Diet and prey selection in Mehelyi's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus mehelyi (Chiroptera, Rhinolophidae) in the south-western Iberian Peninsula

摘要: We studied diet and prey selection in Mehelyi's horseshoe bats Rhinolophus mehelyi the south-western Iberian Peninsula, during breeding seasons of 2003, 2006, 2007. Faecal pellets were collected individually arthropod fragments identified to family level, where possible. Arthropod availability was assessed using Malaise traps. Selection analyses performed Compositional Analysis a Chi-square goodness-of-fit test. The bulk R. consisted Lepidoptera, representing more than 80% consumed volume on average (excluding juveniles), 90% percentage occurrence. This pattern consistent across localities. Neuroptera Tipulidae locally abundant. Other important categories Chrysomelidae, Brachycera, Chironomidae. ANOVA tests showed that there no significant differences between males females categories, whereas juveniles significantly less Lepidoptera adults. first category preference rank, followed by Myrmeleontidae, Chrysopidae Tipulidae, all these expected chance. work shows is moth specialist suggests may acquire this strategy while gaining hunting experience. Given similarities echolocation call characteristics sibling euryale, they compete for trophic resources sympatry. Nevertheless, subtle wing morphology both species are probably large enough permit spatial resource partitioning.