A comparison of the roosting and foraging behaviour of three species of African insectivorous bats (Rhinolophidae, Vespertilionidae, and Molossidae)

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (12) ◽  
pp. 2860-2867 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Brock Fenton ◽  
I. L. Rautenbach
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Park ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Wing Morphology ◽  
Echolocation Call ◽  
Insectivorous Bats ◽  
Deciduous Woodland

We used radio tracking to study the roosting and foraging behaviour of Rhinolophus hildebrandti, Scotophilus borbonicus (=S. viridis and S. leucogaster), and Tadarida midas in the Pafuri Region of Kruger National Park, South Africa in November 1985. Although the species roosted in different locations (S. borbonicus in hollow mopane trees, R. hildebrandti in a hollow baobab tree, and T. midas in buildings), roost temperatures and the bats' body temperatures were generally similar. The S. borbonicus and T. midas flew continuously while foraging in pursuit of flying prey; the R. hildebrandti switched between continuous flight, and hunting from a perch also in pursuit of flying prey. All three species foraged for about 60 min nightly, but the T. midas ventured at least 10 km from their roosts, while for S. borbonicus and R. hildebrandti, comparable figures were 4 and 2 km, respectively. The three species showed a spectrum of wing morphology and echolocation call design features from clutter resistant (R. hildebrandti) to relatively clutter resistant (S. borbonicus) and clutter intolerant (T. midas) and the foraging areas used by the bats corresponded to these features. Rhinolophus hildebrandti foraged below the canopy in riverine forest and deciduous woodland, while S. borbonicus foraged around the canopy but not closer than 0.5 m to it, while T. midas foraged in the open well above the canopy. These differences are discussed along with variations in foraging behaviour in insectivorous bats.

The bat fauna of Lamanai, Belize: roosts and trophic roles

2001 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 511-524 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. B. FENTON ◽  
E. BERNARD ◽  
S. BOUCHARD ◽  
L. HOLLIS ◽  
D. S. JOHNSTON ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Park ◽  
French Guiana ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
Carollia Perspicillata ◽  
Flower Visitor ◽  
Saccopteryx Bilineata ◽  
Mist Net

Thirty-six of the 70 species of bats known from Belize were recorded from the area around Lamanai, Orange Walk County: two in roosts and 34 in about 680 mist net hours that produced 560 captures. Day roosts used by 35 of the species were located using radio-tracking (Sturnira lilium, Platyrrhinus helleri, Centurio senex and Bauerus dubiaquercus) or general searching for roosts (Rhynchonycteris naso, Saccopteryx bilineata, Saccopteryx leptura, Dicli durus albus, Mimon bennettii, Micronycteris schmidtorum, Carollia brevicauda, Carollia perspicillata and Eptesicus furinalis). Data on the day roosts of 23 other species were determined from the literature. Most species reported from Lamanai (19) roosted in hollows, while others used foliage (6), tents (3), sheltered sites (2), crevices (2), open sites (1), and a few species used more than one type of day roost (hollows and crevices (1); hollows and foliage (1); hollows, foliage and tents (1)). The fauna consisted of 13 aerial foragers, 9 gleaners, 11 fruit/leaf eaters, one trawler, one flower-visitor and one blood-feeder. In day roost use and foraging behaviour, the Lamanai fauna did not differ significantly from that of Paracou, French Guiana, but both these locations differed from the bat fauna of Kruger National Park, South Africa, in foraging behaviour.

scholarly journals First records of five species of Insectivorous Bats from the Kruger National Park

Koedoe ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
I.L. Rautenbach ◽  
M.B. Fenton ◽  
L.E.O. Braack
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
New Record ◽  
National Park ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Insectivorous Bats ◽  
The Republic ◽  
First Time

Five species of insectivorous bats are reported for the first time from the Kruger National Park. One of these, Pipistrellus anchietai, represents a new record for the southern African Subregion, and two species, Laephotis botswanae and Nycteris woodi are recorded for the first time for the Republic of South Africa. The remaining two species, Eptesicus melckorum and Tadarida ansorgei are first records of ' occurrence for the Transvaal. The species richness of the bat fauna of the Kruger National Park, and particularly of the Pafuri area, is reviewed.

scholarly journals Social and Seasonal Factors Contribute to Shifts in Male African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) Foraging and Activity Patterns in Kruger National Park, South Africa

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3070
Author(s):  
Kara du du Plessis ◽  
Stefanie Birgit Ganswindt ◽  
Henk Bertschinger ◽  
Bruce Crossey ◽  
Michelle Deborah Henley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Park ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Loxodonta Africana ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
Seasonal Factors

African savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana) are well-known as ecosystem engineers with the ability to modify vegetation structure. The present study aimed to examine how male elephant foraging behaviour is affected across (a) season (wet versus dry); (b) time of day (before or after noon); (c) presence or absence of other elephants; and (d) reproductive state (musth versus no musth). Six radio-collared adult elephant bulls were observed twice per week from June 2007–June 2008 in Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa. Using generalized linear mixed effect modeling, results indicate that elephant bulls graze more during the wet season and browse more during the dry season. To potentially offset the costs associated with thermoregulation during the heat of the day, KNP elephants spent more time foraging during the morning, and more time resting during the afternoon. Male elephants also foraged significantly less when they were associated with females compared to when they were alone or with other males. This is likely due to male–female associations formed mainly for reproductive purposes, thus impeding on male foraging behaviours. In contrast, the condition of musth, defined by the presence of related physical signs, had no significant effect on foraging behaviour.

scholarly journals Ecological suitability modeling for anthrax in the Kruger National Park, South Africa

PLoS ONE ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. e0191704 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pieter Johan Steenkamp ◽  
Henriette van Heerden ◽  
Ockert Louis van Schalkwyk
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Park ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Ecological Suitability

scholarly journals Visitation patterns of principal species of the insect-complex at carcasses in the Kruger National Park

Koedoe ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
L.E.O Braack
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Park ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Physical Attributes ◽  
Principal Species ◽  
Aepyceros Melampus

Two full-grown impala rams Aepyceros melampus were shot on 1978.01.07 in the Pafuri area of the Kruger National Park, Republic of South Africa. The carcasses were placed in enclosures 2,7 km apart and used to monitor the visitation patterns of insects. Collections of insects were made at four-hourly intervals for the first six days after placement of the carcasses, and thereafter every six hours up to the eleventh and final day. A figure is given to describe changes in the physical attributes of the carcasses through time. Twelve figures depict the patterns of arrival of insects at the carrion habitat. Species from the following families are represented: Cleridae, Dermestidae, Histeridae, Scarabaeidae, Silphidae, Staphylinidae, Trogidae (Coleoptera); Calliphoridae, Muscidae, Piophilidae, Sepsidae (Diptera); Diapriidae and Formicidae (Hymenoptera). The results indicate that species have distinctive periods of abundance and presents an overall picture of insect succession at carrion.

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