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We tested 55 deceased vespertilionid bats of 12 species from southern Germany for virus infections. A new adenovirus was isolated from tissue samples of 2 Pipistrellus pipistrellus bats, which represents the only chiropteran virus isolate found in Europe besides lyssavirus (rabies virus). Evidence was found for adenovirus transmission between bats.

The present study examines those features which promote bat feeding in agricultural riparian areas and the riparian habitat associations of individual species. Activity of Nathusius’ pipistrelle (Pipistrellus nathusii), common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), soprano pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus), Leisler’s bat (Nyctalus leisleri), and Myotis species (Myotis sp.) were recorded, and their habitat associations both “between” and “within” riparian areas were analyzed. General feeding activity was associated with reduced agricultural intensity, riparian hedgerow provision, and habitat diversity. Significant habitat associations for P. pipistrellus were observed only within riparian areas. Myotis species and P. pygmaeus were significantly related to indices of landscape structure and riparian hedgerow across spatial scales. Myotis species were also related to lower levels of riffle flow at both scales of analysis. The importance of these variables changed significantly, however, between analysis scales. The multi-scale investigation of species–habitat associations demonstrated the necessity to consider habitat and landscape characteristics across spatial scales to derive appropriate conservation plans.

Ecological pressure paired with opportunism can lead to surprising innovations in animal behaviour. Here, we report predation of great tits ( Parus major ) on hibernating pipistrelle bats ( Pipistrellus pipistrellus ) at a Hungarian cave. Over two winters, we directly observed 18 predation events. The tits specifically and systematically searched for and killed bats for food. A substantial decrease in predation on bats after experimental provisioning of food to the tits further supports the hypothesis that bat-killing serves a foraging purpose in times of food scarcity. We finally conducted a playback experiment to test whether tits would eavesdrop on calls of awakening bats to find them in rock crevices. The tits could clearly hear the calls and were attracted to the loudspeaker. Records for tit predation on bats at this cave now span more than ten years and thus raise the question of whether cultural transmission plays a role for the spread of this foraging innovation.

Differences in skull morphology between two cryptic species of bat, Pipistrellus pipistrellus (n = 14) and P. pygmaeus (n = 15), originating from Great Britain, were investigated. Four different data sets were analysed: (1) 23 landmarks and (2) 26 landmarks on the dorsal and ventral sides of the cranium, respectively, (3) 49 landmarks on the upper jaw, and (4) 34 landmarks on the labial side of the mandible. For almost all data sets, when compared within sex groups, P. pipistrellus were significantly larger than P. pygmaeus; the biggest difference being observed in the mandible size. Interspecific differences in shape, analysed by Principal Component Analysis and Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) of the Procrustes superimposed landmarks, were also mostly visible in the mandible, and were related to dietary differences between the species. For example, the longer and more upright canines of P. pipistrellus allow them to pierce harder prey, the bigger molars ease its processing, and the shortened body of the mandible and the more developed coronoid process presumably generate a stronger bite. The shape and size of the mandible proved to be a good characteristic for distinguishing both cryptic taxa. A procedure for estimating missing landmarks for 3D geometric morphometric purposes was created. Our procedure of finding the missing landmarks had no effect on the within-group loss of variation. DFA of data sets with reconstructed versus orginal (but reduced) landmarks yielded similar results (three versus two misclassified specimens in leave-one-out cross-validation).

We studied the social call rate of the common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) in natural habitats in relation to the presence or absence of conspecifics and of other bat species by acoustical and behavioural monitoring and analyses. The relative frequency of type D social calls increased, when more than one individual of P. pipistrellus was present, compared to one individual. The data confirm the assumption that one function of social calls is repelling conspecifics (food patch defence hypothesis). In the presence of other species of the genus Pipistrellus or of other genera, the mean social call rate did not significantly increase, except when P. pygmaeus was present. Hence, social call production as a food patch defence typically is not significantly influenced by interspecific interactions. This directs to niche separation concerning the foraging mode of different species. The closely related species P. pipistrellus and P. pygmaeus may compete for resources and communicate by type D social calls. Pipistrelles are known to use a series of type D social calls during songflights. For instance, males use this calling behaviour to attract females and repel competing males. During the mating season P. pipistrellus produced social calls more frequently when other pipistrelle species were absent. This shows that interspecific recognition may influence the mating behaviour of P. pipistrellus. Competing for non-food resources like mating roosts may cause bats to keep calm in the presence of other species.

