Pipistrelle Pipistrellus Nathusii Research Articles

Acoustic monitoring reveals spatiotemporal occurrence of Nathusius’ pipistrelle at the southern North Sea during autumn migration

Seasonal movements between the summer and winter areas are a widespread phenomenon in bats So far, most information on the migration ecology of bats has been obtained by studies in terrestrial habitats, whereas scientific knowledge on migration over sea is scarce. We performed continuous ultrasonic acoustic monitoring at 13 locations in the southern North Sea during four consecutive years (2017–2020) and analysed the spatiotemporal occurrence of Nathusius’ pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii during autumn migration in relation to weather parameters and lunar phase. Our analysis showed that the main autumn migration of Nathusius’ pipistrelle at the southern North Sea occurs from mid-August until late October and most bats within the study area occur off the Noord Holland coast. North Sea crossings frequently last longer than one night; the day is spent roosting at an offshore structure. The strongest migration occurs during nights with tailwinds from the east-northeast, but bats are also recorded offshore with low to moderate headwinds or crosswinds. Bat presence decreased between the full moon and the last quarter and increased just before the new moon. Finally, our observations show that the occurrence of bats at sea was reduced in 2020 in comparison to the previous years. The results of this study show clear spatiotemporal patterns of migratory bat occurrence at the southern North Sea. The spatial distribution can be used in spatial planning of future offshore wind farms, whereas the temporal occurrence and environmental factors that shape offshore migration can be used to develop mitigation measures to reduce the number of bat fatalities.

A survey of bat ectoparasitic mites of Belarus

ABSTRACT We surveyed ectoparasite mite species in the Republic of Belarus. One tick species and seven mite species were collected; four of them were recorded for first time: Carios vespertilionis from Pipistrellus species; Spinturnix plecotinus from the long-eared bat Plecotus auritus; Macronyssus corethroproctus from the pond bat Myotis dasycneme; and Macronyssus kolenatii from the Nathusius’ pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii. We give diagnostic illustrations of the above mites and tick.

Parasitic macronyssid mites (Mesostigmata: Macronyssidae) from bats of Northern Caucasus with key for females of the genus Macronyssus Kolenati, 1858 of Russia and adjacent countries

ABSTRACT We recorded the following parasitic macronyssid mite species (Mesostigmata: Gamasina: Macronyssidae) from Northern Caucasus: Macronyssus leislerianus associated with the Leisler’s bat Nyctalus leisleri (this mite species was known previously from a single record from Germany); Macronyssus diversipilis from Myotis tschuliensis (the southernmost locality for this mite species and a new host record); Steatonyssus noctulus from the common noctule Nyctalus noctula; and Cryptonyssus flexus from the Nathusius’ pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii (new host record). We give diagnostic illustrations, measurements of the above mites and key to females of the genus Macronyssus of Russia and adjacent countries.

Activity and Behaviour of Nathusius' Pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii at Low and High Altitude in a North Sea Offshore Wind Farm

Several bat species are known to migrate long distances between summer and winter roosts. During migration, many bats even cross the North Sea. The developments of offshore wind farms in the North Sea could therefore pose a collision risk for migrating bats. While bats have been observed inside offshore wind farms, their activity at turbine rotor height yet remains unknown. We therefore installed acoustic bat detectors at wind turbines in the Belgian part of the North Sea. Seven detectors were installed on the service platform of the transition piece (16 m above mean sea level) and four were installed on the nacelle of the turbines, in the centre of the rotor swept area (93 m above mean sea level). A total of 151 recordings of call sequences of Pipistrellus nathusii (Nathusius' pipistrelle) were made during 20 nights over an entire autumn migration season (8 August – 30 November 2017). 45 recordings contained more than 10 calls. These were further investigated for behavioural clues. We identified 32 recordings of animals in transit and 10 sequences of animals passing by while simultaneously exploring. Only three detections contained feeding buzzes and/or intense exploratory behaviour. The number of recordings at 93 m were around 10% of the number of recordings made at 16 m. This indicates that the activity of P. nathusii at our study site, measured at that particular altitude is low. Our observations therefore suggest that the collision risk might be lower than what could be expected from low altitude observations. However, a low number of recordings at nacelle height does not necessarily mean that only a low number of bats will collide with the turbines. The activity in the outer parts of the rotor swept zone, outside the detection range of our acoustic detectors, remains unknown and should be further investigated.

