In this work, the signals of B. leucomelas are carried out with those of B. barbastellus. The species hunts usually close to refuges, using intermountain valleys, dry river terraces, gorges, steppe slopes of ridges and cliffs. Three food categories were recorded in food samples: Coleoptera (97,5 %), Lipidoptera (1,9 %) and Ephemerodea (0,6 %). All wintering sites found for the species are generally in areas of summer habitat. As summer and winter refuges it uses various dungeons. In colonies, individuals are usually not crowded, but may congregate up to several dozen individuals in one shelter. Limiting factors limiting the existence of the species in Dagestan are indicated and recommendations are given for the conservation of a large aggregation of individuals known to occur in the vicinity of the village of Miatli.

The Pilbara leaf-nosed bat (Rhinonicteris aurantia 'Pilbara form') is a threatened insectivorous microbat endemic to the Pilbara region of Western Australia. It is at risk of significant population decline, particularly due to habitat loss from mining. To address its key threats, stakeholders from a range of backgrounds collectively listed and prioritised research actions in 2013. This exercise was repeated in 2022 to evaluate and update progress of the research priorities. We conducted a review of scientific and grey literature (2013–2023) to: (1) identify the work undertaken to date that addressed the research priorities identified in the 2013 stakeholder workshop; (2) identify the current knowledge gaps in Pilbara leaf-nosed bat ecology, conservation, and threatening processes; and (3) highlight how these gaps relate to the newly ranked 2022 priority list for both research and management outcomes. We found that the 2013 research priorities were largely unaddressed, with most publications and unpublished industry reports in the review period primarily reporting presence or monitoring data around areas of interest to the resources sector, with minimal focus on the species' conservation or management directly. Therefore, the knowledge gaps identified in 2013 were still largely relevant in 2022. Further targeted research is required to meet the 2022 priorities and better understand the habitat characteristics, movement ecology, disturbance buffer requirements, and cumulative impacts of mining on Pilbara leaf-nosed bat colonies. Overall, targeted research beyond traditional mining outputs, changes to regulatory procedure, and collaborative, adaptive management, are key to supporting the long-term persistence of Pilbara leaf-nosed bats. Collaborative effort is required to prevent the decline of the threatened Pilbara leaf-nosed bat. A combination of stakeholders came together in 2013, and then again in 2022, to determine key actions required for the conservation of the species. Analysis of studies from the past decade indicates that many of the 2013 targets were largely unaddressed, meaning that higher accountability and changes such as in regulatory procedure will be required to ensure the 2022 targets are met. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most significant changes to Earth's climate in recent decades has been an increase in the frequency, intensity and duration of heatwaves. During heatwaves, animal's thermal window can be exceeded, and in extreme cases, mass mortality events have been observed. In 2018, a heatwave in north‐eastern Australia resulted in the death of approximately one‐third of the spectacled flying‐fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) population at urban roosts in Cairns. The species has now been listed as endangered with future heatwaves considered the greatest threat to its survival. In this study, we investigated long‐term climatic trends for Cairns, paying particular attention to the frequency of extreme heat events from 1943 to 2022. We then characterized the microclimate of urban flying‐fox roosts during the Austral summers of 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 across Cairns to assess the long‐term feasibility of urban spectacled flying‐fox roosts. From the long‐term climate records, we observed an overall increase in Cairns' average annual temperature of 1.3°C from 1943 to 2022 and an increase in the number of excessively hot days per decade, from 16 in the first decade (1943–1952) to 67 in the last (2013–2022). We regularly detected maximum roost temperatures of 30–35°C during our study, with excessively hot days (>35°C) recorded more frequently than expected compared to Cairns's maximum temperatures from the last decade (2013–2023). We detected only 1 day where roost temperatures exceeded 40°C and no period that replicated the 2018 heatwave conditions. Furthermore, we found a significant negative relationship between roost ambient temperature and humidity, where the hottest days also coincided with those with the lowest humidity. Importantly, we found no difference in microclimate between roosts that were occupied and unoccupied by flying‐foxes during our study, suggesting that other environmental or behavioural factors are more influential for roost selection than the roosting microclimate. Ensuring the long‐term conservation of spectacled flying‐foxes under a changing climate will require the management of urban roosts to increase their thermal resistance to heatwaves, and more research is needed to identify the variables modulating this aspect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Natura Sloveniae: Revija za Terensko Biologijo / Journal of Field Biology is the property of Natura Sloveniae and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Human alterations of landscapes, such as habitat conversion and infrastructure buildouts have caused population declines and extinctions of numerous species. Anthropogenic change negatively impacts surrounding landscapes, but in some cases, lead to an increase in synathropy. Bats are one such group that often take advantage of human altered landscapes, roosting in anthropogenic structures such as buildings and transportation infrastructure. However, less is known about how non-traditional or artificial roost sites may affect persistence of synathropic bat species. We conducted a literature review to evaluate the ecological relationship between bats and artificial roosts, specifically transportation structures, as they are often the only roost structures available in some landscapes. Our evaluation revealed that numerous studies on artificial roost selection have been conducted in the eastern region of North America, as well as abroad. Use of transportation structures by bats varies across landscapes, specifically due to variation in annual climate, availability of natural roosts, and bridge structure design. This review enhances our understanding of bat roost ecology, possible pitfalls of synanthropic behaviour, and identify trends related to bat-bridge associations that may improve conservation outcomes for synanthropic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organisms