• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2019

Background: Hibernating bats exhibit ubiquitous winter activity in temperate zones, but there is considerable between- and within-species variety in their intensity and purpose. Bats may fly during winter for sustenance or travel to other hibernacula. This study compared inter-regional variation in the winter activity of the greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum). We predicted that weather and hibernacula-environmental conditions would influence winter activity patterns. Results: Winter activity patterns differed between regions. In the Anseong area, we confirmed movement inside the hibernaculum, but in Hampyeong, we observed movement both inside and between hibernacula. The two regions differ by $4^{\circ}C$ in average winter temperatures. Anseong experiences 22 days during which average daily temperatures exceeded $5^{\circ}C$, whereas Hampyeong experienced 50 such days. During the hibernating period, bat body weight decreased by approximately 17-20% in both regions. Conclusions: Ambient temperatures and winter-roost environments appear to be behind regional differences in hibernating bat activity. As winter temperatures in Korea do not favor insect activity, feeding probability is low for bats. However, bats may need to access water. At Anseong, underground water flows inside the hibernaculum when the reservoir outside is frozen. At Hampyeong, the hibernaculum does not contain a water source, but the reservoir outside does not freeze during winter. In conclusion, water-source location is the most likely explanation for regional variation in the winter activity of hibernating bats.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.191-195
• /
• 2009

We monitored 38 hibernation sites of Myotis formosus in South Korea and recorded the number of bats occupying each site and assessed the micro-climate at the sites during four winters from 2005 to 2009 at. The mean rock temperature of the bat roosting sites was $13.2{\pm}1.4^{\circ}C$ and the mean body temperature of the hibernating bats was $13.3{\pm}1.3^{\circ}C$. The number of hibernating bats was negatively related to the size of the entrance and positively related to the minimum ambient temperature and humidity in the site interior. More bats hibernated in roosts with smaller entrances and higher minimum ambient temperatures, and more bats selected sites presenting a narrow temperature range. This study showed that the internal environments of hibernacula of M. formosus were highly stable despite dramatic variation in the external environment.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.61-74
• /
• 1986

The anatomy of the renal papilla and pelvis of the bat(Pipistrellus abramus abramus Temminck) and their ultrastructure of the epithelium has been studied by means of light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The bats were captured at Ondal cave located in Yangchun-Myun, Tanyang-Kun, Chungchongpuk-Do, Korea in the active(July) and hibernating(January) phases. A conical renal papilla with several papillary foramina at the apex was curved toward the ureter. At the margin of the funnel-shaped renal pelvis, the fornix extended deeply into the kidney parenchyme was formed between the outer zone of the medulla and the cortex. The epithelium of the papilla covered the inner zone of the medulla. The epithelium of the fornix medially overlayed the outer zone of the medulla, and laterally the cortex. The surface epithelium of the papilla was simple columnar in shape with the scanty organelles and the short microvilli on their luminal surface. The fornix was Jined with $1{\sim}2$ cell layered squamous epithelium. On the medial surface of the fornix, two types of the superficial epithelial cells were identified; one had numerous short microvilli and the other had the microplicae and plaques on their luminal surface. The lateral surface of the fornix lined with the epithelial cells showed microridges and plaques on the luminal surface. The epithelial cells on the medial and lateral surfaces of the fornix were similar to their internal ultrastructures. The pelvic epithelium was a typical transitional type, which was composed of a layer of basal cells, one or two layers of intermediate cells, and a layer of superficial(facet) cells. The fusiform vesicles were observed in the cytoplasm of the intermediate and facet cells. There were no noticeable morphological changes in the epithelium of the papilla, fornix and pelvis except the medial epithelium of the fornix in the hibernating cycle. The microvillar cells were more numerous in the hibernating phase than in the active phase. The morphology, of the renal papilla and fornix of bats, indicates that a functional relationship may exist between the pelvic urine and the renal parenchyme.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.345-353
• /
• 2018

