Bats (Chiroptera) of spruce forests in the Ukrainian Carpathians

Abstract

Bat communities in monoculture spruce plantations (Skolivski Beskydy NNP, Gorgany (NNP Syniohora) and Chornohora areas) and spruce forests of the upper mountain forest belt (Verkhovynskyi NNP, Karpatskyi NNP) were studied by recording echolocation calls to assess the importance of such ecosystems for this group of animals. 11 species were recorded at the sample plots: Northern bat Eptesicus nilssonii, Serotine bat Eptesicus serotinus, Brand’s bat/Whiskered bat Myotis brandtii/mystacinus, Daubenton’s bat Myotis daubentonii, Greater mouse-eared bat Myotis myotis, Common noctule Nyctalus noctula, Brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus, Nathusius’s bat Pipistrellus nathusii, Common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Soprano pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus, Parti-coloured bat Vespertilio murinus. According to the degree of dominance (total number of registered calls), E. nilssonii was the most numerous (32.7%). M. mystacinus/brandtii (25.6%) and P. nathusii (18.9%) were somewhat less numerous. According to the spatial distribution (presence in the sample plots), only the pair M. mystacinus/brandtii was detected in all the studied plots. Of the other species, E. nilssonii (58.8%) and P. nathusii (41.2%) were most frequently represented. For the sibling species M. mystacinus/M. brandtii no special habitat requirements were found, but the high frequency of their observations in all ranges of forest biotopes shows them as typical "forest". The dominance of E. nilssonii in spruce forests confirms that this species mainly uses semi-boreal coniferous forests in the Central Europe. The highest value of Shannon's biodiversity index was found in spruce forests of lower altitudes, Skolivski Beskydy NNP (H' = 1.616) and Syniohora NNP (H' = 1.627). Probably, coniferous forests at lower altitudes can be more favourable foraging biotopes for representatives of populations that are not topically associated with such forests: P. pygmaeus, P. pipistrellus, V. murinus, N. noctula. The observed level of nocturnal activity and species diversity of bats in spruce forests suggests that they may be important to their local populations. Coniferous monocultures can play an important role for local bat populations by acting as migratory corridors and foraging sites.