have been shifting their timing of life history events (phenology) in response to changes in the emergence of resources induced by climate change. Yet understanding these patterns at large scales and across long time series is often challenging. Here we used the US weather surveillance radar network to collect data on the timing of communal swallow and martin roosts and evaluate the scale of phenological shifts and its potential association with temperature. The discrete morning departures of these aggregated aerial insectivores from ground‐based roosting locations are detected by radars around sunrise. For the first time, we applied a machine learning algorithm to automatically detect and track these large‐scale behaviors. We used 21 years of data from 12 weather surveillance radar stations in the Great Lakes region to quantify the phenology in roosting behavior of aerial insectivores at three spatial levels: local roost cluster, radar station, and across the Great Lakes region. We show that their peak roosting activity timing has advanced by 2.26 days per decade at the regional scale. Similar signals of advancement were found at the station scale, but not at the local roost cluster scale. Air temperature trends in the Great Lakes region during the active roosting period were predictive of later stages of roosting phenology trends (75% and 90% passage dates). Our study represents one of the longest‐term broad‐scale phenology examinations of avian aerial insectivore species responding to environmental change and provides a stepping stone for examining potential phenological mismatches across trophic levels at broad spatial scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial lighting at nights (ALAN) affects behaviour in many animals, especially nocturnal species. However, its effect on frugivorous bats remains less explored, especially in the family Pteropodidae. Since they rely predominantly on vision and light-based cues, ALAN at roost sites could have consequences on their behaviour, activity, and the ecosystem services they provide. In a semi-urban site in southern India, we compared the emergence-return activity of the cave-roosting Rousettus leschenaultii, between a roost in an undisturbed, naturally-lit agricultural well and an artificially-lit roost in a temple. We also compared emergence times between five colonies of the tree-roosting Pteropus giganteus (currently P. medius) that were exposed to different intensities of artificial light. Emergence-return flights at the naturally-lit R. leschenaultii roost occurred significantly earlier than at the artificially-lit roost. Peak flight activity across nights varied more in the naturally-lit than at the artificially-lit roost. Nightly flight durations (interval between peak emergence and peak return times) varied more in the naturally-lit roost, while mean flight durations were similar between these roosts. In P. giganteus, emergence was significantly earlier in the highly light-polluted roost than in the other roosts. These modified flight activities could have potential consequences on the physiology and ecology of fruit bats and requires further study. Moreover, the effect of ALAN on seed dispersal and pollination services provided by fruit bats in tropical landscapes remains to be understood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The extent of the use of tree hollows by bats is relatively unknown. However, these are vital habitats for cavern-dwelling bats to use when seeking rest, protection, hibernation, or reproduction opportunities. We collected bat guano from nearly 200 tree hollows to determine which species were present, using genetic markers, and which habitat characteristics influenced roost use. Our results indicate a different species composition than previously known in redwood trees (Sequoia sempervirens) on the North Coast of California. Based on the quantity of guano collected, more bats roosted in hollows with high ceilings and in forests with fewer small trees. Researchers may use the techniques of guano collection and DNA analysis presented here for the management and conservation of bat populations. The loss of roosting resources, either through disturbance or removal, negatively affects bats. Identifying sensitive species and determining roost requirements are critical components in conserving their habitat. Cavity-roosting bats on the North Coast of California are known to use hollows in large redwood trees. In this study, we examined the factors determining the use of basal tree hollows by different bat species at eight redwood forest sites in Del Norte, Humboldt, and Mendocino Counties, California. Bat guano was collected from 179 basal hollow roosts from 2017 to 2018, and guano mass was used as an index of roosting activity. Nine bat species and one species group were identified by analysis of DNA in guano. We made a total of 253 identifications from 83 hollows into the 10 species categories. The most prevalent species were Myotis californicus (California myotis; 28.5% of all identifications), the Myotis evotis-Myotis thysanodes group (17.4%), Corynorhinus townsendii (17.0%), and Myotis volans (15.0%). We evaluated the extent to which habitat variables at the scales of the hollow, vicinity, and site influenced the level of roost use. The correlations between guano mass and habitat variables were examined using generalized additive mixed models. At the hollow scale, guano mass increased with ceiling height above the opening. At the vicinity scale, guano mass increased with less cover of small trees. At the site scale, there was no association between guano mass and distance to foraging areas, elevation, or the number of nearby hollows. These tree hollow roost preferences can inform land managers when planning the management and conservation of redwood forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we represent the first review of the bat fauna of the large territory of Central Ukraine (to the west from Dnieper River). The review is based on results of the original survey in 1999–2021 and data from all available sources (publications, museum collections). Fauna of the region includes 24 bat species: Eptesicus, 2 species; Barbastella, 1; Myotis, 10; Nyctalus, 3; Pipistrellus, 4; Plecotus, 2; Vespertilio, 1; Rhinolophus, 1. For each species there is a short description of its distribution (illustrated by a map), used roosts, seasonality of presence and reproductive status within the study area. The bat fauna composition is analysed by three distinguished subregions, from north to south: of mixed forests, the forest-steppe, and the Dniester river. The estimation of prevalence and comparative abundance of the species in the region is given. The general review of bat roosts, by their types (under- and overground), seasonality of usage, and sheltered species is presented. The paper is supplemented with the extensive array of original, earlier unpublished, primary data on bat records in the region.

