Barbastella Barbastellus Research Articles

Holocene mammals (Insectivora, Rodentia, Chiroptera) of Dollsteinhola Cave, Western Norway

The Dolisteinhola cave comprises a sequence of Holocene deposits dating from the late Atlanticum to the first half of the Subboreal period. Climate-sensitive species were found in layers V (Sciurus vulgaris) and layers II - III, IV, IV - V (Apodemus flavicollis). Two humerus of Barbastella barbastellus were also recognised. The faunal assemblage were grouped in three climatic complexes: species which lived both in cold and warm climates; species connected with warmer phases of the climate and species typical for a cold climate.

Re-establishing historic ecosystem links through targeted species reintroduction: Beaver-mediated wetlands support increased bat activity

Despite the global significance of wetlands, conservation strategies often fall short in preserving these ecosystems due to failures in incorporating processes that sustain the ecosystem functioning, hydrological dynamics, ecological processes, and biodiversity of wetlands. Nature-based solutions, such as the reintroduction of beavers, have emerged as effective tools for promoting wetland restoration. Whilst the impact of beavers on wetland restoration is well known, their broader influence on ecosystem health, particularly in modifying habitats for other species, remains inadequately understood. Here we assess the impact that habitat modification through the reintroduction of beavers has on bat populations. There were significantly greater activity levels within beaver-modified wetland habitats for multiple bat species, including higher activity levels of 393 % for Barbastella barbastellus and 313 % for Plecotus spp.. Additionally, we observed positive effects on bat populations in the woodland habitat surrounding beaver-modified wetland for certain taxa. In the face of escalating challenges posed by climate change and habitat loss, addressing biodiversity loss necessitates a shift toward ecosystem-centric mitigation measures. Our study demonstrates that the reintroduction of keystone species like beavers can re-establish historical facilitative links between aquatic and terrestrial food webs, highlighting the importance of such interventions in fostering the resilience and sustainability of entire ecosystems.

Traits and trails: Guild-specific effects of forest paths on bat activity

Human activities can substantially alter forest structure, consequently affecting forest animal communities. An important effect on bat behavior is given by canopy discontinuities like clearings or trails: while the former act as foraging sites, the latter are known to be used by bats to move inside the forest. For this reason, we can expect trails to have a strong influence on bat activity, with differences determined by the species' flying abilities. Here we assess the impact of trails on a local bat community by quantifying the effect of trails’ characteristics on the activity of bat species in relation to their wing morphology. We collected paired acoustic data and environmental variables along trails and in internal areas of a forest in central Italy. We modelled the activity levels of three bat guilds differing in wing morphology and identified the species mostly responsible for the observed compositional dissimilarity in between trails and internal zones by adopting a multivariate approach. Trail width and tree’s diameter were the main drivers of the observed differences between bat activity along trails and internal areas, but their effect differed among bat guilds. Edge and open-space foragers increased their activity along wider trails, while closed-space foragers showed an opposite trend; the latter also avoid trails in favor of internal areas especially when trees are larger. Four species yielded a significant contribution to the dissimilarity in activity levels between trails and internal areas, and namely Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Nyctalus noctula, Miniopterus schreibersii and Barbastella barbastellus. Our results show a clear effect of forest trails on bat activity, highlighting differences across functional groups in relation to trail characteristics. Furthermore, within guilds, not all species respond with the same intensity, suggesting differences in how different species are attracted to linear features and forest gaps. Overall, our results depict a complex interaction between forest trails and bat activity, suggesting that structural changes in forests can trigger diverse responses in bats. Future research on the topic may focus on assessing how such effects can affect bat communities at the landscape scale and longer time-scales.

The devil is in the detail: Environmental variables frequently used for habitat suitability modeling lack information for forest-dwelling bats in Germany.

