Abstract
Bats use a variety of tree-related microhabitats, however, only a few species inhabiting temperate regions use trees as roosts during winter. Our paper presents the first evidences of the use of cavities created by the longhorn beetles Cerambyx cerdo as hibernation sites in Central Europe. During research conducted in 2017–2018 in SW Poland bats hibernating in Cerambyx cavities were noted in 52.6% of the monitored trees (n = 19). All bats belonged to the genus Pipistrellus, and individuals identified to the species level were Pipistrellus nathusii. Bats were found at a distance of 5–15 cm from the edge of the entrance holes at the height of 150–305 cm above the ground, significantly more often in south and west-oriented cavities. There were no significant differences in tree diameter and health condition between inhabited and uninhabited trees. However, bats seemed to show preferences for oaks with high abundance of C. cerdo cavities. Our results indicate that bats frequently use these specific roots, which emphasises the importance of this beetle species as an ecosystem engineer. The protection of C. cerdo can therefore be an important component of the conservation of tree-dwelling bats.
References
Albert, J., Platek, M., Cizek, L., 2012. Vertical stratification and microhabitat selection by the Great Capricorn Beetle (Cerambyx cerdo) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in open-grown, veteran oaks. Eur. J. Entomol. 109, 553–559.
Ancillotto, L., Santini, L., Ranc, N., Maiorano, L., Russo, D., 2016. Extraordinary range expansion in a common bat: the potential roles of climate change and urbanisation. Sci. Nat. 103, 15, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00114-016-1334-7.
Barclay, R.M.R., Kurta, A., 2007. Ecology and behaviour of bats roosting in tree cavities and under bark. In: Lacki, M.J., Hayes, J.P., Kurta, A. (Eds.), Bats For. Conserv. Manag. John Hopkins Univerity Press, Baltimore, pp. 17–59.
Buse, J., Schröder, B., Assmann, T., 2007. Modelling habitat and spatial distribution of an endangered longhorn beetle - A case study for saproxylic insect conservation. Biol. Conserv. 137, 372–381.
Buse, J., Ranius, T., Assmann, T., 2008a. An endangered longhorn beetle associated with old oaks and its possible role as an ecosystem engineer. Conserv. Biol. 22, 329–337.
Buse, J., Zabransky, P., Assmann, T., 2008b. The xylobiontic beetle fauna of old oaks colonised by the endangered longhorn beetle Cerambyx cerdo Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Mitt. Dtsch. Ges. Allg. Angew. Entomol. 16, 109–112.
Cockle, K.L., Martin, It, Wesolowski, T., 2011. Woodpeckers, decay, and the future of cavity-nesting vertebrate communities worldwide. Front. Ecol. Environ. 9, 377–382.
Coombs, A.B., Bowman, J., Garroway, C.J., 2010. Thermal properties of tree cavities during winter in a northern hardwood forest. J. Wildl. Manage. 74, 1875–1881.
Cryan, P.M., Veilleux, J.P., 2007. Migration and use of autumn, winter and spring roost by tree bats. In: Lacki, M.J., Hayes, J.P., Kurta, A. (Eds.), Bats For. Conserv. Manag. John Hopkins Univerity Press, Baltimore, pp. 153–173.
Fleming, T.H., Eby, P., 2003. Ecology of bat migration. In: Kunz, T.H., Fenton, M.B. (Eds.), Bat Ecol. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp. 156–208.
Georgiev, G., Ljubomirov, T., Raikova, M., Ivanov, K., Sakalian, V., 2004. Insect inhabitants of old larval galleries of Saperda populnea (L.) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in Bulgaria. J. Pest Sci. 77, 235–243.
Grüebler, M.U., Silv, W., Korner-Nievergelt, F., Naef-Daenzer, B., 2014. Temperature characteristics of winter roost-sites for birds and mammals: tree cavities and anthropogenic alternatives. Int. J. Biometeorol. 58, 629–637.
Jahelková, H., Neckářová, J., Bláhová, A., Sasínková, M., Weinfurtová, D., Hybnerová, Z., Cermáková, V., Zieglerová, D., 2014. First record of Hypsugo savii in Prague and summary of winter records of Pipistrellus nathusii from Prague and close surroundings (Czech Republic). Vespertilio 17, 95–101.
Jones, C.G., Lawton, J.H., Shachak, M., 1994. Organisms as ecosystem engineers. Oikos 69, 373–386.