Here, we represent the first review of the bat fauna of the large territory of Central Ukraine (to the west from Dnipro River). The review is based on results of the original survey in 1999-2021 and data from all available sources (publications, museum collections). Fauna of the region includes 24 bat species: Eptesicus, 2 species; Barbastella, 1; Myotis, 10; Nyctalus, 3; Pipistrellus, 4; Plecotus, 2; Vespertilio, 1; Rhinolophus, 1. For each species there is a short description of its distribution (illustrated by a map), used roosts, seasonality of presence and reproductive status within the study area. The bat fauna composition is analysed by three distinguished subregions, from north to south: of mixed forests, the forest-steppe, and the Dniester River. The estimation of prevalence and comparative abundance of the species in the region is given. The general review of bat roosts, by their types (under- and overground), seasonality of usage, and sheltered species is presented. The paper is supplemented with the extensive array of original, earlier unpublished, primary data on bat records in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protecting day roosts is imperative to the persistence and survival of local populations of tree-roosting bats. The Pine Ridge region of Nebraska represents the largest area of coniferous forests in the state and possesses the greatest diversity of bats in Nebraska. In this study, we examined roost characteristics primarily for 4 species in need of conservation in the region: Fringed Myotis (Myotis thysanodes), Long-legged Myotis (Myotis volans), Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus), and Hoary Bat (Aeorestes cinereus). With a limited understanding of roost characteristics for other species in the region, we also collected some roost data for the Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) and Western Small-footed Myotis (Myotis ciliolabrum). We tracked 42 bats with an emphasis on lactating females. Fringed Myotis, Big Brown Bats, and Western Small-footed Myotis typically roosted in cracks and crevices of dead trees. Long-legged Myotis roosted only in rock crevices at our western-most study site and only large, dead Ponderosa Pines (Pinus ponderosa) at our eastern-most site. Little Brown Myotis roosted in human-made structures in large colonies. Hoary Bats roosted in foliage of live hardwoods and conifers. Conservation of dead Ponderosa Pines, particularly those with large diameters and exfoliating bark, will provide roost structures for most crevice-roosting bats in the region. Our limited data for Hoary Bats suggest that roost-tree use is variable, as individuals roosted in both live hardwoods and conifers. Exclusive use of buildings throughout the region by female Little Brown Myotis implies timber harvests and wildfires might not greatly affect roosts for reproductive females. We demonstrated that roost characteristics vary among species and between nearby populations of the same species, representing important information for making informed habitat management decisions in a region with limited forests in northwestern Nebraska. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The loss of roosting resources, either through disturbance or removal, negatively affects bats. Identifying sensitive species and determining roost requirements are critical components in conserving their habitat. Cavity-roosting bats on the North Coast of California are known to use hollows in large redwood trees. In this study, we examined the factors determining the use of basal tree hollows by different bat species at eight redwood forest sites in Del Norte, Humboldt, and Mendocino Counties, California. Bat guano was collected from 179 basal hollow roosts from 2017 to 2018, and guano mass was used as an index of roosting activity. Nine bat species and one species group were identified by analysis of DNA in guano. We made a total of 253 identifications from 83 hollows into the 10 species categories. The most prevalent species were Myotis californicus (California myotis; 28.5% of all identifications), the Myotis evotis-Myotis thysanodes group (17.4%), Corynorhinus townsendii (17.0%), and Myotis volans (15.0%). We evaluated the extent to which habitat variables at the scales of the hollow, vicinity, and site influenced the level of roost use. The correlations between guano mass and habitat variables were examined using generalized additive mixed models. At the hollow scale, guano mass increased with ceiling height above the opening. At the vicinity scale, guano mass increased with less cover of small trees. At the site scale, there was no association between guano mass and distance to foraging areas, elevation, or the number of nearby hollows. These tree hollow roost preferences can inform land managers when planning the management and conservation of redwood forests.

Introduction: Rocky outcrops influence both micro and macro habitat for plants and animals by increasing the availability and predictability of food, providing shelter, and unique microclimatic conditions. Objective: We describe the bat assemblage in three isolated rocky outcrops and their surrounding pediments, adding new data about trophic guilds and roosts. Methods: We surveyed the bat fauna of Paraje Tres Cerros, Corrientes Province, Argentina, exploring 13 sites during 26 field trips, using mist nets and search of roosts. We made an accumulation species curve and calculate inventory completeness. The similarity and composition of different habitats was compared by a Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) and an ANOSIM test. Results: We reported 13 species, with a completeness inventory of the 80 % (Jacknife1), corresponding to the families Vespertilionidae, Molossidae and Phyllostomidae. The insectivorous bats were the best represented guild. We found nine types of roost for eight species in different sites. The analysis expressed low differences in the species composition between both types of habitats in the area. Conclusions: The rocky outcrops and their pediments are important ecosystems for the conservation and diversity of the bats in the region, since their assemblages are regionally unique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wintering ecology of many migrant bird species, especially migrant raptors is poorly studied. The semi-arid regions of southern Tamil Nadu (TN), India are a major wintering area and the southern limit for many migrant species. Historically there has been a loss of several grassland species from the area and currently, the natural grasslands are completely transformed. There are no studies on grassland birds in the region, especially on migrant harriers, which are grassland species and show a declining trend in most parts of the country. The present study is an effort to identify harrier roosts and record their numbers at the roost sites, during four winters from 2015 to 2019 in the districts of Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi in TN. Three species of harriers were recorded from 16 roost sites and roost counts at these sites varied from 75 to 2. The total number of harriers declined over the survey period and this was consistent across sites. Majority of the roosts were on private land and loss of roost sites to various land-use transformations is a major driver of harrier numbers in the area. Innovative approaches to protect and conserve grasslands are the need of the hour for the future of grassland species in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Iheringia. Série Zoologia is the property of Fundacao Zoobotanica do Rio Grande do Sul and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) are an invasive species in the United States that damage agriculture, personal property, and threaten human health and safety. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services provides technical support to mitigate damage by controlling starling populations at concentrated animal feeding operations, landfills, utilities, and urban areas. Wildlife Services uses DRC-1339, a registered toxicant, to reduce starling populations. Trapping can also be an effective tool but requires more time at a higher cost than DRC-1339. Trapping starlings, however, may be needed to provide a viable alternative to mitigate damage in areas where toxicant use may be restricted. To address this need, I developed a unique and effective starling trap to increase catch rates. I began testing multiple trap designs in November 2007 at cattle (Bos taurus) feedlots, meat processing plants, and urban staging areas in a 45-km radius of the city of Omaha, Nebraska, USA. In December 2011, I designed a 4-chamber, basket-style starling trap that has been instrumental in a nearly 90% reduction of the roosting starling population in downtown Omaha. Herein, I discuss the development and testing of the trap and provide guidelines and instructions for building and strategic placement of the trap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managing European starlings with DRC-1339 near urban and suburban areas can lead to adverse publicity resulting from encounters by the public with dead and dying birds. Collectors could retrieve the birds, if the likely sites of mass mortalities were known. In December 2009, we radio tagged 50 starlings at 3 sites in central New Jersey and studied their movements and behavior. Two of the sites were ensconced in a mosaic of suburban and urban habitats, whereas the other was in a rural setting. The sites were selected from a list of agricultural producers that had requested assistance from the Wildlife Services program in New Jersey. Starlings using the rural study site showed strong site fidelity (x-bar = 78% of days tracked), stayed closer during daytime wanderings (x-bar = 2 km), and roosted onsite. In contrast, starlings in the urban-suburban mosaic showed less fidelity (x-bar’s = 10% and 36%), wandered farther (x-bar’s = 6 km and 4 km), and seldom roosted onsite. No study sites were visited by members from the other radio-tagged cohorts. Major roosts in the urban-suburban mosaic averaged 10 km (n = 4, SE = 1.4) from the study sites. We predict that most starlings will remain within 6 km of the site during daytime. Poisoned starlings may become lethargic and seek refuge in dense vegetation (e.g., evergreens) near the baited site. Birds >6 km from a bait site are probably on a direct bearing between the bait site and roosting site.