In response to the pressing challenges of the ongoing biodiversity crisis, the protection of endangered species and their habitats, as well as the monitoring of invasive species are crucial. Habitat suitability modeling (HSM) is often treated as the silver bullet to address these challenges, commonly relying on generic variables sourced from widely available datasets. However, for species with high habitat requirements, or for modeling the suitability of habitats within the geographic range of a species, variables at a coarse level of detail may fall short. Consequently, there is potential value in considering the incorporation of more targeted data, which may extend beyond readily available land cover and climate datasets. In this study, we investigate the impact of incorporating targeted land cover variables (specifically tree species composition) and vertical structure information (derived from LiDAR data) on HSM outcomes for three forest specialist bat species (Barbastella barbastellus, Myotis bechsteinii, and Plecotus auritus) in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, compared to commonly utilized environmental variables, such as generic land-cover classifications (e.g., Corine Land Cover) and climate variables (e.g., Bioclim). The integration of targeted variables enhanced the performance of habitat suitability models for all three bat species. Furthermore, our results showed a high difference in the distribution maps that resulted from using different levels of detail in environmental variables. This underscores the importance of making the effort to generate the appropriate variables, rather than simply relying on commonly used ones, and the necessity of exercising caution when using habitat models as a tool to inform conservation strategies and spatial planning efforts.

In the Spotlight: Bat Activity Shifts in Response to Intense Lighting of a Large Railway Construction Site

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a major form of anthropogenic pollution, disrupting nocturnal wildlife behaviour and ecosystem function. Large construction sites are typically located at the intersection of urban and natural areas, introducing intense lighting into previously dark natural habitats. This study examines the responses of bats to intense nighttime lighting at a major construction site associated with a linear transport infrastructure (LTI) project. We used passive acoustic monitoring to record bat activity and species richness at the construction site and in adjacent urban and natural areas with different lighting levels. Generalist species, such as Pipistrellus kuhlii and Nyctalus leisleri, were attracted to illuminated areas, likely due to increased prey availability. Conversely, sensitive species, such as those from the Myotis and Plecotus genera, along with Barbastella barbastellus, avoided illuminated areas, particularly the construction site. Species richness was significantly lower at the construction site compared to other environments, reflecting ALAN’s barrier effect on movements and habitat accessibility for more sensitive species. The findings highlight the ecological impacts of introducing ALAN to previously unlit natural environments, underscoring the urgent need for implementing ALAN mitigation strategies in urban planning and construction practices to protect biodiversity in urbanising areas.

Bat Hibernation: In Groups or Individually?

This study focuses on the hibernation behavior of the western barbastelle bat (Barbastella barbastellus) in underground systems in Poland from 2006 to 2011, specifically during the peak hibernation months of December to February. The impact of climate parameters, namely temperature (T), humidity (Rh), and air flow velocity (v), on the clustering behavior of bats during hibernation was investigated. The climate parameters varied within specific ranges: T fluctuated between 6.0 and 12.4 °C, Rh ranged from 56.4 to 91.8%, and v varied from 0.01 to 1.17 m/s. The quantile linear regression method for statistical analysis of the results was employed. This study found that certain combinations of climate parameters influenced the grouping behavior of bats during hibernation. The model structural parameters revealed the following relationships: 1. An increase in the product of T and v led to an increase in the bats’ group size. 2. For pairs of variables such as T and Rh, and Rh and v, an increase in their product resulted in a decrease in the bats’ group size. 3. When considering the product of T, Rh, and v, a decrease in the bats’ group size was also observed.

Exceptionally Uniform Bat Assemblages across Different Forest Habitats Are Dominated by Single Hyperabundant Generalist Species

Woodland bat assemblages are usually structured in a space according to the distance from the ground, water, and obstacles, features that often define chiropteran hunting tactics. Consequently, the bat species composition differs strongly among various habitats, even within the same forest patch. However, when conducting local bat surveys in Wolin National Park (WPN), we revealed an unexpected uniformity in the qualitative and quantitative structure of bat assemblages, based on mist netting and ultrasound recording. In total, 10 vespertilionid species were detected. Across all methods and sampled habitats, a single species, Pipistrellus pygmaeus, predominated, while no Barbastella barbastellus, an old forest specialist, were detected, despite the abundance of their preferred daily roosts. We also reviewed the literature for mist-netted bat samples in four different habitats in lowland Polish forests. The samples usually clustered based on habitats, and the same habitat classes often clustered very closely despite representing geographically distant forests. The exception was WPN, where all four habitat classes formed a tightly packed cluster. We hypothesize that P. pygmaeus might act as a hyperabundant native species, a successful generalist that reduces the contribution of more specialized taxa in the assemblage. It probably benefits from both forest renaturation and anthropogenic cross-boundary subsidy.

