MALE ROOSTING HABITS AND MATING-BEHAVIOR OF MYOTIS-MYOTIS

Attic-welling male Myotis myotis use different roost sites, but prefer one (or a few) of them and visit others sporadically. Roost-site pref erence can change, especially during the mating season. The males use their roost sites over years. Mean occupancy of all roost sites shows a maximum during the mating season. Females of different nursery colon ies meet at male roost sites as far as 12 km from their colonies. They stay, on average, four days with one male, may join several males dur ing one mating season and may visit their mating sites over years. Mal es appear to show no special behaviour to attract females but extend t he time they are present at the roost site during the mating season. E ach male is visited by about seven adult mates, on average. Difference s in reproductive success are indicated by the times males were joined by females and by the numbers of mates and copulations. Two typical m ating postures, copulation and live different social calls are describ ed. Since females of different colonies meet at the male roost sites, the mating system of Myotis myotis may favour genetic exchange between colonies.