Copyright of Therya is the property of Asociacion Mexicana de Mastozoologia, A. C. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Many species of bats live in dynamic associations in which individuals aggregate or split into smaller or larger groups, moving between roost sites, but factors influencing group size and roost switching decisions in bats living in fission-fusion societies are poorly understood. To test the extent to which fission-fusion dynamics are species-specific and shaped by environmental factors, we radio-tracked two closely related species: noctule bats Nyctalus noctula and Leisler's bats N. leisleri in well-preserved, old-growth stands of the Białowieża Forest, where roost availability and diversity is high and bats can potentially freely exhibit fission-fusion behaviour. We estimated the number of bats per roost and noted the tree species selected as roost sites. We evaluated the influence of ambient temperature and roost tree species on bat group size and the process of roost switching, and their seasonal component. Our results revealed that bat group size showed species-specific differences in seasonal variation, relationship to ambient temperature and tree species. The number of noctule bats emerging from a roost was relatively stable with a weak tendency to decrease during the breeding season while the number of Leisler's bats emerging from a roost increased when the juveniles started to be volant. Group size of noctule bats increased with ambient temperature. Leisler's bats formed smaller colonies in oaks and ashes than in other tree species. Roost switching rate was associated with ambient temperature and tree species selected by the bats. The bats changed roosts more frequently when the minimum ambient temperature increased, and less often in ashes than in oaks and other tree species. Our results show that bat group size and roost switching behaviour are shaped by both environmental factors and the stage of reproduction. Significance statement: Environmental factors may affect group size and roost switching behaviour of bats forming fission-fusion associations, but this is expected to vary depending on body size, environmental conditions, as well as seasonally. Few studies have explored this behaviour in tree-dwelling bats and examined how it differs between species. Here, we studied the group size dynamics and the process of roost switching in closely related bat species living in well-preserved, European old-growth forests, for which the knowledge of these patterns is particularly poor. We demonstrate for the first time that bat group size and roost switching rate relates to roost tree species selected by bats, the ambient temperature and varies seasonally, and that these effects are species-specific. The results point out the importance of the availability of suitable roost trees providing a range of microclimatic conditions for maintaining efficient fission-fusion dynamics throughout the reproductive period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aim to summarise what is known about torpor use and patterns in Australian and New Zealand (ANZ) bats from temperate, tropical/subtropical and arid/semiarid regions and to identify whether and how they differ. ANZ bats comprise ~90 species from 10 families. Members of at least nine of these are known to use torpor, but detailed knowledge is currently restricted to the pteropodids, molossids, mystacinids, and vespertilionids. In temperate areas, several species can hibernate (use a sequence of multiday torpor bouts) in trees or caves mostly during winter and continue to use short bouts of torpor for the rest of the year, including while reproducing. Subtropical vespertilionids also use multiday torpor in winter and brief bouts of torpor in summer, which permit a reduction in foraging, probably in part to avoid predators. Like temperate-zone vespertilionids they show little or no seasonal change in thermal energetics during torpor, and observed changes in torpor patterns in the wild appear largely due to temperature effects. In contrast, subtropical blossom-bats (pteropodids) exhibit more pronounced daily torpor in summer than winter related to nectar availability, and this involves a seasonal change in physiology. Even in tropical areas, vespertilionids express short bouts of torpor lasting ~5 h in winter; summer data are not available. In the arid zone, molossids and vespertilionids use torpor throughout the year, including during desert heat waves. Given the same thermal conditions, torpor bouts in desert bats are longer in summer than in winter, probably to minimise water loss. Thus, torpor in ANZ bats is used by members of all or most families over the entire region, its regional and seasonal expression is often not pronounced or as expected, and it plays a key role in energy and water balance and other crucial biological functions that enhance longterm survival by individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

American crow populations have increased steadily since 1966 in many parts of the U.S. Large winter congregations of crows in urban environments have resulted in an increased number of requests for assistance in managing nocturnal roosts in New York. In 2002, the USDA APHIS Wildlife Services program initiated a large-scale non-lethal winter roost dispersal program in Troy, New York. Since that time, similar programs have been implemented in 4 other cities in New York to manage crow roosts ranging in size from 8,000 - 63,000 individuals. The goals of the programs were to minimize noise, accumulations of crow feces around residences, strong odors associated with droppings, property damage, clean-up costs, and potential threats to human health and safety. The primary management strategy relied on dispersing concentrated crow populations from high-impact high-conflict areas, to low-impact low-conflict areas. An integrated management program using pyrotechnics, amplified recorded crow distress calls, and hand-held lasers was implemented to successfully disperse local crow roosts, reducing populations at the majority of core roost sites each year by more than 98%. In some instances, significant reductions in crow numbers and associated damage persisted >8 weeks after management without additional interventions, although most sites required multiple additional “spot treatments.” High-profile urban wildlife management projects of this type require multiple meetings with key stakeholders and the public and often attract intense media interest, adding complexity to these programs. We provide summary information from 5 cities in New York documenting crow management techniques, intensity of effort, number of interventions required to relocate crow populations, and key lessons learned regarding sciencebased project documentation, project transparency, communication, and the need for long-term adaptive management strategies to meet project goals.