Absence of lunar phobia in European swarming vespertilionid bats

“Lunar phobia” in bats has been widely discussed since its description in tropical bats in 1978. The phenomenon has been frequently contested and supported and was first reported in European bats in 2020. Our study seeks to clarify the debate by describing the relationship between the activity of selected swarming vespertilionid bats (Family: Vespertilionidae) and moonlight levels. To verify a potential connection to the latter, a swarming dataset was analysed in respect of estimated moonlight illumination. Moonlight estimates were based on geographical location and several lunar parameters, to accurately characterise the non-linear relationship between moon phase and illumination (lux). The swarming data consisted of 32 netting and 14 echolocation recording sessions collected between August and October 2014 and 2015. Our data included 3,265 netted bats from 13 species and 15,919 bat calls from 10 confirmed species. Data was collected at the large Central European hibernation/swarming site – Natura 2000 PLH080003 “Nietoperek” in western Poland (N 52.394400, E 15.480600). Generalised linear mixed models (GLMMs) determined insignificant relationships between bats and moonlight illumination. Our analysis confirms an absence of impact of moonlight intensity on swarming bats and thereby rejects the lunar phobia phenomena in at least six insectivorous bat species (Myotis myotis, M. daubentonii, M. nattereri, M. bechsteinii, Barbastella barbastellus, Plecotus auritus) swarming in the autumn.

Barbastella barbastellus (Chiroptera: Vespertillionidae) a New Bat Record in Algeria by the Echolocation Method

In this present work the presence of six bat species were recorded in the large forest of Akfadou .This included the Western Barbastelle, Barbastella barbastellus, which is recorded here for the first time in Algeria on the basis of several sound sequences. With this we confirm the presence of the twenty-seventh species of bat for the country, a species which is classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN. Our finding highlights the need for further works to understand the status of this species in Algeria, along with the identification of any potential threats to its populatio.

Bats (Chiroptera) of the Ujście Warty National Park and the surrounding area

Bat research was carried out in 2012-2013 in the Ujście Warty National Park and in adjacent areas. Bats were caught in chiropterological nets, searched for in winter and summer roosts. Detector listening was carried out and the owls' diet was analyzed for the presence of bats among their prey. In the national park area, 11 species of bats were detected, and together with the Natura 2000 area "Ujście Warty" and the neighbouring areas, a total of 15 species were detected: the Daubenton's bat Myotis daubentonii, Natterer's bat Myotis nattereri, Brandt's bat Myotis brandtii, noctule bat Nyctalus noctula, serotine bat Eptesicus serotinus, common pipistrelle bat Pipistrellus pipistrellus, soprano pipistrelle bat Pipistrellus pygmaeus, Nathusius' pipistrelle bat Pipistrellus nathusii, brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus, gray long-eared bat Plecotus austriacus, western barbastelle bat Barbastella barbastellus, greater mouse-eared bat Myotis myotis, Bechstein's bat Myotis bechsteinii, pond bat Myotis dasycneme and the parti-coloured bat Vespertilio murinus. The bat fauna of this area is relatively rich compared to other protected areas and presented results constitute an important supplement to the knowledge about the vertebrate fauna of the national park and its vicinity.

Applying genomic approaches to identify historic population declines in European forest bats

Abstract Anthropogenically driven environmental changes over recent centuries have led to severe declines of wildlife populations. Better tools are needed to assess the magnitude and consequences of these declines. Anecdotal evidence suggests European bat populations have suffered substantial declines in the past centuries. However, there is little empirical evidence of these declines that can be used to put more recent population trends into historic context. This study is a collaboration between academics and conservation practitioners to develop molecular approaches capable of providing evidence of historic population changes that can inform conservation status assessments and management. We generated a genomic dataset of 46,872 SNPs for the Western barbastelle, Barbastella barbastellus, a regionally Vulnerable bat species, including colonies from across the species' British and Iberian ranges. We used a combination of landscape genetics and model‐based inference of demographic history to identify both evidence of population size changes and possible drivers of these changes. Levels of genetic diversity increased and inbreeding decreased with increasing broadleaf woodland cover around the colony. Genetic connectivity was impeded by artificial lights and facilitated by rivers and broadleaf woodland cover. The demographic history analysis showed that both the northern and southern British barbastelle populations have declined by 99% over the past 330–548 years. These declines may be linked to the loss of large oak trees and native woodlands due to shipbuilding during the early colonial period. Synthesis and applications. Genomic approaches can provide a better understanding of the conservation status of threatened species, within historic and contemporary contexts, and inform their conservation management. Our findings of will directly influence the definition of the Favourable Conservation Status of the barbastelle, in turn influencing considerations of the conservation of the species in development plans. Knowledge gained will also help set species recovery targets. Policymakers are interested in using our approach for other species. This study shows how we can bridge the implementation gap between genomic research and direct conservation applications. There is an urgent need to carry out such collaborative studies for other priority species to enable informed species recovery interventions via policy mechanisms and project delivery.

