• Applied Microscopy
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.21-34
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• 1979

The cyclic changes of the epithelium of seminiferous tubule in the Korean greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum korai) were investigated by means of the light and electron microscopic observations and the following results were obtained. 1) The spermatogenic function of the horseshoe bats captured in September was moderate but considerable amount of the ultrastructural findings were obtained in both the spermatocytogenic and the spermiogenic phases. 2) The spermatogenic function of the horseshoe bats captured in December was depressed representing a resting status. 3) The light and electron microscopic findings suggest that the epithelium of seminiferous tubule varies cyclically, which is closely related to their peculiar way of reproductive habit during hibernation.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2010

In this study, we analyzed the pulse-duration, pulse-interval and peak-frequency of echolocation call in three species as Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Pipistrellus abramus, and Myotis macrodactylus. The peak frequency and pulse duration for above mentioned species were 69 kHz, 47 kHz and 49 kHz and $69.39{\pm}8.76\;ms$, $4.95{\pm}0.77\;ms$ and $3.09{\pm}0.48\;ms$ for R. ferrumequinum, P. abramus and M. macrodactylus, respectively. The pulse intervals for R. ferrumequinum, P. abramus and M. macrodactylus were $103.61{\pm}9.05\;ms$, $67.59{\pm}3.47\;ms$ and $66.35{\pm}4.96\;ms$, respectively. The pulse pattern of R. ferrumequinum was setting into a short FM call and linked to long CF call and went through the short FM call again. The pulse pattern of M. macrodactylus was comprised with serial short FM call and the CF call was not checked up in accordance with the spectrogram analysis. The long FM call and short CF call got join together for the P. abramus and the peak frequency was checked up at the pulse ending as CF call.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.97-117
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• 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
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.21-44
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• 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.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 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 Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.665-675
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of the home range and habitat use of Rhinolophus ferrumequinum individuals that inhabit urban areas. The bats were tracked using GPS tags. For analysis of the home rage, Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) and Kernel Home Range (KHR) methods were used. The landscape types of all positional information were analyzed using ArcGIS 9.3.1 (ESRI Inc.). The average home range of 16 R. ferrumequinum individuals was $68.63{\pm}25.23ha$, and the size of the overall home range for the females ($85.49{\pm}25.40ha$) was larger than that for the males ($51.76{\pm}8.30ha$). The highest average home range for the males was found in August ($61.21{\pm}0.01ha$), whereas that for the females was found in September ($112.27{\pm}5.94ha$). The size of 50% KHR ranged from a minimum of 13.26 ha to a maximum of 31.00 for the males and a minimum of 8.02 ha to a maxinum of 42.16 ha for the females, showing no significant differences between the two sexes. In addition, males and females showed no differences in the size of 50% KHR in the monthly comparisons. However, the females showed differences in the size of their core area between periods before and after giving birth. The comparisons between 100% MCP and 50% KHR showed that the types of habitats used by R. ferrumequinum were mostly forest areas, including some farmlands. In addition, comparisons with a land cover map showed that the proportion of broad-leaved forests was the highest, followed by that of mixed forests.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Environment and Ecology Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.94-100
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• 2007

The variation in the diet of Rhinolophus ferrumequinum was investigated through analysis of feces collected before and after parturition. The results shows a high use of Coleoptera, which accounted for 30-77% in diet. Diptera(total 27.38%), and Lepidoptera(total 13.31%) was also consumed for the most part. Prey types recovered also included small numbers of Hymenoptera, Neuroptera. The diet of R. ferrumequinum varies before and after parturition. In lactating period, Coleoptera was mainly consumed(77%), but the use of Diptera significantly increased in post-lactating period.(51%)

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 1999

The aim of the present study was to investigate with transmission electron misroscope the comparative morphology of epididymal spermatozoa in two species of the Korean insectivorous bats belonging to 'prolonged sperm storage' type (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum korai) and 'delayed implantation' type (Miniopterus schreibersi fuliginosus). Sperm head of the R. ferrumequinum korai was bullet shaped and that of M. schreibersi fuliginosus was spatula shaped. The nuclei of the sperm head of the R. ferrumequinum korai and M. schreibersi fuliginosus occupied two-third and a half of it, respectively. The segmented columns of R. ferrumequinum korai were about 12 to 14 in number, and those of the M. schreibersi fuligincsus were about 10 to 12. Particularly, a pile of the satellite fibers in middle piece of R. ferrumequinum korai remained the inner aspect of the outer dense fibers, but those of the M. schreibersi fuliginosus were not.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.779-788
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• 2017

In this study, we analyzed the changes in the echolocation and prey-capture behavior of the horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum from search phase to capture time. The experiment was conducted in an indoor free-flight room fitted with an ultra-high-speed camera. We found that the bats searched for food while hanging from a structure, and capturing was carried out using the flight membrane. In addition, it was confirmed that the mouth and uropatagium were continuously used in tandem during the capturing process. Furthermore, using Constant Frequency (CF), we confirmed that the prey catching method reflected the wing morphology and echolocation pattern of R. ferrumequinum. The echolocation analysis revealed that the pulse duration, pulse interval, peak frequency, start-FM-bandwidth, and CF duration decreased as the search phase approached the terminal phase. Detailed analysis of echolocation pulse showed that the end-FM bandwidth, which increases as it gets nearer to the capture time of prey, was closely related to the accurate grasp of the location of an insect. At the final moment of prey capture, the passive listening that stopped the divergence of the echolocation was identified; this was determined to be the process of minimizing the interruption from the echo of the echolocation call emitted from the bat itself and sound waves emitted from the prey.

• 한국전자현미경학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1999.11a
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• pp.23-23
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• 1999