Double-crested cormorants commonly depredate channel catfish at aquaculture facilities in the southeastern U.S., causing significant economic loss. Prior research has demonstrated regional night-roost harassment (i.e., “major pushes”) to be an effective technique to temporarily reduce cormorant use on aquaculture ponds; however, these efforts were extremely labor intensive and changes in impacts were difficult to quantify. We conducted a preliminary study to investigate the efficacy of site-specific, night-roost dispersal (n = 6) using lethal control on cormorant abundance by monitoring the number of birds at randomly selected aquaculture facilities for 3 days prior to and following night-roost dispersals. The effect of dispersal varied greatly by study site. At one site, the mean abundance of cormorants on catfish production ponds decreased following dispersal; however, on the other 5 sites the mean abundance of cormorants did not change on catfish production ponds following night-roost dispersal. We recommend further research to evaluate the effectiveness of night-roost dispersal using lethal control. Furthermore, we offer recommendations for the design of future large-scale studies, which include improvements to reduce large variation.

Cattail stands provide roosting and staging areas for large congregations of blackbirds in North Dakota in late summer and early fall. Since 1991, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services (WS) program has conducted a cattail management program in North Dakota to alleviate blackbird damage to ripening sunflower. To extend the capabilities of the program, a geographical information system (GIS) will be incorporated to help WS personnel find blackbird roosts more effectively. We will use the GIS to construct field maps showing the association between areas of moderate to high sunflower damage (>5%) and cattail-dominated wetland basins >2 ha. Buffer distances comparable to the distances blackbirds typically travel to forage will be placed around sunflower planting areas susceptible to high damage. This will help WS personnel focus their efforts on locating cattail-dominated wetlands that should be enrolled in the management program and improving current and future blackbird damage management programs.

As distributional patterns of black vultures (Coragyps atratus) and turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) change, and as woodland habitat declines, vultures increasingly come in contact with human activity. Relocation of problem birds is one potential management approach for resolving conflicts. Relocation involves trapping and moving the vultures some distance away where their subsequent behavior is not expected to conflict with human activity. To evaluate vulture responses to relocation, we trapped and patagial-tagged 114 vultures at two roosting areas over a period of ten months and equipped ten of them with satellite transmitters. Of 9,101 locations, 18.6% had a measure of accuracy of 1000 m to 1000 m of accuracy (n=3149), no estimate of location accuracy (n=2024), or invalid location (n= 1117). Two transmitters were recovered due to removal or illness of the bird, were reset, and deployed on different vultures. Sixteen tagged birds were sighted after their release. Half of the sighted birds were observed at their unmodified trap site, and four of eight birds with transmitters were tracked to within 16 km of their trap site. No birds have been tracked to or seen at the modified trap site. One bird was tracked to within 32 km of its modified trap site. Birds took an average of eight months to return to the trap site. Relocation appears to be effective in the short term, but habitat modification and harassment to render the location unattractive is necessary for successful long-term removal of problem vultures.

Habitat loss and forest fragmentation are currently substantially reducing the availability of natural bat roosts worldwide. However, since bat populations have been recognized as important ecosystem service providers, bat boxes have become one of the most popular measures employed to protect them. Evidence exists that in arid regions bat boxes act as ecological traps due to abrupt rises in summer temperatures. Several reported mortality events highlight the lack of appropriate guidelines in temperate areas, which might be putting bat conservation in jeopardy. We aimed to explore which bat box features might cause mortality so we compare temperatures in bat boxes, modelling the influence of the orientation and model, and quantifying the risk of extreme heat episodes. A total of 797 overheating events were recorded during a bat-box monitoring program in Catalunya (2014-2015). In 2016, we compared temperatures in up to 15 models side-by-side in the Ebro Delta Natural Park. Bat-box model and orientation clearly affected the number of overheating events. Black-coloured and south-facing boxes recorded the highest temperatures, including the most popular models, with temperatures over 40 °C. The number of overheating events was clearly dependent on the bat-box model. For example, a new model manufactured from rice chaff did not experience any overheating event in contrast with the 2F model that recorded over 50. We do not recommend the use of black boxes in south-facing sites in warm areas. In fact, observed internal temperature gradients suggest that complex boxes may help counteract the effects of overheating. We highlight the importance of taking microclimate characteristics into consideration when setting up a bat-box scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In August and September 1989 and 1990, we aerially sprayed 8 cattail (Typha spp.) marshes with Rodeo® herbicide to begin evaluating its use for fragmenting dense cattail stands used by roosting blackbirds (lcterinae). Treated marshes were effectively eliminated as roost sites for blackbirds. After 2 years, cattail densities in 4 marshes treated with Rodeo® at 5.8 - 7.0 L/ha were 87 % lower than pretreatment densities (P = 0.0001 ). In 1990, we treated 4 marshes with Rodeo® at 4.7 L/ha. One year later, 6% of the cattails survived in the sprayed areas. Of 7 groups of "indicator birds," only marsh wren (Cistothorus palustris) and rail (sora, Porzana carolina; and Virginia rail, Rallus limicola) populations were adversely affected by cattail fragmentation. These preliminary results led to an increased research effort to develop marsh management techniques aimed at eliminating blackbird roosts.

