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Bats of Greece have been studied since the second half of the 19th century. Their distribution and ecology, however, remain poorly understood. Conservation efforts for the protection of the roosting and foraging habitats of their populations in Greece are limited. To date, 35 bat species have been recorded from Greece. Four species (Eptesicus anatolicus, Plecotus auritus, Myotis brandtii and Rousettus aegyptiacus) have a limited distribution in the country and the presence of one species (Myotis mystacinus) requires verification. The present study summarises all existing knowledge and adds several hundred new records on the distribution of bats of Greece. Additionally, it provides a summary of new insights on various aspects of their roosting ecology, foraging habitat use, altitudinal distribution, winter activity and landscape characteristics around major roosts. Finally, it discusses the current research and conservation needs of Greek bats.

Mediterranean temporary ponds are recognized as conservation priority habitats that face anthropogenic threats and are important habitats for a number of aquatic and terrestrial animals and plants. Bats are a diverse group of animals that use ponds for drinking and feeding on emerging aquatic insects and terrestrial insects in the riparian zone. We investigated the importance of temporary ponds for bats in Greece by acoustically sampling bat community structures and activity at temporary ponds throughout the year. We sampled monthly, from 3 to 13 months in 2019–2020, at sites at the pond edge and approximately 150–300 m away from the edge, at four temporary ponds in northern and southern Greece. Our results confirm the importance of temporary ponds for bats as activity was recorded year-round and was high in all but the winter months. In general, the distance to the edge of the pond and the presence of water in the pond explained bat activity together with air temperature. Importantly, whether dry or not, all ponds supported bat activity, independent of their particular characteristics. This study highlights the urgent need for the conservation of temporary ponds, especially in areas with limited water availability.

Abstract Background The Schreiber’s bat, Miniopterus schreibersii, is adapted to long-distance flight, yet long distance movements have only been recorded sporadically using capture-mark-recapture. In this study, we used the hydrogen isotopic composition of 208 wing and 335 fur specimens from across the species' European range to test the hypothesis that the species migrates over long distances. Results After obtaining the hydrogen isotopic composition (δ2H) of each sample, we performed geographic assignment tests by comparing the δ2H of samples with the δ2H of sampling sites. We found that 95 bats out of 325 showed evidence of long-distance movement, based on the analysis of either fur or wing samples. The eastern European part of the species range (Greece, Bulgaria and Serbia) had the highest numbers of bats that had moved. The assignment tests also helped identify possible migratory routes, such as movement between the Alps and the Balkans. Conclusions This is the first continental-scale study to provide evidence of migratory behaviour of M. schreibersii throughout its European range. The work highlights the need for further investigation of this behaviour to provide appropriate conservation strategies.

Abstract The effect of elevation on bat species richness and activity was investigated in shrublands of central Crete (Greece) using broad-band acoustic surveys. Recordings of echolocation calls were made in 15 transects equally distributed in three distinct elevation zones (500, 1000 and 1500 m a.s.l.) during spring and autumn 2007-2008. Time-expanded calls were subsequently identified with the use of quadratic discriminant functions. Out of 13 species recorded, Hypsugo savii, Pipistrellus kuhlii and Tadarida teniotis were the most common and abundant. Many Rhinolophus hipposideros were also recorded in all elevation zones. Thirteen species were recorded in the lower elevation zone, 7 species in the mid one and 8 species in the 1500 m a.s.l. sites. Species richness, the number of bat passes of the most abundant species, as well as the total number of bat passes were not significantly affected by elevation. In spring both species richness and bat activity were higher than in autumn, although the corresponding difference in temperature was not significant. The high variability in both bat activity and the number of species found per transect in each elevation zone probably depended on the presence of other habitat types in the close vicinity, while roost availability and location might also have played an important role. We suggest that the ability of bats to perform regular movements along the elevational gradient has to be taken in account when assessing elevational patterns in bat diversity and activity. The geology of the study area is also of considerable importance through its effect on foraging and roosting opportunities for bats. Riassunto Ricchezza specifica e attività dei chirotteri lungo un gradiente altitudinale nella macchia mediterranea di Creta L’effetto della quota su ricchezza in specie e attività dei chirotteri è stato investigato in siti di macchia mediterranea mediante rilevatori ultrasonori nella regione centrale dell’isola di Creta (Grecia). In primavera ed autunno 2007 e 2008, abbiamo registrato i segnali di ecolocalizzazione lungo 15 transetti egualmente distribuiti in tre fasce altitudinali (500, 1000 e 1500 m s.l.m.). I segnali registrati in “time expansion” sono stati successivamente identificati mediante funzioni discriminanti quadratiche. Delle 13 specie registrate, Hypsugo savii, Pipistrellus kuhlii e Tadarida teniotis sono risultate le più comuni e abbondanti. Nella fascia altitudinale più bassa abbiamo registrato 13 specie, 7 in quella intermedia e 8 nei siti a 1500 m s.l.m. La ricchezza specifica, il numero di passaggi delle specie più frequenti, così come il numero totale di passaggi non sono risultati significativamente influenzati dalla quota. In primavera, sia la ricchezza specifica sia l’attività sono risultate maggiori che in autunno, sebbene le corrispondenti differenze di temperatura non fossero significative. L’elevata variabilità nell’attività dei chirotteri e nel numero di specie tra siti entro ciascuna fascia altitudinale si spiega probabilmente con la presenza di altri tipi di habitat nelle immediate circostanze dei siti investigati; anche la presenza e la localizzazione di rifugi può avere una influenza su tale variazione. Suggeriamo che la capacità dei chirotteri di spostarsi regolarmente lungo il gradiente altitudinale debba essere considerata negli studi che analizzano l’influenza della quota sulla diversità e abbondanza della chirotterofauna. Anche la natura geologica dell’area di studio, influendo sulla disponibilità di siti di alimentazione e rifugio, può svolgere un ruolo determinante. doi:10.4404/hystrix-21.1-4485