People’s perceptions and willingness to pay to protect saproxylic species in Alpine production forests

Saproxylic species are the species dependent on the presence of standing dead trees and deadwood in forests. European forests managed for timber production are generally characterized by a lack of tree microhabitats and deadwood that could compromise the survival of saproxylic species. Many studies investigated the positive impacts of integrated forest management strategies (e.g., the realization of veteran tree islands) from an ecological perspective. At the same time, there is a gap concerning the socio-economic perspective. To partially fill this gap, this study investigates people's perceptions and willingness to pay (WTP) to increase the number of specimens of three saproxylic species (Black woodpecker, Western barbastelle, and European stag beetle) in Alpine production forests. An online survey was administered to a sample of 306 Italian people by posting the link on some social network pages. A Discrete Choice Experiment was implemented to estimate people's perceptions and WTP to increase the number of the three saproxylic species. The results show that the average individual WTP for Black woodpecker is €2.80 for a medium and €3.79 for a high level of specimens. At the same time, for the other two species, non-significant (Western barbastelle) or significant but negative (European stag beetle) preferences were found. This study pointed out that positive emotions and perceptions towards the species are key variables to understanding the individual WTP. This study's results may support Alpine forest managers in defining conservation strategies for saproxylic species based on citizens’ WTP.

Stealth echolocation in aerial hawking bats reflects a substrate gleaning ancestry

Predator-prey co-evolution can escalate into an evolutionary arms race.1 Examples of insect countermeasures to bat echolocation are well-known,2 but presumptive direct counter strategies in bats to insect anti-bat tactics are rare. The emission of very low-intensity calls by the hawking Barbastella barbastellus to circumvent high-frequency moth hearing is the most convincing countermeasure known.2,3 However, we demonstrate that stealth echolocation did not evolve through a high-intensity aerial hawking ancestor becoming quiet as previously hypothesized2,3,4 but from a gleaning ancestor transitioning into an obligate aerial hawker. Our ancestral state reconstructions show that the Plecotini ancestor likely gleaned prey using low-intensity calls typical of gleaning bats and that this ability-and associated traits-was subsequently lost in the barbastelle lineage. Barbastelles did not, however, revert to the oral, high-intensity call emission that other hawking bats use but retained the low-intensity nasal emission of closely related gleaning plecotines despite an extremely limited echolocation range. We further show that barbastelles continue to emit low-intensity calls even under adverse noise conditions and do not broaden the echolocation beam during the terminal buzz, unlike other vespertilionids attacking airborne prey.5,6 Together, our results suggest that barbastelles' echolocation is subject to morphological constraints prohibiting higher call amplitudes and beam broadening in the terminal buzz. We suggest that an abundance of eared prey allowed the co-opting and maintenance of low-intensity, nasal echolocation in today's obligate hawking barbastelle and that this unique foraging behavior7 persists because barbastelles remain a rare, acoustically inconspicuous predator to eared moths. VIDEO ABSTRACT.

Assessment of virus and Leptospira carriage in bats in France.