Colony roosting species of blackbirds (Icterinae), including European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), can be significant pests. The chemical avicide CPT has been applied experimentally in the U.S. and France to roosting blackbirds. However, apparent effective aerial application rates are high, 44-101 kg/ha (40-90 lbs/a), and the actual efficacy, expressed as percent mortality, is difficult to determine. We assessed CPT as a respirable aerosol for potential use as a roost avicide. Starlings exposed to 17 ppm CPT for 5.5 min received lethal doses. The birds appear very sensitive to CPT administered in this manner. The methods of CPT entry into the birds include respiratory, ocular and dermal. It is proposed that a field application rate of 3.4-5.6 kg of CPT per hectare (3-5 lbs/a) would be effective.

Roosting behavior is common to most avian pests of agriculture. Movements from highly aggregated distributions in roosts to highly dispersed distributions on foraging grounds determine pattern and severity of avian pest problems. This research seeks an understanding of bow roosting behavior influences the dispersion of avian agricultural pests and the damage they cause. My focus is on why birds form communal roosts and how communal roosting influences the selection of foraging sites. I document patterns of roosting behavior in European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) through population level studies, followed by analysis of individual behavior using radio telemetry. Starlings maintain long-term fidelity (up to 130 days) to the same diurnal activity center (DAC), while using a variety of roosting sites at night. DACs tend to be at the center of the distribution of roosting sites used by individual birds. These and other results contradict expectations based on the most widely held explanations for roosting behavior and have led us to a new interpretation based on an association between large roosts and high-quality feeding sites (e.g., agricultural fields). Examination of previous attempts to manage avian pest problems in light of these new findings helps explain some earlier successes and failures, and may also promote development of new more efficient approaches to avian pest problems.

Populations trends of cave-dwelling bats in the Eastern Iberian Peninsula and the effect of placing a perimeter fencing around their roosts (to avoid human disturbance on breeding colonies) were evaluated from 1997 to 2014. The species with the highest relative abundance was Miniopterus schreibersii (62.4%), followed by Myotis myotis/ blythii (18%), and both populations showed positive trends. On the other hand, Myotis capaccinii (6.2%), M. escalerai (4.8%) and M. emarginatus (0.9%) showed significant, but minor increases, particularly in recent years. Rhinolophus mehelyi (0.2%) displayed no significant trends, while a moderate population decline was recorded for R. euryale (5.1%). Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (2.2%) and R. hipposideros (0.1%) showed positive growth trends. The main assemblages in the evaluated roosts were formed by Myotis myotis/ blythii, Miniopterus schreibersii and R. ferrumequinum. This denotes their less specific requirements or greater flexibility when selecting roosts, compared with other species, except for M. capaccinii and R. mehelyi. No significant differences were found between roosts with different levels of protection, but there were positive trends in the protected roosts. Most non-fenced cavities showed negative trends during the period evaluated. We did not rule out other factors, such as requiring habitats with optimum food sources next to maternal roosts, which could affect population growth. The selectivity of some species of bats for certain caves will be essential for the preparation of management plans for certain roosts. Four of the seven risk factors documented for European bats affect studied population. Myotis blythii, M. myotis and Rhinolophus euryale would be most affected by a reduction in the areas they currently occupy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To better understand the importance of social activity, ultrasonic calls made by lesser horseshoe bats ( Rhinolophus hipposideros) in North Wales, U.K. were recorded during extended pre-set periods since 2010 inside and outside nursery roosts from May to July and in a hibernaculum in October. Ultrasonic calls with fundamental frequencies between 15-42 kHz were identified as seven categories of infant development calls and 15 categories of adult ultrasonic social calls according to the frequency and duration of the fundamental, the number of harmonics and the number of calls in a sequence. Activities were monitored remotely using infrared video cameras with simultaneous time expansion sound recorders. Distinctive polyharmonic isolation calls of newborn R. hipposideros enabled timing of births to be determined and infant echolocation marked the time when they started to fly. Trill advertisement calls in the hibernaculum indicated mating behaviour in October. Comparison of call-triggered recording times enabled variable levels of activity to be determined quickly. The longest sonogram times were in July (50.2 min/h) and in June (49.1 min/h). During these recordings, 95 and 90 adults returned to the roost after foraging and there were 16 and 42 babies, respectively. In May sound and video recordings outside a nursery roost revealed ultrasonic social calls during the emergence of 200 adult R. hipposideros when the light level was low at two lux, which showed that R. hipposideros were engaged in social activity, not light sampling. Surveys of ten nursery roosts showed that this social behaviour was typical of R. hipposideros in Wales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published accounts of North American bats overwintering in places other than caves and mines are rare. We used repeated visual searches for roosting bats to document use of sandstone rock-ledges in west-central Virginia by Eptesicus fuscus (Big Brown Bat) and Myotis leibii (Eastern Small-footed Bat) during two consecutive winters. Crevices used by both species tended to be smaller than nearby randomly selected crevices. It is unclear if bats hibernated exclusively in the rock-crevices or moved back and forth between them and other refugia such as caves or mines. Rock-crevices likely are more isolated and colder and drier than most caves and mines and conceivably could offer greater protection from White-nose Syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five hundred pellets of the Mediterranean Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii were collected at three roost-sites along the Slovenian coast and analysed. The diet was characterized mostly by the dominance of bottom dwelling fish species of the appropriate size. The Black Goby Gobius niger was the most dominant prey and represented the Shag's main prey in the studied area (IRI% = 64.0). The results of the study confirm that the Mediterranean Shag preys mainly on fish species which are without commercial value for local fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Se describen los refugios