Hibernating bat species of Belarus: results of the work of the Minsk bat contact centre ‘Kazhanapolis’ (2018–2022)

Abstract

Bat rehabilitation centres, in addition to their main goal, namely, animal rescue, may provide a significant scientific information, and are also sites for popular science activities. This article presents the results of the work of the Minsk Bat contact centre ‘Kazhanapolis’ in 2018–2022. The work of the Сentre includes the rescue of animals by means of artificial hibernation with subsequent release into the wild. Species identification is carried out directly when possible, but sometimes also by photographs. During the hibernation seasons (October–March) in 2018 to 2022, 565 finds were recorded, accounting for more than 730 individuals of 10 species of bats, including Barbastella barbastellus, Epte-sicus nilssonii, E. serotinus, Myotis dasycneme, M. daubentonii, Nyctalus noctu-la, Pipistrellus kuhlii, P. pygmaeus, Plecotus auritus, and Vespertilio murinus. Data were collected from 56 unique localities. Compared to the previous period of work (2007–2017), an increase in the number of recorded species, in the total number of individuals, as well as in the number of localities is shown. By the number of finds (55.47%), as well as recorded specimens (71.32%), V. murinus prevails. A significant proportion (more than 5%) of records are those of N. noctula (23.28% ind. and 8.31% finds), E. serotinus (8.9% ind. and 11.32% finds), and E. nilssonii (5.75% ind. and 3% finds). We consider the record of P. pygmaeus as accidental or migrant. Most of the finds of V. murinus, E. serotinus, P. auritus, P. kuhlii, M. dasycneme, and P. pygmaeus were represented by solitary individuals. N. noctula, E. nilssonii, M. daubentonii, and B. barbastellus are mainly recorded in colonies. The largest colony size (more than 100 ind.) was recorded for N. noctula. The sex ratio (M : F) ranges from 33.3 : 66.6% in E. nilssonii to 74.2 : 25.8% in N. noctula. Plecotus auritus and Myotis dasycneme are represented exclusively by females. Thus, we state the dominance in the species structure of wintering ‘urban bat species’ in Belarus of V. murinus and, at the same time, the expansion of the winter range of N. noctula and P. kuhlii. In addition, the collected data signifi-cantly contribute to our knowledge on the winter range and some hibernation traits of B. barbastellus, M. dasycneme, E. nilssonii, and E. serotinus in Belarus and Eastern Europe.