Identificación y caracterización de refugios de quirópteros en la Ciudad de Corrientes, Argentina

Abstract

In Argentina there are few studies regarding bats and the ecological aspects related to them. The objectives of this study were to determine and characterize bat shelters and to identify inhabiting species, as well as to establish data regarding current urban ecology of these mammals in Corrientes, Argentina. Through direct observations and interviews conducted randomly in different neighborhoods, shelters were located during the period of March 2010 to May 2012. Height where shelters were located was considered, and they were classified into "natural" and "artificial", inhabited or not by man. Species of trees used as shelters, distance between them and human dwellings and genus and species of bats were considered for this study. Animal trapping was lower during winter. Thirty eight shelters were identified, being 53% natural and 47% artificial, with no significant differences (p<0.05). Seven species of trees were identified, being Fraxinus americana the most frequent with favorable characteristics for insects.Natural shelters were located mostly 10 m from buildings and at a height greater than 5 m. A total of 76 bats were captured, belonging to 3 families and 9 species, being 93% of them insectivorous. Two species were found to share shelters, Eumops patagoni cus and Molossus rufus, an interesting association for behavioral studies. Both natural and artificial shelters were found in areas of vegetation, artificial light and high density of insects. The short proximity of shelters to human populations demonstrates the efficient adaptability of the different genera and species of bats from the City of Corrientes.