ACTIVITY PATTERNS AND ROOST SELECTION BY NOCTILIO-ALBIVENTRIS (CHIROPTERA, NOCTILIONIDAE) IN COSTA-RICA

Using radiotracking and direct observation we documented activity patt erns and roost selection of Noctilio albiventris at the Estacion Exper imental Enrique Jimenez Nunez near Canas, Costa Rica. Bats with radiot ransmitters showed little consistency in their use of foraging areas. Observations of captive and free-flying animals suggested that time aw ay from the roosts represented foraging time. Individual bats showed c onsiderable variation in both foraging time and numbers of foraging bo uts per night, but total time away from the roost usually averaged 120 min/night. Bats with radiotransmitters roosted in hollow trees and, a lthough most used the same roosts repeatedly, some changed roosts duri ng the study period.