[Ecology of nutrition and differentiation of the trophic niches of bats (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in floodplain ecosystems of the Samara Bend].

A complex analysis of the food range of 15 bat species inhabiting floodplain ecosystems of the Samara Bend has been performed. It is shown that, in bats, an important component of the structuring of their communities is the division of food resources. The guild structure and position of species in the trophic space are described. Seven food guilds consisting of nonspecialized and specialized species are distinguished. It is noted that most species are characterized by a wide overlapping of their trophic niches, which may be a consequence of their weak competition in an environment that is rich in food resources.

[Trophic ecology and predation of the greater noctule bat (Nyctalus lasiopterus) in Russia].

The trophic ecology of Nyctalus lasiopterus in the Samara Bend during 2008-2010 has been studied. It has been revealed that the main feeding stations for this species are old ecotonal black poplar stands and willow groves. N. lasiopterus keeps to opportunistic foraging by using easily accessible and properly sized food objects. Having analyzed 129 fecal samples, we singled out 10 categories of food objects belonging to six orders of insects. The representatives of Lepidoptera constitute the major part of the ration. Their abundance rates undergo asynchronous changes relative to each other. Homoptera and Neuroptera are found more rarely in the feces. Orthoptera and Diptera are extremely rare. Besides insects, bird feathers were found in 14 faecal samples of N. lasiopterus. They made up from 60 to 90% of the total fecal mass.

[Trematodes (Trematoda) of bats (Chiroptera) from the Middle Volga Region].

The data on species diversity of trematodes from bats collected in the Middle Volga Region are summarized. According to original and literary data, 20 trematode species were recorded in bats of the region examined. Plagiorchis elegans, Lecithodendrium skrjabini, L. rysavyi, Prosthodendrium hurkovaae, and Pycnoporus megacotyle are specified for the bat fauna of Russia for the first time. For 11 species of parasites, new hosts are recorded. The analysis of bat helminthes demonstrated that the fauna of trematodes of the northern bat (12 species of trematodes), of the pond, and of the Brandt's bats is the most diverse, constituting more than 10 parasite species per bat species. The largest number of final hosts in the Middle Volga Region is characteristic of Plagiorchis koreanus and Prosthodendrium chilostomum; the latter species were revealed in 8 and 7 bat species, respectively. Trematodes of bats possess a high degree of host specificity. 17 species parasitize exclusively in bats out of 20 parasite species registered for the order Chiroptera. Only 3 species (Plagiorchis elegans, P. vespertilionis, and Prosthodendrium chilostomum) show wide degree of specificity, being found in other animals. Taxonomic position, the circle of hosts, collecting sites, and brief data in biology and geographical distribution for each helminth species are specified. Morphological descriptions and original figures for all the trematode species revealed in bats of the Middle Volga Region are given.

Ectoparasites and Pathogens of Kuhl's Pipistrelle Pipistrellus kuhlii (Kuhl, 1817) (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae): Our Own and Published Data Review.

Here we report the results of our own survey and literary published data on the ectoparasite fauna and pathogens of the alien bat species, the Kuhl's pipistrelle Pipistrellus kuhlii (Kuhl, 1817) (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae). This bat is a host of 36 species of parasitic mites, ticks and insects (including accidental findings) and 13 species of pathogens (protozoa, bacteria, viruses). The flea Ischnopsyllus variabilis is re-corded on this host for the first time. We have found that outside of the host ancestral range, the core of the bat parasite fauna is significantly different due to the loss of host species-specific ectoparasites. Particularly, in Russia, only 6 species of parasitic arthropods have been recorded for Kuhl's pipistrelle and all of them are host genus-specific. At the same time, the features of ecology and occasional finds of extrinsic parasites allow to suggest that P. kuhlii has wide contacts with animals which are the reservoirs of zoonotic infec-tions, that in combination with the fact of isolation of several pathogens from this species (including two coronaviruses) points to a possible medical importance of Kuhl's pipistrelle.

[Single and group organizations of individual animals in the community of bats (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) hibernating in artificial caves of the Samarskaia Luka].

The spatial arrangement of individual bats of seven species and their tendency to form groups were studied in artificial caves of the Samara Luka during five winter periods (1999 and 2003-2006). It was demonstrated that formation of dense groups did not depend on the hibernating population size or density and was related to the biological characteristics of the species. Most Myotis brandtii and M. dasycneme (60-80% of the populations) wintered in groups. M. mystacinus, M. daubentonii, Pecotus auritus, M. nattereri, and Eptesicus nilssonii usually wintered singly (87% of the animals). In M. brandtii and M. dasycneme, as many as 78% of individual animals were in conspecific groups, whereas this proportion for the other species was no higher than 11%. All pairs of species exhibited negative assortativeness, which indicated a higher preference of spending winter in conspecific groups than in groups containing representatives of other species. Estimation of the ratios between groups containing animals of one and several species showed that conspecific groups were prevailing in M. brandtii and M. dasycneme, whereas all other species usually formed mixed groups.

[Nematodes (Nematoda) from bats (Chiroptera) of the Samarskaya Luka Peninsula (Russia)].

Fauna of parasitic nematodes from Chiroptera of the Samarskaya Luka has been studied. Seven nematode species has been recorded. Numbers of host specimens, indices of extensiveness and intensiveness of the invasion, parasite abundance, and brief characteristics of the nematode species are given. Some nematode species were for the first time recorded in bats of Russia.

[Spatial structure of the community of bats (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) hibernating in artificial caves of Samarskaya Luka].

Specific features of the spatial distribution and localization of bats have been studied during their hibernation in artificial caves of Samarskaya Luka. The proportion of cave area occupied by bats varies from 70 to 93% in large caves (> 60000 m2), decreasing to 50% in medium-sized caves (10000-60000 m2) and to less than 30% in small caves (< 10000 m2). Approximately 9% of bats choose sites near cave openings, up to 25% prefer central parts, but most bats (about 66%) concentrate in the deepest parts of caves. Among wintering species, higher rates of occurrence and shelter occupancy are characteristic of Plecotus auritus. Myotis daubentonii, and M. mystacinus, whereas M. dasycneme and M. brandtii show the highest degree of aggregation. The optimal temperature range for the wintering of all bat species is 2-4 degrees C. Myotis brandtii, Eptesicus nilssonii, and M. daubentonii prefer to hibernate in open spaces of cave ceilings; M. mystacinus. E. serotinus, and Pl. auritus usually occupy the middle and upper parts of walls; while M. dasycneme and M. nattereri occur mainly in hollows on ceilings.

[Species structure and dynamics of bat communities (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) hibernating in artificial caves of Samara Luka].

Long-term data on the composition and absolute and relative abundance of eight bat species hibernating in artificial caves of Samara Luka are considered. About 13,000 hibernating individuals are annually accounted there. The relative abundance of the species decreased in the following order: Myotis brandtii (35%), Plecotus auritus (20%), M. daubentonii (13%), M. mystacinus (13%), Eptesicus nilssonii (8%), M. dasycneme (8%), and M. nattereri (2%). Singular E. serotinus were recorded not every year. The number of hibernating animals in pits was proportional to their size and the number of shelters. Bats used previously chosen shelters and were never found in adjacent caves. The maximum species diversity (H') and evenness (E) were observed in bat communities in medium-sized caves. One of the main factors of increasing abundance of hibernating bats in abandoned pits is their gradual colonization by the animals.