**Bats and Caves: Activity and Ecology of Bats Wintering in Caves**

Jan Zukal, Hana Berková, Hana Banďouchová,

Veronika Kováčová and Jiří Pikula

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.69267

#### **Abstract**

Temperate regions of the world undergo a marked range of seasonal variation, most becoming extremely cold during the winter. Bats are the only group of vertebrates that have successfully exploited caves as permanent shelter. Although bats may use caves throughout all year, their most important role in ecology of temperate bats is as hibernac‐ ula. Here, we summarize various aspects of bat hibernation ecology, including variation in flight activity at the cave entrance; patterns of bat hibernation behaviour; site selection in hibernacula, including the importance of temperature during hibernation; and level of bat movement activity inside the cave. In addition, we review present knowledge on white‐nose syndrome, one of the most important threats to cave‐dwelling bats.

**Keywords:** Chiroptera, hibernation, flight activity, seasonal use, white‐nose syndrome