Although two cryptic pipistrelle bat species, Pipistrellus pipistrellus and Pipistrellus pygmaeus, belong among the most common bat species in Europe, it is still unclear whether they can migrate over long distances between summer and winter roosts. Long-distance migratory species may be expected to show low levels of genetic structuring in large areas due to regular mixing of the gene pool by mating that occurs during migration and/or hibernation. Conversely, the dispersal of gametes in sedentary species is spatially restricted, populations are more genetically structured, and isolation by relatively short distance is visible. By analysing diversity of highly variable microsatellites within and among summer colonies of both studied species in central Europe, we found that differentiation between populations is very weak. Both classical FST and Bayesian clustering approach failed to detect genetic structure among colonies and there was no significant isolation-by-distance pattern. The analyses of relatedness, however, revealed that individuals within colonies are more related than random suggesting philopatry of at least one sex. The results were very similar for the two species. The high level of gene flow among central European populations, even on large geographic distances, is discussed in relation with migrations, dispersal, and mating behaviour.

In the period 2004-2006 a sampling of bats took place in Aragón. Traps were set in 47 forests and 67 potential shelters were inspected. Mist nets, harp traps, ultrasound detectors and video cameras were used. A total of 1197 specimens, belonging to 24 species, were captured; 529 records were obtained and the presence of at least 120 breeding colonies was identified (32 of them the common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus, 110 records and 30 breeding colonies), Savi’s pipistrelle (Hypsugo savii, 63 records and 11 colonies) and Kuhl’s pipistrelle (Pipistrellus kuhlii, 48 records and 13 colonies). Reproduction data have been found for all species except for Myotis capaccinii, Myotis cf. nattereri, Nyctalus lasiopterus, Nyctalus leisleri and Eptesicus serotinus. The species found can be divided into four large groups: one of general and continuous distribution (P. pipistrellus, P. kuhlii, H. savii, E. serotinus and P. austriacus), another of general but discontinuous distribution (R. ferrumequinum, R. hipposideros, R. euryale, M. myotis, M. blythii, M. escalerae, M. emarginatus, M. daubentonii, P. pygmaeus, M. schreibersii and T. teniotis), a third of forest species, which were found only in some of the extensive wooded areas (Pyrenees, Moncayo and the south of Teruel: M. mystacinus, M. cf. nattereri, P. auritus, B. barbastellus, N. lasiopterus and N. leisleri) and finally two very rare species in the region (M. capaccinii and P. macrobullaris). The distribution of these species in Aragon is shown and their status in relation to data obtained and the bibliography is reviewed.En el período 2004-2006 se ha realizado un muestreo de los quirópteros de Aragón. Se ha trampeado en 47 bosques y se han inspeccionado 67 refugios potenciales. Para ello se han utilizado redes finas, trampas de arpa, detectores de ultrasonidos, focos y cámaras de grabación de vídeo. Se han capturado 1197 ejemplares pertenecientes a 24 especies. Además se han obtenido 529 citas y se ha identificado la presencia de al menos 120 colonias reproductoras (32 de ellas han sido localizadas). Las especies más frecuentes son fisurícolas y ubiquistas: el murciélago enano (Pipistrellus pipistrellus, 110 citas y 30 colonias de cría), el montañero (Hypsugo savii, 63 citas y 11 agrupaciones) y el de borde claro (Pipistrellus kuhlii, 48 citas y 13 colonias). Se han encontrado datos de reproducción para todas las especies identificadas salvo Myotis capaccinii, Myotis cf. nattereri, Nyctalus lasiopterus, Nyctalus leisleri y Eptesicus serotinus. Las especies halladas se reparten según cuatro patrones: uno de distribución general y continua (P. pipistrellus, P. kuhlii, H. savii, E. serotinus y P. austriacus), otro de distribución general pero discontinua (R. ferrumequinum, R. hipposideros, R. euryale, M. myotis, M. blythii, M. escalerae, M. emarginatus, M. daubentonii, P. pygmaeus, M. schreibersii y T. teniotis), otro de especies forestales, presentes únicamente en algunas de las grandes manchas boscosas (Pirineos, Moncayo y sur de Teruel: M. mystacinus, M. cf. nattereri, P. auritus, B. barbastellus, N. lasiopterus y N. leisleri) y el último con dos especies de presencia muy restringida en la región (M. capaccinii y P. macrobullaris). Se muestra la distribución de estas especies en Aragón y se comenta su estado de conservación en función de los datos obtenidos en este trabajo y la bibliografía

