(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) The availableinformationon use of caves by Mexican bats was examinedto determinethe effectivenessof a conservationstrategybasedondiversity.Diversitywasestimatedbyspecies richness, or the numberof bat species presentin a cave. Sixty of the 134 Mexican species of bats regularlyroost in caves. Seventeenof these species tend to roost in caves with low species richness (segregationists), 14 tend to roost in caves with high species richness (integrationists),and 29 show no tendency in terms of the species richness of the caves (indifferent).Of the 215 cavesincludedin this study,80%supportfew(threeor less) species, whereas only 10% harbor six or more species. In general, species that share caves with many species form small or medium-sizedcolonies, and there is no positive correlation betweenspecies richness and total numberof individualsin the caves. Few of the fragile and vulnerablespecies of Mexican bats roost in caves with high species richness or with large populations.A conservationplan based solely on diversity is not adequatefor the protectionof cave bats in Mexico.