Bat Species Composition Research Articles

Activity Pattern and Correlation between Bat and Insect Abundance at Wind Turbines in South Sweden.

Simple SummaryWind power is an important energy system in the global transition towards renewable energy. As new wind farms are erected in increasing numbers, they will have an impact on many organisms, e.g., through habitat changes and collision mortalities. In this study, we measure bat activity, insect abundance, and weather conditions to test the hypothesis that insect abundance attracts bats to wind turbines because of feeding opportunities. We found that the relationship between insect abundance and bat activity was relatively weak, providing some support for the feeding-attraction hypothesis. However, we also found a strong correlation between bat passes and weather conditions. This suggests that stop-regulation based on weather conditions might be a solution to avoid collisions. However, this study highlights some of the problems with defining the limits for stop-regulation, as bat activity may be high also at relatively high wind speeds and low temperatures.We present data on species composition and activity of bats during two years at three different wind- turbines, located in south Sweden, both at the base and nacelle height. To test the hypothesis that bats are attracted to wind turbines because of feeding opportunities, insects were sampled at nacelle height at one wind turbine using a suction trap, simultaneously as bat activity were measured. At this wind turbine, we also compared two different technical systems for ultrasound recordings and collect meteorological data. The variation in bat activity was high between nights and between wind turbines. In addition to the expected open-air foraging species (Pipistrellus, Nyctalus, Vespertilio and Eptesicus), some individuals of unexpected species (Myotis, Barbastella, and Plecotus) were found at nacelle height. There was a weak but significant positive relation between bat activity and insect abundance, so the hypothesis could not be rejected, suggesting there might be other factors than insect abundance explaining the frequency of bat visits at the nacelle. We found a strong correlation between bat passes and weather conditions. A reasonable way to mitigate collisions is with stop-regulation. However, this study highlights some of the problems with defining the limits for stop-regulation based on weather conditions.

Effect of the matrix-edge-forest interior gradient on the phyllostomid bats assemblage in sub-Andean forest fragments

The edge effect is one of the consequences of forest fragmentation and is one of the main drivers of alteration of ecological and ecosystem processes. Trophic guilds and species of bats have shown differential responses to this phenomenon. Our goal was to describe the change in bat species richness, abundance, evenness, and species composition of trophic guilds associated with a matrix edge-forest interior gradient. Therefore, we conducted a bat sampling with 16 mist nets covering such gradient in four sub-andean forest fragments (10-50 ha). In total, we captured 566 individuals of 21 species of phyllostomid bats. Bat species richness and abundance were higher in the matrix and edge and were similar between fragments. Evenness showed the lowest values in the matrix and forest edge and was different between forest patches. Some shrub frugivorous bats were more abundant in the edge, and others were more abundant in two fragments. Species composition of canopy frugivorous bats was similar along the gradient but was significantly different between fragments. In contrast, the species composition of nectarivores was similar throughout the matrix-interior forest gradient and between patches. Our data suggest that bat responses at assemblage-level are affected by the disturbance gradient from the matrix to forest interior, even at short distances form fragment borders, and are dependent on the trophic guild.

Ecological impacts of the LED-streetlight retrofit on insectivorous bats in Singapore.

Cities around the world are transitioning to more efficient lighting schemes, especially retrofitting traditional, high-pressure sodium (HPS) streetlights with light-emitting diode (LED) lights. Although these initiatives aim to address the problems of urban sustainability and save money, the ecological impacts of these retrofits remain poorly understood, especially in brightly lit cities and in the tropics, where urbanisation is most rapid. We performed an experimental study of the retrofit in Singapore–focusing on insectivorous bats, whose activity we monitored acoustically along paired control (HPS-lit) and treatment (LED-lit) streets. We recorded seven species along these streets, but only obtained enough recordings to measure the effect of light type for three of them–all of which can reasonably be described as urban adapters. The strongest predictor of bat activity (an index of habitat use) was rainfall–it has a positive effect. Light type did not influence bat activity or species composition of the bat assemblage along these streets, though it did interact with the effects of rainfall and traffic noise for one bat species. Ultimately, the retrofit may be ecologically meaningless to urban-adapted, tropical insectivores that already experience high levels of light pollution as they do in Singapore. However, while our findings may appear reassuring to those concerned with such retrofits in other tropical and/or brightly-lit cities, they also highlight the contextual nature of ecological impacts. We point out that they should not be prematurely generalised to other locales and systems. In particular, they do not imply no impact on species that are less urban-adapted, and there is a clear need for further studies, for example, on responses of other foraging guilds and of bats (and insects) throughout the tropics.

