Table 1 Bat species traits
From: Structural differences in the gut microbiome of bats using terrestrial vs. aquatic feeding resources
Mi. schreibersii (n = 10) | My. capaccinii (n = 22) | My. myotis (n = 9) | My. pilosus (n = 13) | My. vivesi (n = 8) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roosting | |||||
Summer roost | Cave | Cave | Cave | Cave | Crevice |
Roost size (individuals) | 1000–10,000 | 100–1000 | 100–1000 | 1000–10,000 | 1–8 |
Sexes roosting | Together | Separately | Separately | Separately | Separately |
Roost-types | Multispecies, multispecies mixed clusters | Multispecies, multispecies mixed clusters | Multispecies, clustering in single species groups | Multispecies, Multispecies, clustering in single species groups | Single species |
Roosting frequently together with | My. capaccinii, My. myotis | Mi. schreibersii, My. myotis | Mi. schreibersii, My. capaccinii | others | - |
Hibernating | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Hibernation roost | Cave | Cave | Cave | Cave | - |
Roost size (individuals) | 1000–10,000 | 10–50 | 10–100 | 1000–10,000 | |
Sexes hibernating | Together, same cluster | Together, clusters are formed from the same sex individuals | Together, small clusters | Together, small cluster | - |
Hibernating frequently together with | My. capaccinii | Mi. schreibersii | - | Others | - |
Morphology | |||||
FA length (mm) | 43–47.1 | 38.1–44 | 55–66 | 52.1–63.5 | 53.7–63 |
Weight (g) | 10–14 | 7–10 | 20–27 | 11.7–32.5 | 22–28 |
Feeding and habitat | |||||
Food | Small to medium sized flying Lepidotera (70–90%), Neuroptera, Diptera, Trochoptera and Coleoptera | Small, flying arthropods above water: flies, caddisflies, small Diptera, Hymenoptera, occasionally small fish | Large arthropods: ground-dwelling, large Coleoptera (Carabidae), Orthoptera and Arachnida | Fish (30%) and arthropods (70%), Coleoptera, Diptera, Trichoptera, Lepidoptera | Marine fish and crustaceans |
Feeding specialization | Aerial hawker | Trawling on slow-flowing water surface | Ground gleaning, slow overflight | Trawling on slow-flowing water surface | Trawling in marine lagoons |
Habitat | Terrestrial | Freshwater | Terrestrial | Freshwater | Marine |
Hunting habitat | Above and inside forests and grasslands, orchards and parks | Wetlands, with open water surface, either lakes or rivers | Forests and grasslands, needs clearings inside forest | Wetlands, dependent on slow flowing rivers and lakes | Marine lagoons |
Home range (km) | 3–15 | 20 | 26 | ? | ? |
Hunting speed | Fast | Medium | Slow | Fast | Slow |
Hunting height (m) | 3–20 | 0.2–0.5 | 0.3–0.7 | 0.3–0.7 | 0.2–0.5 |
Reproduction | |||||
Mating | Swarming/autumn (September–October) | Swarming/autumn (September–October) | Swarming/autumn (September–October) | Autumn to winter (September-April) | Summer to autumn (July–September) |
Gestation type | Immediate fertilization, delayed implantation | Sperm stored until ovulation (after hibernation) | Sperm stored until ovulation (after hibernation) | Sperm stored until ovulation (after hibernation) | Sperm likely stored |
Sociality | Highly social | Social only inside nursing colonies, small clusters otherwise | Social only inside nursing colonies, males single | Social only inside nursing colonies, males single and highly territorial | Territorial |
Range and movements | |||||
Geographic range | Palearctic, Mediterranean + Middle East | Palearctic, Mediterranean + Middle East | Palearctic, European endemic | Oriental, SE China, N Vietnam and Laos | Nearctic, Baja California |
Extent of occurrence (km2) | 19.946.710 | 5.387.022 | 7.071.111 | 1.796.095 | 134.00 |
Migration | Medium distance | medium distance | |||
Seasonal movements (km) | 100–400 | 10–50 | 50–100 | 100–400 | 100–400 |
Lifespan | |||||
Generation length (year) | 5.5 | 6 | 7.8 | 5 | 7 |
Max longevity (year) | 16 | ? | 22 | ? | ? |