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How Micro-Habitat of Roosting Sites Governs Insectivorous
Bat Diversity? An Insight into the Roosting Ecology of Insectivorous Bats
(Mammalia: Chiroptera) in Thar Desert of Rajasthan, India
Gajendra Singh and Sumit Dookia*
University School of Environment Management
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Sec. 16
C, Dwarka, New Delhi-110078
*Email Id: sumitdookia@gmail.com
Roosting sites;
Micro-habitat;
Micro-climate;
Bat diversity;
Thar Desert;
Rajasthan
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Abstract
Bats are using
roosting sites for a long time, if not disturbed. Every species has its
choice of habitat conditions and more importantly niche preference is quite
visible in sympatric species. A better understanding of these simple
looking but complex micro-climatic choices makes an interesting field to
explore and understand the life of cryptic species like bats, which roosts
in dark, damp and remote places and comes out in the darkness of night to
rule the night sky everywhere. This selection of roosting sites is based on
species specific micro-climatic conditions. The present study was designed
to understand their roosting ecology and peculiar site-specific choices. It
was observed during the present study that some species are omnipresent in
many of the roosting sites, whereas few are having their unique choices.
The major variables are humidity, temperature and slight effect of light
intensity in the roosting site. If any changes occur in these conditions,
they vacate the roost immediately. Out of six insectivorous species studied
for 2 years in Western Rajasthan, Rhinopoma
microphyllum, Rhinopoma
hardwickii and Pipistrellus
tenuis found to be more tolerant or resilient from minor changes,
on the other hand, Hipposideros
fulvus showed very specific roost specific microclimate choice.
This study also highlights the outer environment and features of roosting
sites and highlighting the conservation importance of the second most
diverse group of mammals, i.e., bats.
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