Abundance and Species Composition of Cave Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in Selected Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) of Central Visayas, Philippines

This study assessed the abundance and species richness of bats (Order Chiroptera) inhabiting caves in three KBAs (Key Biodiversity Areas) of Central Visayas: Mt. Bandilaan in Siquijor (13 caves), Mabinay, Negros Oriental (11 caves), and Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape(RSPL) in Bohol (31 caves). The study was conducted between February 14 to September 20, 2019. Of the 55 caves surveyed, 35 caves were inhabited by bats. Field survey methods included mist-netting at the cave entrances and direct observations of roosting sites in each cave. This study captured 754 individuals of bats belonging to 16 species, majority of which are insectivorous species (13 species) and only three species are fruitbats (Pteropodidae). Mabinay caves had the highest number of species (11) and captured bats (271 individuals) while RSPL had 9 species (221 individuals) while Mt. Bandilaan only had five species but relatively high captured bats (262 individuals). Five species are Philippine endemics (Hipposideros obscurus, Hipposideros pygmaeus, Ptenochirus jagori, Rhinolophus inops, and R. rufus) and three Near-threatened species (H. lekaguli, M. schreibersii, and R. rufus). The rare bat species (Dobsonia chapmani) may be locally extirpated in Mabinay, where it last documented at Mambajo cave in the 1960s. The survey also noted the absence of fruit bats (observed in 2011 study) in all of the caves in Mt. Bandilaan, probably due to on-going anthropogenic activities (treasure hunting, bat hunting, guano extraction, land conversion, locals illegal entry, graffiti, etc) in caves surveyed. Large colonies of fruitbats and insect bats in RSPL may have been affected by anthropogenic activities inside the caves. Most of the caves surveyed have been promoted for ecotourism activities.Keywords: cave; chiropteran; extraction; karst; limestone

Diversity pattern of bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in a modified tropical environment in the western region of Cameroon

The western region of Cameroon is one of the leading agricultural production areas in sub-Saharan Africa, and this ongoing anthropogenic perturbation has led to the replacement of natural forests with agroecosystems. Such anthropogenic landscape transformations may have affected bat species composition and abundance in the area. Our study assessed the response of bat assemblages to these changes, by comparing species diversity and abundance across four distinct habitat types within the region: cultivated farms (transformed landscape), savannah and gallery forest (both representing degraded areas), and secondary forest. A total of 442 individuals assigned to 25 species were captured using ground-level mist nets. The cultivated farms recorded the highest bat species richness (13 species) and abundance (145 individuals), whereas the gallery forest had the lowest species richness (six species) and abundance (62 individuals). Myonycteris angolensis had the highest relative abundance in the region, with large numbers captured in cultivated farms. According to the rank-frequency diagram, bat assemblages in cultivated farms (Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC) = 53.7), gallery forest (AIC = 27.7), and secondary forest (AIC = 48.5) are distributed according to the pre-emption model, whereas the distribution in the savannah (AIC = 40.0) follow the null model. Generalised linear models revealed significant differences in species and relative abundance across the four habitat types.

Bat species composition associated with restinga lagoons from the Paulo César Vinha State Park, Espírito Santo, Brazil

