[Spatial structure of the community of bats (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) hibernating in artificial caves of Samarskaya Luka].

Specific features of the spatial distribution and localization of bats have been studied during their hibernation in artificial caves of Samarskaya Luka. The proportion of cave area occupied by bats varies from 70 to 93% in large caves (> 60000 m2), decreasing to 50% in medium-sized caves (10000-60000 m2) and to less than 30% in small caves (< 10000 m2). Approximately 9% of bats choose sites near cave openings, up to 25% prefer central parts, but most bats (about 66%) concentrate in the deepest parts of caves. Among wintering species, higher rates of occurrence and shelter occupancy are characteristic of Plecotus auritus. Myotis daubentonii, and M. mystacinus, whereas M. dasycneme and M. brandtii show the highest degree of aggregation. The optimal temperature range for the wintering of all bat species is 2-4 degrees C. Myotis brandtii, Eptesicus nilssonii, and M. daubentonii prefer to hibernate in open spaces of cave ceilings; M. mystacinus. E. serotinus, and Pl. auritus usually occupy the middle and upper parts of walls; while M. dasycneme and M. nattereri occur mainly in hollows on ceilings.

[Species structure and dynamics of bat communities (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) hibernating in artificial caves of Samara Luka].

Long-term data on the composition and absolute and relative abundance of eight bat species hibernating in artificial caves of Samara Luka are considered. About 13,000 hibernating individuals are annually accounted there. The relative abundance of the species decreased in the following order: Myotis brandtii (35%), Plecotus auritus (20%), M. daubentonii (13%), M. mystacinus (13%), Eptesicus nilssonii (8%), M. dasycneme (8%), and M. nattereri (2%). Singular E. serotinus were recorded not every year. The number of hibernating animals in pits was proportional to their size and the number of shelters. Bats used previously chosen shelters and were never found in adjacent caves. The maximum species diversity (H') and evenness (E) were observed in bat communities in medium-sized caves. One of the main factors of increasing abundance of hibernating bats in abandoned pits is their gradual colonization by the animals.

[Maximal oxygen consumption and decompensated metabolic acidosis threshold in the assessment of functional reserves of oxygen transport in cardiosurgical patients]. / Maksimal'noe potreblenie kisloroda i porog dekompensirovannogo metabolicheskogo atsidoza v otsenke funktsional'nykh rezervov sistemy transporta kisloroda u kardiokhirurgicheskikh bol'nykh.

Possibilities of assessing the functional reserves in the oxygen transport system (OTS) were studied in cardiosurgical patients by spiro-ergometrically determining the maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) and decompensated metabolic acidotic threshold (DMAT). Seventy seven patients (53 males and 24 females) with various cardiac diseases were examined. A low incidence of an oxygen consumption "plateau" was found, which limited the determination of VO2 max in the cardiosurgical setting. DMAT occurred at a level of 76.0 +/- 11.6% of VO2 max and closely correlated (r = 0.86; p less than 0.05). It was concluded that it was advisable to additionally study the prospects for applying DMAT to the assessment of OTS functional reserves in cardiosurgical patients.