de murciélagos encontrados en un área de selva amazónica de los alrededores de Iquitos (Departamento Loreto, Perú). Los muestreos en ambientes naturales se realizaron mediante caminatas diurnas y encuestas a pobladores, y en las áreas urbanas y suburbanas fueron diurnos y nocturnos, con visitas a edificios y puentes donde previamente se había registrado la presencia de especímenes. En refugios no modificados se registraron ejemplares apoyados sobre árboles o troncos, en huecos de árboles en pie, dentro de troncos caídos, entre hojas de palmeras, y quebradas en el suelo entre raíces de árboles. Las especies encontradas en este tipo de refugios pertenecen a las familias Emballonuridae y Phyllostomidae. En los refugios modificados se registraron especies de la familia Phyllostomidae en tiendas bífidas, tiendas tipo bote invertido y tipo cónica, y en termiteros. Los refugios artificiales fueron edificios, puentes y una embarcación, y las familias registradas fueron Emballonuridae, Noctilionidae, Phyllostomidae, Molossidae y Vespertilionidae. Especímenes de las especies de los géneros Carollia y Glossophaga se encontraron frecuentemente compartiendo refugios. También se ha observado que algunos refugios eran compartidos por ejemplares pertenecientes a diferentes niveles taxonómicos como especies, géneros, e incluso familias.Here we describe the bat roosts found in an area of the Amazon forest around the locality of Iquitos in Loreto Departament, Peru. Natural habitats were surveyed during the day by walking, and with the help of censuses made to local dwellers; in urban and suburban areas the bats were detected by checking in buildings and bridges where the specimens were previously observed. At natural roosts, not modified by bats, the specimens were observed resting on trees or logs, inside treeholes, fallen trunks, among palm leaves, streams on the floor among roots. The species found in these shelters belonged to the families Emballonuridae and Phyllostomidae. In roosts modified by bats we recorded species of the family Phyllostomidae living on bifid tents, inverted boat tents, and conical tents, as well as in termite mounds. The artificial shelters detected were mostly buildings, some bridges and a vessel, where we have found members of the families Emballonuridae, Noctilionidae, Phyllostomidae, Molossidae and Vespertilionidae. At some localities the roosts were shared by specimens of different species, genera and even families; species that often share shelters are members of genera Carollia and Glossophaga.

Although coloniality is widespread among mammals, it is still not clear what factors influence composition of social groups. As animals need to adapt to multiple habitat and environmental conditions throughout their range, variation in group composition should be influenced by adaptive adjustment to different ecological factors. Relevant to anthropogenic disturbance, increased habitat modification by humans can alter species' presence, density, and population structure. Therefore, it is important to understand the consequences of changes to landscape composition, in particular how habitat modification affects social structure of group-forming organisms. Here, we combine information on roosting associations with genetic structure of Peter's tent-roosting bats, Uroderma bilobatum to address how different habitat characteristics at different scales affect structure of social groups. By dividing analyses by age and sex, we determined that genetic structure was greater for adult females than adult males or offspring. Habitat variables explained 80% of the variation in group relatedness (mainly influenced by female relatedness) with roost characteristics contributing the most explained variation. This suggests that females using roosts of specific characteristics exhibit higher relatedness and seem to be philopatric. These females mate with more males than do more labile female groups. Results describe ecological and microevolutionary processes, which affect relatedness and social structure; findings are highly relevant to species distributions in both natural and human-modified environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to identify which tree species bats use as maternity roosts in woodland in southern Norway and, to assess the effectiveness of bat boxes as potential mitigating measures if roosts are lost to forestry or other factors. Radio telemetry was used to find roosts in summer during late pregnancy and through the lactation period by tagging two common species; Daubenton's batsMyotis daubentonii(Kuhl 1817) and soprano pipistrellesPipistrellus pygmaeus(Leach 1825). In addition, tree roosts were searched using ultrasound detectors at three sites. A total of 35 roosts in natural crevices were found using radio telemetry and through searches with ultrasound detectors and 31 of these roosts were in hollow trees, the majority in aspensPopulus tremulaL. (n = 30). Some tree roosts were even used by the northern batEptesicus nilssonii(Keyserling & Blasius 1839) which is considered a house-dwelling species in Norway. Aspens have some qualities preferred by bats and were both warmer and safer than other hollow tree species in this study area. Bat boxes are used as maternity roosts mainly by soprano pipistrelles at these latitudes, thus at present, there is no suitable alternative to hollow trees that would satisfy all tree-dwelling bat species. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The heavily traded Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus is believed to have undergone rapid population decline, yet there are almost no quantitative data on abundance changes over time from anywhere within its huge range. We reviewed the species' historical abundance across Ghana, undertook targeted searches during 3- to 5-day visits to 42 100-km² cells across the country's forest zone, repeated counts at 22 parrot roosts first performed two decades ago and gauged around 900 people's perceptions of the decline and its causes. In over 150 days of fieldwork, just 32 groups (maximum group size = 12) were recorded in 10 cells. Encounter rates averaged 0.15 individuals per hour of targeted search, around 15 times lower than those recorded in the early 1990s. No active roosts were found, and only 18 individuals were recorded in three roost areas that each harboured 700-1200 birds two decades ago. Interviewees stressed the importance of very tall trees of commercially important species such as Terminalia superba and Ceiba pentandra for nesting and roosting, and believed that the felling of large trees on farmland (42% of responses) and trapping for trade (37%) were the two main causes of decline. Ghana has lost 90-99% of its Grey Parrots since 1992, a time when the population had presumably already been seriously reduced by two decades of extremely heavy trade. There is no evidence that, away from one or two localities, declines are less severe anywhere else within the West African range of P. erithacus, or across the entire range of the recently split Timneh Parrot Psittacus timneh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many bats use isolated houses and buildings within