Hibernation is regarded as a physiological and behavioral adaptation that permits the survival of animals such as bats during seasonal periods of energy shortage. This study investigated the hibernation period of Plecotus ognevi in the temperate climate zone and the relationship between the thermal preference and hibernating process of bats. We hypothesized that the hibernation period of bats is closely related to the external temperature and temperature preference of bat species in the temperate region. To verify this hypothesis, we surveyed the distribution of the P. ognevi population in South Korea, and the temperature preference and the characteristics of hibernacula of P. ognevi. We predict that hibernation in the bat will begin when the external temperature drops below the thermal preference of the species and will leave from hibernation when the external temperature is higher than the thermal preference. P. ognevi hibernated in roosts maintained in low temperature ambient conditions with $-3.5{\sim}7.5^{\circ}C$). The body temperatures (averaged $3.01{\pm}1.30^{\circ}C$, ranged $0.1{\sim}7.8^{\circ}C$) of hibernating bats were closely related to the rock surface temperatures rather than the ambient temperatures. The bats began to hibernate in late November and final arousals occurred in mid-March, so that the total length of the hibernation was 115~120 days. The period of hibernation was strongly influenced by fluctuations in the external mean temperature. This study suggests that the onset and termination of P. ognevi hibernation is due to the interaction between the temperature of the hibernacula and that of the external environment and is based on the thermal preference of the bats. The study also suggests that the hibernation strategy such as thermal preference and hibernation periods of this species affect to distribution as bat species adapting to a severely climate.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.67-76
• /
• 1977

The periodic changes of testis and \ulcorner션 epididymidis in Korean hibernating bats, the oriental discoloured bats (Vesportilio superans Thomas) and the Korean greater horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum korak Kuroda) were studied in order to clarify the possibility of correlation between their histological findings and one of physiological facets, hibernation, and the results obtained were as follows: 1. The spermatogenic function of the oriental discoloured bats obtained in July and August was depressed although the spermatocytes showed a considerable cell proliferation. Few mature sperms were observed in the seminiferous tubules of the bat obtained in August. 2. The spermatogenic function of the Korean greater horeshoe bats obtained in September was not remalkable but a considerable number of sperms were stored in the excretory ducts which were characterized by existence of para-tubular spaces in the ductus epididymidis. 3. The spermatogenic epithelia of the Korean greater horseshoe bats obtained in December showed histologically atrophied figures. However, a vast number of sperm remained in extremely expaned luminae of the ductuc epididymidis which epithelial cells were maintained rectangular in shape. 4. These results suggest that there are periodic changes of the spermatogenic epithelia and the excretory ducts, and that those histological changes are closely related to their wintering.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.411-421
• /
• 2017

Understanding the need for temperature regulation, behavior, and ecology of hibernating bats provides the possibility of conservation and management for target species. Our objective in this study was to improve understanding of the population trend and ecological requirement in Myotis formosus population in South Korea. From 2007 to 2016, total of 58 hibernacula for Myotis formosus were found across the country. Of the 58 hibernating sites of Myotis formosus, 86% (n=49) were abandoned mines and 14% (n=8) were natural caves. During the survey period, 28 (5%) bats of total 570 bats were observed in natural caves (n=8) and 542 (95%) bats were observed in abandoned mines (n=49). The internal environments of hibernacula of M. formosus were highly stable despite dramatic variation in the external environment. Specifically, we examined the population trend of the endangered bat Myotis formosus in South Korea by long-term monitoring for hibernation sites. The population trend of endangered species M. formosus showed a marked stable in hibernating population. Our results indicate that a tightly collected long-term data set may help to establish the initial approximation of population trends and manage to threats for the endangered bat species.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.97-117
• /
• 1992

In order to study process of spermiogenesis of the Korean greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum korai, the cycle of seminiferous epithelium was examined by the light and electron microscope and the following results were obtained based on the epithelial cell differentiation. 1. Spermiogenesis occurred from early July to mid-Octber, and spermatogenic activity was vigorous from mid-August to late September. Spermatocytes including spermatogonia were found to be degenerated in only July. It is deduced that the degeneration serves as the mechanism to regulate effective use of energy to prepare for mating and hibernating periods, and regulation of breeding cycle. 2. Spermiogenesis of the Korean greater horseshoe bat was divided according to differentiation of the cell structure, into Golgi, cap, acrosome, maturation and spermiation phases; Golgi, cap and spermiation phases were further divided into two steps of early and late phase respectively, and acrosome phase into three steps of early, mid and late phases, and maturation phase has only one step. Hence, the spermiogenesis consists of ten phases. The first research was done in this article on the changes of chromatin with nucleus, the time of appearance and disappearance of chromatin granules, in case of Korean greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum korai). Chromatin granule began to be condensed in late Golgi and the condensation proceeded to form an irregular mass of a electron-dense chromatin in a form of circular cylinder in the center of nucleus at the phase of maturation. Finally, the chromatin condensation proceeded and perfect nucleus of sperm with homogeneous density was formed when the sperm was separated from Sertoli cell. Therefore, appearance and disappearance of chromatin granules occurred in the period of time between late Golgi and maturation phase, The tail of sperm began to develop in early cap phase, Numerous lipid droplets were obseved in the cytoplasm of spermatids during the maturation phase, which seemed to be used as energy source necessary to make mature sperm during spermiogenesis.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.21-44
• /
• 2000