Restingas are coastal ecosystems associated with the Atlantic Forest. They are threatened by habitat degradation and forest fragmentation due to intense human occupation. Many restingas have coastal lagoons formed by bay sedimentation of bays, the presence of river estuaries, or emerging groundwater. The distance between lagoons and the ocean influences the biotic community in them. This study aimed to compare the diversity (composition, abundance and richness) of bat communities associated with three lagoons within the Paulo Cesar Vinha State Park, Espírito Santo state. Two lagoons (‘Feia’ and ‘Vermelha’ lagoons) are 2 km away from the ocean, while the third (‘Caraís’ lagoon) is just a few meters distant from the ocean. Species composition did not differ among the lagoons. Abundance of Carollia perspicillata and Glossophaga soricina was higher in the ‘Caraís’ lagoon. Abundance of Artibeus lituratus and Platyrrhinus lineatus was higher in the ‘Vermelha’ lagoon. Species with higher abundance in the ‘Vermelha’ are usually associated with urban and disturbed environments. ‘Vermelha’ lagoon is closer to human settlements and this could be a major driver of bat species abundance associated with this lagoon instead of distance from the ocean. These results may be used to guide conservations efforts in the restingas or habitats associated with restingas.

Bats Species Diversity of Northern Tajikistan: 45 Years Later

The paper shows the results of long-term field studies of the species composition and number of bats in 8 abandoned mines in the Mogol-Tau mountains and the foothills of the northern slope of the Turkestan Mountain ranges in the territory of Northern Tajikistan. It reveals that the species diversity and number of bats have decreased both in “winter” stationary mine in the Mogol-Tau mountains and in “summer” stationary mine in the foothills of the Turkestan Mountain ranges. At the same time, the number of Myotis blythii Tomes 1857 has remarkably increased in summer. The paper suggests that these changes are not directly related to human activities, but have deeper causes and, possibly, are associated with global climate change.

Mono-specific forest plantations are valuable bat habitats: implications for wind energy development

Near-natural or semi-natural forests such as relatively undisturbed and old deciduous or mixed woodland are considered worth protecting and ecologically valuable habitats for bat conservation. In contrast, mono-specific forest plantations are considered ecologically less valuable; thus, decision-makers recommend these plantations as suitable locations for wind power stations and therefore want to further expand wind turbines in these habitats. This is expected to have a strong negative impact on the landscape because forests would be cleared for wind turbine pads and access roads and wind turbines rise above the trees with adverse impacts for bats. Therefore, we argue that, in light of bat conservation, the suitability of forest plantations for wind energy development is not, per se, warranted and that implications of wind power stations, even in mono-specific forest plantations, should be assessed and evaluated. We conducted long-term bat activity monitoring and recorded bat echolocation calls above the canopies of different forest sites (coniferous monoculture plantations and semi-natural mixed deciduous forests) in Germany and compared different forest types in terms of species richness, total bat activity, activity of the three bat species groups and species composition. Generalised linear models revealed that forest type and the amount of forest biotopes did not enhance bat activity. Ordination showed that species composition was not affected by forest type, location and connectivity. Mono-specific forest plantations can harbour a diverse bat fauna with high species activity and are, therefore, valuable bat habitats just as near-natural or semi-natural woodlands are. Environmental impact assessment and mitigation measures are vital in all forest types before and after planning for wind energy turbines. In particular, future planning and approval processes must consider the importance of mono-specific forest plantations for bat species protection.

Mobile Bat Acoustic Routes Indicate Cavity-Roosting Species Undergo Compensatory Changes in Community Composition Following White-Nose Syndrome

Emerging pathogens can cause mass mortalities in susceptible species. High host mortality, in turn, can alter species composition, community structure and function. White-nose syndrome (WNS) is an emerging wildlife disease introduced to North America that has decimated millions of cave-dependent bats. For areas affected by WNS, there have been reports of community compositional changes, but compensatory changes to species composition following WNS has only been suggested, not reported. To determine if compensatory changes to species composition occur following WNS, we used seven years of data from statewide citizen science mobile bat acoustic routes initiated by the Ohio Division of Wildlife in 2011. We hypothesized that migratory bat abundance increased and cave-dependent bat abundance decreased following the emergence of WNS in the study period (2011–2017). Our hypothesis was based on the higher susceptibility of cave-dependent bats than migratory bats to infection and WNS mortality. We used two sets of models to identify abundance trends of each species found in Ohio and species grouped by wintering and roosting behaviors that are putatively important to changes in species composition post-WNS. Following WNS, we found a compensatory change in species in summer months from cave-dependent, cavity-roosting species (Myotis species and Eptesicus fuscus) to migratory, cavity-roosting species (Nycticeius humeralis and Lasionycteris noctivagans). However, for species that roost in foliage in the summer, we did not detect an increase in migratory species (Lasiurus borealis and Lasiurus cinereus) paired with a decrease in cave-dependent species (Perimyotis subflavus). The observed post-WNS trends in bat populations could suggest shifts in bat species composition in other areas where WNS is established.