forested areas as daytime shelters. The large use of buildings suggests that these may be attractive for many bat species to provide protection against predators and are suitable for reproductive and social interactions. We present an overview of published (since 2000) and unpublished data (2010-2013) on the use of buildings by bats in southeastern Brazil. Thirty-one published works were analyzed. Together with the authors' data, we document 42 sites and 37 species of bats recorded to roost in buildings. Twenty-three species share shelters with other species. Molossus molossus was common in constructions of disturbed areas, was the most commonly captured insectivorous species in southeastern Brazil, and the one most frequently found under roofs. In other types of buildings, the most common species was Desmodus rotundus, observed in cohabitation with nine other species. Sampling in these roosts is important for providing data on the interactions between species. Additionally, this information could contribute to optimal management for minimizing public health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In this study we report findings in roosting ecology, ectoparasites, echolocation characteristics and the phylogenetic position ofCardioderma cor, an impressive bat species that is distributed throughout the savannas and woodlands of eastern Africa. For individuals caught in Mago National Park, Ethiopia, we recorded broadband frequency-modulated ultrasound signals having very short duration (2 ms) with three harmonic components. The mean peak frequency of the first harmonic was 50.4 kHz and the mean inter-signal interval was 186 ms. Phylogenetic reconstructions of all known species from the family Megadermatidae based on DNA sequences of two mitochondrial and four nuclear genes yielded incongruent topologies (both Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood analysis) with only weak support for nodes. The phylogeny that combined all six loci into a species tree was not congruent with any previous inference based on dental or cranial characteristics, but it suggested separate generic status of twoMegadermaspecies. However, additional genetic data are necessary to resolve the phylogeny of Megadermatidae, a group that probably evolved by simultaneous divergence of all five extant lineages. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

With the establishment of the Natura 2000 (N2000) network, the European Union intends to develop strategies to conserve Europe's threatened habitats and species, including bats. Forest-dwelling bats are highly reliant on forest structures, such as snags and hollow trees, which the bats need as roosts. The decrease in such forest microhabitats significantly affects the habitat use and, therefore, the activity in forests. To determine whether N2000 beech forests under active timber production offer better habitats for bats compared to commercially used non-N2000 forests, we measured the bat activity and assessed the potential roosts in trees and snags in eleven pairs of stands. All survey stands represented mesotrophic beech forests ( Fagus sylvatica L.) of the N2000 habitat type 9130 ( Asperulo-Fagetum ) in three European Biogeographic Regions. The activity of all bat species, the activity of priority N2000 species, the species number, the number of trees with roosts and the snag volume did not differ significantly between the N2000 and non-N2000 stands. We conclude that the current management of the N2000 beech forests is almost identical to that of non-N2000 commercial forests, and thus, the N2000 status has not led to an increase of bat-relevant habitat variables yet. Consequently, additional efforts beyond the administrative assignment of N2000 areas are required to build and ensure an ecologically effective and sustainable network of beech forests in Europe, including increasing important forest requirements for bats, such as roosts and snags. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND The population of great cormorants, Phalacrocorax carbo, has increased markedly in Europe in the last 30 years, creating conflicts primarily with fisheries' interests. Some advocate that there should be a reduction in bird numbers on anything from local to regional and pan-European levels. The effect of attempts to reduce cormorant numbers by shooting to kill and by shooting to reinforce the scaring of birds in two Danish fjords was studied. RESULTS A total of 308, 364 and 459 cormorants were shot in the two fjords during each of three annual hunting seasons. When shooting was intensive over a series of days near the birds' main roosting and sleeping place, numbers dropped significantly compared with non-shooting years. No significant scaring effect was detected when shooting was carried out only at random along the shores of the fjords. None of the shooting treatments had an effect on the number of cormorants occurring in subsequent years. CONCLUSION These results indicate that large efforts can be invested in shooting to scare and kill cormorants without reaching any desired reduction in numbers, in particular when the shooting is not coordinated in time and space and not undertaken at key roosting sites. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conflict between human activities and vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) has been evident in the Bolivian Prepuna for decades. Vampire attacks on domestic goats have been frequently reported, and led to the application of inadequate control strategies of vampire populations. In order to contribute to the management and mitigation of this conflict, we assessed whether the incidence of attacks is associated with factors like the distribution and abundance of livestock, the distance from the stockyards to vampire roosts, the habitat type, and the relative abundance of the vampire. The results suggest that the incidence of attacks decreases with the density of goats and the distance from stockyards to vampire roosts, while it increases with the relative abundance of vampires in the area. Besides, the abundance of vampires is positively correlated to the availability of roosts near their foraging areas and is not correlated to livestock abundance. We propose that the main factor limiting the abundance of vampires, and indirectly determining the incidence of attacks, is the availability of roosts near foraging areas. Coincidently, the localities situated near roosts presented higher abundance of vampires and recorded the highest incidence of attacks on livestock. Based on our results, we propose the regulation of mining operations involving potential vampire refuges. We also suggest the implementation of monitoring programs of the incidence of attacks as an indicator of the vampire abundance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein we document the first case of albinism in Black Mastiff bat Molossus rufus É. Geoffroy St.-Hilaire, 1805. The specimen was collected in Iquitos City (Northwestern Peru); it was an adult male with ventral and dorsal white pelage, red eyes, and depigmented wing membranes, nose leafs and ears [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]