Work

Pilot Study of Hibernation Patterns in Noctule Bats (Nyctalus noctula): Influence of Group Size

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: This study investigated the inﬂuence of group size on the hibernation patterns of adult males of Nyctalus noctula during hibernation. Bats were divided into three categories (solitary, groups of six, and groups of sixteen) and nine experimental groups comprising one individual with temperature logger per group (iButton). Skin temperature (Ts) was monitored every ﬁve minutes. The results showed that bats in larger groups (the group of sixteen) entered longer and more stable torpor, with no instances of full arousal (Ts >20°C). In contrast, solitary bats exhibited more frequent arousals. All bats entered deep torpor after the ﬁrst nine days. No signiﬁcant diﬀerences in body mass loss were found between the groups. The ﬁndings highlight the importance of group size in reducing arousals during hibernation, and the role of social thermoregulation in conserving energy.

Source: Problems of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine

DOI: 10.15407/cryo34.04.251

Authors: Anton Vlaschenko, Marharyta Moiseienko, Valeria Bohodist, Anastasia Domanska, Anatolii Goltvyanskiy, Oleksandr Nahlov

Institutions: Jagiellonian University, H.S. Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University, V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University

Language: English

Topic: Bat Biology and Ecology Studies

Subfield: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: HORIZON EUROPE Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions

Award: G7242800581