Kortmann, M., Hurst, J., Brinkmann, R., Heurich, M., Silveyra Gonzalez, R., Müller, J., Thorn, S., 2018. Beauty and the beast: how a bat utilizes forests shaped by outbreaks of an insect pest. Anim. Conserv. 21, 21–30.
Landvik, M., Niemelä, P., Roslin, T., 2015. Opportunistic habitat use by Osmoderma barnabita (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), a saproxylic beetle dependent on tree cavities. Insect Conserv. Divers. 9, 38–48.
Levinsky, I., Skov, F., Svenning, J.C., Rahbek, C., 2007. Potential impacts of climate change on the distributions and diversity patterns of European mammals. Biodivers. Conserv. 16, 3803–3816.
Lučan, R.K., Hanák, V., Horáček, L., 2009. Long-term re-use of tree roosts by European forest bats. For. Ecol. Manage. 258, 1301–1306.
Lundy, M., Montgomery, I., Russ, J., 2010. Climate change-linked range expansion of Nathusius’ pipistrelle bat, Pipistreiius nathusii (Keyserling and Blasius, 1839): Range expansion of Nathusius’ pipistrelle. J. Biogeogr. 37, 2232–2242.
Paclík, M., Weidinger, K., 2007. Microclimate of tree cavities during winter nights -implications for roost site selection in birds. Int. J. Biometeorol. 51, 287–293.
Parmesan, C., Yohe, G., 2003. A globally coherent fingerprint of climate change impacts across natural systems. Nature 421, 37–42.
R Core Team, URL 2015. A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria https://www.R-project.org/.
Rebelo, H., Tarroso, P., Jones, G., 2010. Predicted impact of climate change on European bats in relation to their biogeographic patterns. Glob. Change Biol. Bioenergy 16, 561–576.
Redolfi De Zan, L., Bardiani, M., Antonini, G., Campanaro, A., Chiari, S., Mancini, E., Maura, M., Sabatelli, S., Solano, E., Zauli, A., Peverieri, G.S., Roversi, P.F., 2017. Guidelines for the monitoring of Cerambyx cerdo. Nat. Conserv 20, 129–164.
Regnery, B., Couvet, D., Kubarek, L., Julien, J.F., Kerbiriou, C., 2013. Tree microhabitats as indicators of bird and bat communities in Mediterranean forests. Ecol. Indie. 34, 221–230.
Ruczynski, L., Szarlik, A., Siemers, B.M., 2011. Conspicuous visual cues can help bats to find tree cavities. Acta Chiropt. 13, 385–389.
Russo, D., Cistrone, L., Jones, G., Mazzoleni, S., 2004. Roost selection by barbastelle bats (Barbastella barbastellus, Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in beech woodlands of central Italy: consequences for conservation. Biol. Conserv. 117, 73–81.
Sachanowicz, K., Ciechanowski, M., 2006. First winter record of the migratory bat Pipistrellus nathusii(Keyserling and Blasius 1839) (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Poland: yet more evidence of global warming? Mammalia 70, 168–169.
Sachanowicz, K., Ciechanowski, M., Tryjanowski, P., Kosicki, J.Z., 2018. Wintering range of Pipistrellus nathusii (Chiroptera) in Central Europe: has the species extended to the north-east using urban heat islands? Mammalia, http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/mammalia-2018-0014.
Sparks, T.H., Tryjanowski, P., 2005. The detection of climate impacts: some methodological considerations. Int. J. Climatol. 25, 271–277.
Turbill, C., Geiser, F., 2008. Hibernation by tree-roosting bats. J. Comp. Physiol. B 178, 597–605.
Uhrin, M., Hüttmeir, U., Kipson, M., Estók, P., Sachanowicz, K., Bücs, S., Karapandža, B., Paunović, M., Presetnik, P., Bashta, A.T., Maxinová, E., Lehotská, B., Lehotský, R., Barti, L., Csösz, L., Szodoray-Paradi, F., Dombi, L., Görföl, T., Boldogh, S.A., Jére, C., Pocora, I., Benda, P., 2016. Status of Savi’s pipistrelle Hypsugosavn (Chiroptera) and range expansion in Central and south-eastern Europe: a review: range changes in Savi’s pipistrelle. Mammal Rev. 46, 1–16.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gottfried, I., Gottfried, T. & Zając, K. Bats use larval galleries of the endangered beetle Cerambyx cerdo as hibernation sites. Mamm Biol 95, 31–34 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mambio.2019.01.002
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mambio.2019.01.002