LOS ENSAMBLAJES DE MURCIÉLAGOS DE LA SERRANÍA DE LA LINDOSA SON DIVERSOS Y HETEROGÉNEOS

La Serranía de La Lindosa es una formación geomorfológica que presenta heterogeneidad en sus coberturas vegetales. Esta zona se encuentra en una situación contradictoria debido a que presenta una elevada biodiversidad, sin embargo, es uno de los actuales focos de deforestación más grandes de Colombia. A pesar de que se espera una alta diversidad de murciélagos en La Lindosa existe poca información publicada sobre este grupo. Este trabajo presenta los resultados de inventarios de murciélagos realizados durante cinco años en la serranía de la Lindosa. Se compara la diversidad (riqueza, composición y estructura) de los ensamblajes de murciélagos en dos tipos principales de cobertura vegetal, los bosques húmedos y las sabanas casmófitas. Los inventarios recogen información de 735 murciélagos capturados, correspondientes a 46 especies. De éstas, 14 especies se encontraron solamente en sabanas casmófitas, 11 en bosques húmedos y 19 en los dos tipos de vegetación. De esta manera, se evidencia una alta complementariedad en la composición de especies de murciélagos entre los dos tipos de vegetación. Adicionalmente, la estructura de los ensamblajes de murciélagos varió entre los dos ambientes. La abundancia entre las especies es más homogénea en las sabanas casmófitas con un mayor número de especies raras comparado con los bosques húmedos. En general, la alta diversidad de murciélagos de la Serranía de La Lindosa puede estar relacionada con la heterogeneidad en la vegetación, la presencia de diferentes tipos de cuevas, y la historia evolutiva de las especies de murciélagos asociados a la Región Guayana.

Fruit bat diversity patterns for assessing restoration success in reforestation areas in the Philippines

In response to extensive deforestation in the Philippines in the last century, reforestation initiatives have been developed, setting area- or seedling count-based success criteria. However, to sufficiently assess reforestation as an approach to conserving biodiversity and protecting habitats, restoration of ecosystem integrity must be evaluated. Increased recognition of the role of fauna in ecological restoration has led to the evaluation of the role of different groups in assisting recovery and as potential metrics of success. In this study, we used mist netting data to evaluate how richness, abundance, diversity, and composition of fruit bats differ between reforestation areas and nearby secondary forest, and their potential as measures of restoration success. We captured 6564 fruit bats representing 15 species from a sampling effort of 1,994,366 m2·h. Estimated species richness and Simpson indices did not differ significantly between habitat types. Overall abundance was only significantly different in Palinpinon, with more individuals in the reforestation area, while Shannon indices only differed significantly in BacMan. Differences in composition were all found to be statistically significant, based on non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination biplots and permutational MANOVA. Of the three most abundant species captured across all reservations, the generalists Cynopterus luzoniensis and Macroglossus minimus were more abundant in reforestation areas. On the other hand, the forest specialists Haplonycteris fischeri, Harpyionycteris whiteheadi, and Ptenochirus minor showed lower abundances in reforestation areas. While univariate biodiversity metrics did not differ between secondary forests and reforestation areas, the abundance of particular species and the species composition of fruit bats remained distinct between these habitats. We identified specific aspects of the fruit bat assemblage with the potential as metrics of restoration success. To facilitate evaluation of restoration success using changes in faunal assemblage, we recommend the development of sampling protocols and metrics that would standardize this process.

Beta diversity patterns of bats in the Atlantic Forest: How does the scale of analysis affect the importance of spatial and environmental factors?