This study was carried out to investigate sperm storage, and the fate of spermatozoa in the female reproductive tract during hibernation in Korean greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum korai. (1) Numerous sperm occurring in uterine lumen and glands were engulfed, and disappeared by the polymorphouclear leucocytes during the hibernation. (2) The stored sperm present in caudal isthmus of oviduct only, the heads of sperm toward the oviductal epithelial cells. Therefore, the projected sperm during the mating season are only alive in the caudal isthmus of oviduct in the long hibernation. The present result suggests that the caudal isthmus of oviduct may play an important role as the principal storage site in capacitation of sperm. (3) In March, the sperm do not occur in the caudal isthmus of oviduct. It suggests that the stored sperm in the caudal isthmus of oviduct should migrate to the ampulla of the site of fertilization to meet ovum in the period of ovulation. The results of this experiment consider that prolonged sperm storage, fate of sperm and sperm migration in the long hibernation have a kind of mechanism for the fertilization.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.10-18
• /
• 1985

The posterior hypothalamus of the hibernating greater horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum korai Kuroda) were observed with an electron microscope. The posterior hypothalamus is known to be closely related to the reflex responses activated by cold, and the following observations were obtained in the cellular type of nerve cells: there are three types of neurons in the posterior hypothalamus. 1. The first type of neuron was the largest, ovoid or conical in shape, the nucleus was elliptic and the nuclear envelope had many deep invaginations. The cell organelles were well developed, in particular there was an abundance of variously shaped mitochondria, and the Golgi complex and the polysomes were observed in the cytoplasm. 2. The second type of neuron was moderate in size, ovoid or elliptic in shape, the nucleus was located nearer to the plasma membrane and the nuclear envelope had. a few invaginations. The cytoplasm was rich in amount compared with that of the third type of neuron, and the cell organelles, especially the rough endoplasmic reticulum were well developed. Also lipofuscin pigments were observed. 3. The third type of neuron was the smallest in size and round in shape. The nucleus and the nucleolus were observed in the central portion of the cell body and the nuclear envelope had a few invaginations. The cytoplasm was small compared with those of the first and second types, but the rough endoplasmic reticulum, the mitechondria and the polysomes were relatively well developed. The cytoplasm was characterized by the presence of membrane-bound small bodies with a single membrane containing a fine particular substance around the rough endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi complexes.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.98-105
• /
• 1996

Studies on thermal adaptation postulate that optimal temperature of physiological properties matches a usually experienced body temperature (Tb) of organisms. Hibernating bats maintain Tb's that are slighdy higher than ambient temperatures (9$^{\circ}$-12$^{\circ}$C) of their wintering sites. To test the hypothesis that muscle function is adjusted to the Tb range of the hibernating animals, we examined contractile function of the biceps brachil muscle of Korean greater horseshoe bats, Rhinolophus ferrumequlnum korai (n = 5) at tissue temperatures between 1O$^{\circ}$ and 35$^{\circ}$C. Relative tetanic force (% of maximum force) was highest at temperatures of 1O$^{\circ}$-15$^{\circ}$C, which match well their Tb's during hibernation. Because non-hibernating endotherms with Tb of around 37$^{\circ}$C show the optimal temperature for muscle force over 30$^{\circ}$-40$^{\circ}$C, our results strongly suggest that the flight muscle of the bats may exhibit thermal adjustments according to their seasonal Tb's. The capacity to generate strong force at such low body temperatures may be adaptive, because bats must have muscles functioning to fly for occasional watering or excretion, or to move away from potential predators during hibernation.