With over 1,400 species worldwide, bats represent the second largest order of mammals after rodents, and are known to host major zoonotic pathogens. Here, we estimate the presence of pathogens in autochthonous bat populations. First, we set out to check our samples for PCR amplification efficiency by assessing the occurrence of inhibited PCR reactions from different types of bat samples with amplifying the housekeeping gene β-actin. Second, we investigated the presence of five targeted pathogens in a French bat population using PCR. We targeted viral RNA of Canine distemper virus, Alphacoronavirus, Lyssavirus, Rotavirus and bacterial Leptospira DNA. To do so, we screened for these viruses in bat faecal samples as well as in oropharyngeal swab samples. The presence of Leptospira was assessed in urine, kidney, lung and faecal samples. Results showed a frequency of inhibited reactions ranging from 5 to 60% of samples, varying according to the sample itself and also suspected to vary according to sampling method and the storage buffer solution used, demonstrating the importance of the sampling and storage on the probability of obtaining negative PCR results. For pathogen assessment, rotavirus and alphacoronavirus RNA were detected in Myotis myotis, Myotis daubentonii, Myotis emarginatus and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum bats. Rotaviruses were also detected in Barbastella barbastellus. The presence of alphacoronavirus also varied seasonally, with higher frequencies in late summer and October, suggesting that juveniles potentially play an important role in the dynamics of these viruses. Leptospira DNA was detected in M. myotis and M. daubentonii colonies. The 16S rRNA sequences obtained from Leptospira positive samples showed 100% genetic identity with L. borgpetersenii. Neither canine distemper virus nor lyssavirus RNA were detected in any of the tested samples. This study is the first to show the presence of Leptospira in autochthonous French bats in addition to coronavirus and rotavirus RNA previously reported in European autochthonous bats.

An acoustic-based method for locating maternity colonies of rare woodland bats.

Locating colonies of rare bats can be a time consuming process, as it is often difficult to know where to focus survey effort. However, identifying peaks of bat activity via acoustic monitoring may provide insights into whether a colony is locally present, and help screen out sites with low potential. Using a triage approach, we developed a survey methodology for locating colonies of the woodland-specialist barbastelle bat (Barbastella barbastellus). We investigated whether woodland occupancy by a colony could be predicted by acoustic data, and assessed the influence of survey effort (number of acoustic detectors deployed) on detectability. The methodology was then trialled in citizen science surveys of 77 woodlands, with follow-up radio-tracking surveys by specialists being used to confirm presence or absence. Using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, we found that a threshold of four barbastelle passes recorded by at least one detector within one hour of sunset optimised the balance between the true- and false-positive rates. Subsequently, we found that a minimum survey effort of one detector per 6.25 hectares of woodland was needed to ensure a colony would be detected using this threshold, based on a survey sensitivity of 90%. Radio-tracking surveys in a subset of the woodlands, identified as having a high probability of being occupied by a colony based on acoustic monitoring, confirmed the presence of five previously unknown barbastelle maternity colonies. These results demonstrate that a triage system, in which high probability woodland sites are identified based on acoustic survey data, can be used to prioritise sites for future specialist surveys and conservation action.

Assessing Surveillance of Wildlife Diseases by Determining Mammal Species Vulnerability to Climate Change

Climate change is one of the drivers of wildlife-borne disease emergence, as it can affect species abundance and fitness, host immunocompetence, and interactions with pathogens. To detect emerging wildlife-borne diseases, countries may implement general wildlife-disease surveillance systems. Such surveillance exists in the Netherlands. However, it is unclear how well it covers host species vulnerable to climate change and consequently disease emergence in these species. Therefore, we performed a trait-based vulnerability assessment (TVA) to quantify species vulnerability to climate change for 59 Dutch terrestrial mammals. Species’ vulnerability was estimated based on the magnitude of climatic change within the species’ distribution (exposure), the species’ potential to persist in situ (sensitivity), and the species’ ability to adjust (adaptive capacity). Using these vulnerability categories, we identified priority species at risk for disease emergence due to climate change. Subsequently, we assessed the frequency of occurrence of these priority species compared to other mammal species examined in general wildlife disease surveillance during 2008–2022. We identified 25% of the mammal species to be highly exposed, 24% to be highly sensitive, and 22% to have a low adaptive capacity. The whiskered myotis and the garden dormouse were highly vulnerable (i.e., highly exposed, highly sensitive, and low adaptive capacity), but they are rare in the Netherlands. The Western barbastelle, the pond bat, and the Daubenton’s myotis were potential adapters (highly exposed, highly sensitive, and high adaptive capacity). Species vulnerable to climate change were relatively poorly represented in current general surveillance. Our research shows a comprehensive approach that considers both exposures to climate change and ecological factors to assess vulnerability. TVAs, as presented in this study, can easily be adapted to include extra drivers and species, and we would therefore recommend surveillance institutes to consider integrating these types of assessments for evaluating and improving surveillance for wildlife-borne disease emergence.

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

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.

