Seasonal roosting dynamics, roost microclimate, and foraging habitat use of co-roosting bats, Rhinolophus rouxii and Rousettus leschenaultii , in an abandon

Abstract

Roosting and foraging habitats are two key components shaping bat survival and reproductive success. While roosting habitats provide sites for mating, rearing pups, and protection, foraging habitats provide the dietary resources required to meet energetic demands. Understanding how bats use these two essential habitat components is critical for ecology and conservation biology, yet habitat-use patterns of many bat species remain poorly understood. Therefore, we investigated roosting and foraging habitat use of Rhinolophus rouxii and Rousettus leschenaultii co-roosting in an abandoned temple structure situated within a mosaic of natural and human-modified habitats in the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot. Surveys were conducted from August 2024 to July 2025 using non-invasive roost counts and bioacoustic monitoring. Colony sizes of both species varied seasonally, and roosting patterns were associated with microclimatic conditions. A multiple species single-season hierarchical occupancy model revealed higher estimated occupancy probabilities in forest habitats than in mixed habitats and open land for both species. Our findings highlight the importance of abandoned temple structures as roosting habitats and provide insights into habitat-associated patterns of bat foraging activity, underscoring the need for species- and site-specific conservation strategies.