Testing hypotheses of bat baculum function with 3D models derived from microCT

The baculum (os penis) has been extensively studied as a taxon-specific character in bats and other mammals but its mechanical function is still unclear. There is a wide consensus in the literature that the baculum is probably a sexually selected character. Using a novel approach combining postmortem manipulation and three-dimensional (3D) imaging, we tested two functional hypotheses in the common noctule bat Nyctalus noctula, the common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus, and Nathusius' pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii: (i) whether the baculum can protect the distal urethra and urethral opening from compression during erection and copulation; and (ii) whether the baculum and corpora cavernosa form a functional unit to support both the penile shaft and the more distal glans tip. In freshly dead or frozen and thawed bats, we compared flaccid penises with artificially 'erect' penises that were inflated with 10% formalin. Penises were stained with alcoholic iodine and imaged with a lab-based high-resolution x-ray microtomography system. Analysis of the 3D images enabled us to compare the changes in relative positions of the baculum, corpora cavernosa, urethra, and corpus spongiosum with one another between flaccid and 'erect' penises. Our results support both functional hypotheses, indicating that the baculum probably performs two different roles during erection. Our approach should prove valuable for comparing and testing the functions of different baculum morphologies in bats and other mammals. Moreover, we have validated an essential component of the groundwork necessary to extend this approach with finite element analysis for quantitative 3D biomechanical modeling of penis function.

Phenology of Migratory Bat Activity Across the Baltic Sea and the South-Eastern North Sea

We compiled the available information on the occurrence and timing of migratory bat activity across the Baltic Sea and south-eastern North Sea coasts and islands, based on ultrasonic monitoring projects at 19 localities in 2007–2009. The data refer to three species; Nathusius' pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii, soprano pipistrelle P. pygmaeus and common noctule Nyctalus noctula. Pipistrellus nathusii occurred at all sites (north to 61°N in Finland), while the other species were scarcer, particularly at the northernmost sites. The status of the recorded individuals is unknown. However, the activity most likely was of migrating individuals or individuals on migration stopover, because very few observations were made during the maternity period. Spring activity occurred predominantly in May, with the median observation date of P. nathusii 20 days earlier in the south (Germany) than in the north (Finland). Autumn migration was observed throughout August and September and activity that may or may not indicate ...

Habitat Selection in Nathusius' Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus nathusii): The Importance of Wetlands

Wetlands are internationally recognized as a crucial habitat type for the conservation of many migratory birds. Despite the fact that many bats are also long-distant migrants, the importance of foraging habitats for sustaining migrant bats has to date received little attention. We analyzed habitat selection patterns in the migrant bat, Nathusius' pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii, in the southernmost part of its range (Iberian Peninsula), an area in which both mating and hibernation occur. We found that natural wetlands and riparian habitats (Phragmites reed beds) were positively selected, whereas human-transformed aquatic habitats (rice paddies) were avoided. Although semi-natural human-managed wetlands are perceived as being valuable for many species, our data emphasizes the importance of preserving natural wetlands (including riparian forests) as appropriate habitats for sustaining crucial phases of the life cycle of this bat. Agricultural transformation of the land is likely to be detrimental to this species since it reduces the availability of its preferred foraging habitat.

Primeros datos sobre el murciélago de Nathusius Pipistrellus nathusii (Keyserling & Blasius, 1839) en la Región de Murcia

First recording of Nathusius’ Pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii (Keyserling & Blasius, 1839) in the Region of Murcia This is the first reference to the presence of Nathusius’s pipistrelle, Pipistrellus nathusii, in the region of Murcia (SE Spain). Specimens were observed and captured in the Sierra Espuña Regional Park, a natural protected area, with forests mainly composed of Aleppo Pine (Pinus halepensis). The individuals of Pipistrellus nathusii formed part of a colony of approximately 50 individuals, located 760 m above sea level, where the main species was Pipistrellus kuhlii. Most of the individuals forming the colony was examined by hand, taking note of their biometric characteristics. This record represents an important contribution to the scarce knowledge of the distribution of this species in the Iberian Peninsula, and is the first reference for the bat fauna of the Region of Murcia.

The status of Nathusius' pipistrelle (Pipistrellus nathusii Keyserling & Blasius, 1839) in the British Isles

AbstractThere are now 91 records of individual Nathusius' pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii examined ‘in the hand’ in the U.K., and bat detector records from a further 36 localities in Britain and Ireland. These records are distributed throughout all months of the year with clear peaks in spring and autumn suggesting migratory movements into and out of the British Isles in autumn and spring, respectively. Three maternity colonies have been located and the species must now also be regarded as a resident breeding species in Britain and Ireland.