Trophic relationship between Salix flowers, Orthosia moths and the western barbastelle

We present the results of a study which describes the relationship between the western barbastelle Barbastella barbastellus a highly specialised moth predator, and its prey—moths of the genus Orthosia, another selective animal known to converge around a dominant producer of pollen and nectar in early spring—willow trees Salix sp. In order to describe this trophic relationship, we conducted acoustic recordings at five paired sites (willow/control tree) in proximity to known barbastelle hibernation sites (Natura 2000: PLH080003 and PLH200014) beginning in mid-March 2022 after the first willow blossom sighting. Our study confirms a relationship between willow trees and barbastelles during early spring, as their activity around them was significantly higher than control sites. We also explore the activity of barbastelles over time, finding that activity levels around willows significantly decrease from the night of the first recorded bat, while the abundance of non-moth specialist bats remains consistent. Short-time importance (directly after hibernation) of willows for a moth specialist bat is probably due to other species blossom, attracting alternative prey, and in consequence—the bat. This newly described relationship should influence current conservation measures aimed at barbastelles.

Small mammals in the diet of the tawny owl Strix aluco in selected sites of the Biebrza Basin and Knyszyn Forest in north-eastern Poland.

The analysis of pellets of the tawny owl Strix aluco collected in the years 2009–2023 in 22 sites (ten in the Biebrza Basin and twelve in Knyszyn Forest) allowed for finding four species of Soricomorpha, nine species of Chiroptera and fifteen species of Rodentia (4, 5 and 12 in the Biebrza Basin and 4, 7 and 13 in Knyszyn Forest, respectively). Most common and most frequently caught by owls were: the bank vole Clethrionomys glareolus, the yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis and the common shrew Sorex araneus. Valuable species of bats included the pond bat Myotis dasycneme and the western barbastelle Barbastella barbastellus noted in Knyszyn Forest. Rare rodents found in both study areas were: the northern birch mouse Sicista betulina and the common dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius while the forest dormouse Dryomys nitedula was noted only in Knyszyn Forest. The European water vole Arvicola amphibius commonly noted in the Biebrza Basin was not found in Knyszyn Forest. On the contrary, the common pine vole Microtus subterraneus was reecorded only in Knyszyn Forest.

Біотичне різноманіття урочища «Сатанівська дача» — об’єкта Всесвітньої спадщини ЮНЕСКО (Україна)

Abstract. The Satanivska Dacha tract in Khmelnytskyi Oblast, Ukraine, is unique in that Fagus sylvatica L. grows here at the edge of its geographic range. In 2017, the forest community was included in the trans-European World Heritage site ‘Primeval beech forests and ancient forests of the Carpathians and other regions of Europe" by UNESCO under the name Site No. 61 ‘Satan’s Dacha.’ In the territory of the tract, 163 species of vertebrates have been recorded, including 12 species of amphibians, 6 species of reptiles, 96 species of birds, and 50 species of mammals, which are representatives of 24 orders. Within the world heritage site, 72 species of vertebrates have been recorded: 7 species of amphibians, 3 species of reptiles, 39 species of birds, and 23 species of mammals. There are 135 species of vertebrates that have protection statuses and included in the Red Data Book of Ukraine (33 species), Regional Red List (23 species), Bern (134 species), Bonn (43 species), and Washington (17 species) conventions. Of higher plants, 234 species have been recorded, including 169 species within the world heritage site, and 7 species are included in the Red Data Book of Ukraine (2009, 2021) and 5 species are included in the CITES list. The List of Regionally Rare Species in Need of Protection in Khmelnytskyi Oblast includes 24 species that were found in the Satanivska Dacha tract, of which 17 species grow in the territory of the world heritage site. The bryoflora of the tract consists of 98 bryophytes. The mycoflora, according to preliminary studies, includes 61 species of fungi and fungus-like organisms. According to the EUNIS classification, rare biotopes represent the following type—G: Woodland, forest and other wooded land; G 1.6: Beech forests (Fagus woodland). Three rare associations have been identified that have a synsozological status according to the Directive of the Council of Europe 92/43/EEC. The population status of Allium ursinum L., Galanthus nivalis L., Epipactis purpura Smith, Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz, and Barbastella barbastellus Schreber was monitored. The territory is characterised by a high potential as an environment for the self-regeneration of the biota on the whole. Continuation of monitoring programmes of this type is extremely important.