AbstractAimEnvironmental and spatial factors are broadly recognized as important predictors of beta diversity patterns. However, the scale at which beta diversity patterns are evaluated will affect the outcoming results. For example, studies at larger scales will usually find spatial processes as the main predictor of beta diversity patterns. In this study, we evaluate how beta diversity patterns change when analyses are conducted at different scales by reducing the scale of analysis in a hierarchical manner.LocationAtlantic Forest biome.TaxonChiroptera.MethodsInformation on the occurrence of 59 bat species were obtained from the Atlantic Bats and Species Link database. We partitioned beta diversity into its two components (nestedness and turnover), and calculated these indexes hierarchically: the biome in its entirety (all ecoregions); between larger regions (north, central and south); and between ecoregions within each region. We performed a Generalized Dissimilarity Model (GDM) to identify and predict the turnover of bat species in the Atlantic Forest based on geo‐climatic predictors. We obtained 19 geo‐climatic data from AMBDATA, an environmental dataset based on different data sources commonly used in species distribution modelling.ResultsWe found that turnover was the main component influencing a latitudinal gradient when the biome was analysed in its entirety. However, when the scale of the analysis was reduced, we found that species loss (nestedness component) had a large effect in determining beta diversity dissimilarity. We also found that nestedness was the main pattern explaining beta diversity dissimilarity along a longitudinal gradient.Main conclusionsBeta diversity patterns changed with the scale of analysis, which indicates that bat species composition does not follow the same pattern throughout the Atlantic Forest. This corroborates the importance of analysing beta diversity patterns at different scales to understand how environmental dissimilarity across geographical space can influence species distribution patterns.

Short communication: Diversity of cave-dwelling bats in Cebu Island, Philippines

Abstract. Alcazar SMT, Lit Jr IL, Rebancos CM, Barrion-Dupo ALA, De Guia APO, Bantayan NC, Alvarez JDV. 2020. Short communication: Diversity of cave-dwelling bats in Cebu Island, Philippines. Biodiversitas 21: 3249-3254. The species composition and richness of cave-dwelling bats in 16 caves of Cebu Island were studied to provide resource managers and local government units in Cebu baseline information that may be used toward conservation and sustainable utilization and management of local cave resources. Stationary and mobile mist-netting were employed at the entrance and dark zones of the caves to maximize the capture of bats. The study accounts for 15 species of cave bats, of which two were unidentified but are believed to be potentially new species, namely Rhinolophus sp. and Myotis sp., and three are new distribution records to Cebu, namely Rhinolophus philippinensis, Eonycteris robusta, and Megaderma spasma. In terms of richness values, Balay’g Agta holds six species and the remaining caves have less than five species. The presence of endemic, potentially new species and new distribution records of bats presents high conservation value and raises concern and calls for urgent action to protect the caves and the resources therein.

Dimensions of Phyllostomid Bat Diversity and Assemblage Composition in a Tropical Forest-Agricultural Landscape

Tropical rainforests are suffering rapid habitat loss with large extensions of land transformed into agriculture. We wanted to know whether the type of agricultural activity in forest-agricultural landscapes affects how species composition as well as taxonomic and functional dimensions of diversity respond. We worked in the Amazon forests of southeast Peru and used bats as model organisms. We sampled mosaics characterized by forest adjacent to papaya plantations or cattle pastures. At each sampling site we established a transect in each of the three different vegetation types: forest interior, forest edge and agricultural land. We found that vegetation type was a better predictor of species composition than the type of agricultural land present. Vegetation structure characteristics explained differences in bat species composition between forest interior and edge. Agricultural land type chosen was not irrelevant as we found higher estimated species richness in papaya than in pasture sites. Agricultural land type present in a site and vegetation type affected functional diversity, with both agricultural land types showing a lower number of functionally distinct species than forests. We found papaya plantation sites showed species more evenly dispersed in trait space, suggesting they do better at conserving functional diversity when compared to cattle pasture sites. We demonstrate that sites that harbor agricultural activities can maintain a considerable proportion of the expected bat diversity. We note that this region still has large tracts of intact forest adjacent to agricultural lands, which may explain their ability to maintain relatively high levels bat diversity.

