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Sexual differences in survival rates of adult pipistrelle bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) in South Sweden

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Summary

A pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) population in southernmost Sweden was studied for eight consecutive breeding seasons by means of bat boxes. Survival rates were calculated using Cormack's stochastic technique. The mean survival rate of adult females exceeded that of territorial males. Annual variations in survival rates were most evident in males, low rates being observed in years following wet autumns. Energy constraints imposed on territorial males by the mating system, a resource defence polygyny, were assumed to account for the differences obtained in survival rates between the sexes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology, Animal Ecology, Ecology Building, S-223 62, Lund, Sweden

    Rune Gerell & Karin Lundberg

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  1. Rune Gerell
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  2. Karin Lundberg
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Gerell, R., Lundberg, K. Sexual differences in survival rates of adult pipistrelle bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) in South Sweden. Oecologia 83, 401–404 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00317567

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00317567

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