SUMMER POPULATION OF BATS IN PROTECTED AREAS AND THEIR SURROUNDINGS IN THE EAST OF FENNOSCANDIA

The eastern outskirts of Fennoscandia harbour two protected areas – Vodlozersky and Kenozersky national parks. They are relatively close to each other and occupy vast taiga territories in the Republic of Karelia and the Arkhangelsk Region. They are distinguished for the share of old-growth forests and the pattern of agricultural use of the land. The species composition of bats in these protected areas has not been previously studied, and the only species definitely known to inhabit the territories was the Northern bat. Special censuses of bats in these areas were carried out using traditional (mist nets, visual observations) and modern (static ultrasonic detector) methods. The counts were carried out at fixed points, along car and water transects. A total of 28 bats of 4 species were captured (Northern bat Eptesicus nilssonii Keyserling & Blasius 1839, Daubenton’s bat Myotis daubentonii Kuhl 1817, Brandt’s bat M. brandtii Eversmann 1845, whiskered bat M. mystacinus Kuhl 1817), and records were made of 185 bats of 7 species (apart from the ones listed above they were the brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus L. 1758, common noctule Nyctalus noctula Schreber 1774, parti-coloured bat Vespertilio murinus L. 1758, pond bat M. dasycneme Boie 1825, Natterer’s bat M. nattereri Kuhl 1817), and bats classified as Brandt’s/whiskered bats. The relative abundance (%) and relative density (ind./km of transect) of some species are reported, as well as the dominance of the northern bat in all the communities, which is characteristic of the middle taiga subzone in general. The northernmost summer habitats of the whiskered bat in the European North of Russia were identified. A comparative analysis of the two protected areas in terms of species composition, relative abundance and relative density of bats did not reveal any sharp differences in these parameters.

Mango Orchards and Their Importance in Maintaining Phyllostomid Bat Assemblages in a Heterogeneous Landscape

A large part of the natural vegetation in the tropics has been replaced by pastures and crop fields. To evaluate the value of mango orchards in the conservation of phyllostomid bats in a fragmented, heterogeneous landscape in Veracruz, Mexico we compared species richness, total abundance, dominance, evenness and abundance per feeding guild of bats in mango polycultures, mango monocultures and in semi-deciduous seasonal forest. Using mist nets at ground level, we captured 882 phyllostomid bats belonging to 17 species. Bat species richness was similar between the mango orchards and the forest, but the number of bats was significantly higher in mango polycultures, followed by mango monocultures and the forest. The frugivore guild was the most numerous in the mango orchards. Sanguivores were notably more numerous in the forest. Our results suggest that both types of mango orchards are different from the forest, since they are characterized by differences in bat species composition and feeding guild. We conclude that mango agroecosystems, when small in size and close to the forest, are important in the conservation of bats; it is there where bats are abundant and maintain a level of species richness similar to that of the original vegetation.

Inside or out? Cave size and landscape effects on cave-roosting bat assemblages in Brazilian Caatinga caves

AbstractCave bats have an intimate association with their roosts. Size, structural heterogeneity, and microclimatic conditions are traits of caves known to affect the structure of these assemblages. The effects of the natural and anthropogenic landscape factors around caves on the structure of these assemblages are poorly known, especially in areas with large cave clusters. We assessed the effects of cave size and surrounding landscape attributes on the richness and species composition of cave-roosting bats in 13 caves distributed in two landscapes with large cave clusters in Caatinga dry forests, Brazil. In a 1-km buffer around caves, we obtained 13 internal cave and external landscape variables. Candidate univariate models using generalized linear models were constructed and the Akaike information criterion was used for model selection. The cave size model explained richness and variance in the species composition; larger caves tended to have greater richness and assemblage composition varied depending on the cave size, hence affecting the occurrence of certain species, some of conservation concern (Natalus macrourus, Furipterus horrens). The cave connectivity model affected only the richness; caves located in denser cave clusters had higher richness likely attributed to movement of bats among caves by a more diverse array of species. Both environmental and anthropic variables affected species composition, but differently depending of the landscape context of cave location (protected versus nonprotected area). The extent these landscape variables affected the species composition was due to species-specific responses, and observed in the mean colony sizes of the species shared between the cave systems. All the landscape variables that we tested affected the structuring process of cave-roosting bats assemblages, and evidences that variables found in disturbed karstic landscapes also affect the structure of the assemblage (e.g., large colonies of vampire bats). However, the ubiquitous effect of cave size on both richness and species composition reinforces the critical importance of the roost in the life of these flying mammals.Os morcegos que se abrigam em cavernas têm uma associação muito íntima com seus abrigos. Sabe-se que as características de caverna, como o tamanho, heterogeneidade estrutural e condições microclimáticas estáveis, afetam a estrutura das assembleias dos morcegos cavernícolas. No entanto, os efeitos dos fatores externos naturais e antrópicos da paisagem em torno de cavernas na estrutura das assembleias destes morcegos são pouco conhecidos, especialmente em paisagens cársticas com grandes aglomerados de cavernas. Assim, avaliamos os efeitos do tamanho da caverna e dos atributos da paisagem circundante na riqueza e composição de espécies de morcegos em 13 cavernas distribuídas em duas paisagens de Caatinga com grandes aglomerados de cavernas no Rio Grande do Norte. Em um buffer de 1 km ao redor de cada caverna, obtivemos 13 variáveis de paisagem interna (tamanho da caverna) e externa (número de cavernas circundantes, variáveis antropogênicas e ambientais); Modelos candidatos univariados usando GLM foram construídos e o Critério de Informação de Akaike foi usado para a seleção dos modelos. O modelo de tamanho das cavernas explicou a riqueza e a variação na composição das espécies; cavernas maiores tendem a ter maior riqueza e composição da assembleia variando de acordo com o tamanho da caverna, afetando, portanto, a ocorrência de certas espécies, algumas vulneráveis (Natalus macrourus, Furipterus horrens). O modelo de conectividade da caverna afetou apenas a riqueza; cavernas localizadas em aglomerados maiores tinham maior riqueza. As variáveis ambientais e antrópicas afetaram diferentemente a composição das espécies dependendo do contexto da paisagem da localização da caverna (área protegida versus não protegida). As variáveis da paisagem afetaram a composição das espécies ocorreu de uma forma específica em algumas espécies e foi observada no tamanho médio das colônias das espécies compartilhadas entre os sistemas de cavernas. Todas as variáveis da paisagem que testamos afetaram o processo de estruturação de assembleias de morcegos cavernícolas, incluindo aquelas que são características de uma paisagem cárstica perturbada. Todas as variáveis de paisagem que testamos afetaram o processo de estruturação de assembleias de morcegos que pousam em cavernas e evidenciam que variáveis encontradas em paisagens cársticas perturbadas também afetam a estrutura da assembleia (por exemplo, grandes colônias de morcegos vampiros). No entanto, o efeito ubíquo do tamanho da caverna sobre a riqueza e a composição das espécies reforça a importância crítica do abrigo na vida desses mamíferos voadores.

STUDIES OF THE BAT FAUNA (MAMMALIA, CHIROPTERA) IN THE GREEN BELT OF FENNOSCANDIA

The article deals with the least-studied taxonomic group of mammals in the Green Belt of Fennoscandia (GBF) and Karelia as a whole – bats (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae). The aim was to determine the status of species in the process of their inventory us-ing traditional and modern research methods. For the first time, an integrated assess-ment of the species composition, relative abundance (%) and relative numbers (ind./km of the route) of bats during the hibernation period and summer activity is given for GBF. Underground hibernacula (mines and former military concrete bunkers) were mon-itored in 2009–2018 years. Up to 25 bats of 5 species overwinter in the largest hibernac-ulum described for Karelia (Ruskeala) – the northern bat Eptesicus nilssonii Keyserling, Blasius, 1839, Brandt’s bat Myotis brandtii Eversmann, 1845, whiskered bat M. mystac-inus Kuhl, 1817, Daubenton’s bat M. daubentonii Kuhl, 1817, and brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritusLinnaeus, 1758. The northern bat dominated, with a relative abundance of 65.8 %. The history of bats hibernating in the Ruskeala Mining Park in connection with the reconstruction of the gallery was traced. Changes in the habitat conditions for bats and their consequences for the diversity, species numbers and hibernation ecology are shown. In summer, in addition to the species recorded at hibernacula, car transect and control point surveys using the Song Meter SM2 Bat+ (USA) static ultrasound detec-tor and Kaleidoscope Pro software (ver. 3.1.1) detected common noctule Nyctalus noct-ula Schreber, 1774, parti-coloured bat Vespertilio murinusLinnaeus, 1758, Natterer’s bat M. nattereri Kuhl, 1817, and pond bat M. Dasycneme Boie, 1825. The summer censuses reached up to 66°23ʹN, and the northern bat also dominated the records, with 52.4 % rel-ative abundance, and 0.238 ind./km route relative numbers. The high prevalence of bats at waterbodies in GBF (69.2 %) and its species-specific features at waterbodies of var-ious categories are shown. The first inventory of bats in protected areas within GBF has significantly expanded the list of bat species known in these territories. In general, studies have shown the northern bat predominated in the bat communities both at hibernacula and during the summer period. The northernmost records of species, including migrants, have been updated, modifying the previous ideas about their distribution in the region.

The effect of local land use on aerial insectivorous bats (Chiroptera) within the two dominating crop types in the Northern-Caribbean lowlands of Costa Rica.

Land transformation into agricultural areas and the intensification of management practices represent two of the most devastating threats to biodiversity worldwide. Within this study, we investigated the effect of intensively managed agroecosystems on bat activity and species composition within two focal areas differing in landscape structure. We sampled bats via acoustic monitoring and insects with flight interception traps in banana and pineapple monoculture plantations and two nearby protected forested areas within the area of Sarapiquí, Costa Rica. Our results revealed that general occurrence and feeding activity of bats was higher above plantations compared to forested areas. We also recorded higher species richness at recording sites in plantations. This trend was especially strong within a fragmented landscape, with only four species recorded in forests, but 12 above pineapple plantations. Several bat species, however, occurred only once or twice above plantations, and forest specialist species such as Centronycteris centralis, Myotis riparius and Pteronotus mesoamericanus were only recorded at forest sites. Our results indicated, that mostly mobile open space and edge foraging bat species can use plantations as potential foraging habitat and might even take advantage of temporal insect outbreaks. However, forests are vital refugia for several species, including slower flying forest specialists, and thus a prerequisite to safeguard bat diversity within agricultural dominated landscapes.

Bat assemblages in fragmented forest complexes near Rogów (central Poland)

AbstractHabitat fragmentation affects bat assemblages living in forests by changing species composition, species richness and population densities. The aim of this paper was to determine the structure of bat assemblages in fragmented forests of central Poland (Experimental Forest Station SGGW in Rogów) based on data concerning bat fauna of this area.Our work is based on published as well as unpublished data collected between 2011–2017 and the two main methods employed during field work were: (1) evening and night bat netting, (2) detection of flying bats on transects or in points by using ultrasound detectors. 16 bat species were observed with the most common ones being serotine batEptesicus serotinus(Schreb.), common noctuleNyctalus noctula(Schreb.) and brown long-eared batPlecotus auritus(l.). less numerous in overall but frequently observed in some sites were the western barbastelleBarbastella barbastellus(Schreb.) and the Daubenton's batMyotis daubentonii(Kuhl). The following species occurred rarely: greater mouse-eared batMyotis myotis(Bork.), Natterer's batM. nattereri(Kuhl), whiskered batM. mystacinus(Kuhl), Brandt's batM. brandtii(evers.), northern batEptesicus nilssonii(Keys. & Blas.) parti-coloured batVespertilio murinusl., lesser noctuleNyctalus leisleri(Kuhl), common pipistrellePipistrellus pipistrellus(Schreb.), nathusius' pipistrelleP. nathusii(Keys. & Blas.), soprano pipistrelleP. pygmaeus(leach) and grey long-eared batPlecotus austriacus(Fish.).Fragmented forests of the study area did not differ significantly in terms of bat species composition from other fragmented forests of central Poland (Płońsk Plain) nor the large forest complexes of the Bolimowska and Kampinoska Forests. In this study area, however, bat assemblages were characterized by a lower relative abundance of the common noctule and a higher relative abundance of the serotine bat as compared to assemblages in other forests of central Poland.In conclusion, the forest fragmentation near Rogów does not significantly affect bat richness and fertilized habitats are suitable for relatively large populations of species such as the western barbastelle and lesser noctule.