For the assessment of the habitat use of bats with consideration of a complexity of environmental features a large-scale multivariate canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was performed. Data were collected in April–September (1999–2005) using mist-netting and bat-detectors ( n =209 samplings) in Slovakia ( n =160 sites). For the habitat description, 17 environmental variables that characterised the sampling site, tree-species composition and general character of surrounding forest were selected. In study sites, altogether 93% of Slovak chiropterofauna species were recorded but only 16 species (2466 individuals) were recorded in more than 5% of samplings. The most common and frequent species were Myotis mystacinus (frequency of occurrence=57%, species dominance=12%) and Myotis myotis (44%, 10%), followed by Barbastella barbastellus (32%, 6%), Plecotus auritus (32%, 6%), Nyctalus noctula (31%, 9%) and Myotis brandtii (31%, 7%). Of the tested environmental variables used in CCA analysis, 13 had significant influence on the species’ presence. On the base of gradients in ordination analysis, there were two main groups of species. In the first “true” forest bats group the tree-dwelling and gleaning species Myotis bechsteinii , Myotis nattereri and P. auritus dominated. Their occurrence was connected mainly with old forests of natural tree-species composition. The second group comprised species, which foraged in more open space or along the forest edge (with the farmland) and avoided closed interior (particularly Eptesicus serotinus , N. noctula , Nyctalus leisleri , Pipistrellus pipistrellus ). The presence of mountain species Eptesicus nilssonii and Vespertilio murinus was associated mainly with dominance of spruce. Suggested predictive modelling of species composition in forest bat assemblages in conditions of natural forests can help in nature conservation.

Light pollution is a global change affecting a major proportion of global land surface. Although the impacts of Artificial Light At Night (ALAN) have been documented locally for many taxa, the extent of effect of ALAN at a landscape scale on biodiversity is unknown. We characterized the landscape-scale impacts of ALAN on 4 insectivorous bat species Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Pipistrellus kuhlii, Eptesicus serotinus, Nyctalus leisleri, and compared the extent of their effects to other major land-use pressures. We used a French national-scale monitoring program recording bat activity among 2-km car transect surveys, and extracted landscape characteristics around transects with satellite and land cover layers. For each species, we performed multi-model averaging at 4 landscape scales (from 200 to 1000 m buffers around transects) to compare the relative effects of the average radiance, the proportion of impervious surface and the proportion of intensive agriculture. For all species, ALAN had a stronger negative effect than impervious surface at the 4 landscape scales tested. This effect was weaker than the effect of intensive agriculture. The negative effect of ALAN was significant for P. pipistrellus, P. kuhlii and E. serotinus, but not for N. leisleri. The effect of impervious surface varied among species while intensive agriculture had a significant negative effect on the 4 species. Our results highlight the need to consider the impacts of ALAN on biodiversity in land-use planning and suggest that using only impervious surface as a proxy for urbanization may lead to underestimated impacts on biodiversity.

Habitat use and interspecific processes are key factors shaping regional distribution as well as local activity patterns of mammals. To assess the importance of differential habitat use and interspecific processes for the distribution of local activity in Eptesicus nilssonii, a critically endangered bat species in Germany, a bat detector transect survey was conducted in central Germany. One transect end was close to a maternity roost of E. nilssonii. We compared the bats' use of habitat types and the use of distance zones centred around this maternity roost. We arranged the 11 bat species detected into four foraging categories, E. nilssonii, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, larger open-space bats (Vespertilio murinus, Nyctalus noctula, Eptesicus serotinus) and narrow-space bats (Myotis species). General bat activity was highest in lake and lowest in agricultural habitats. We found significant differences in the use of habitats and distance zones between the foraging categories. However, these differenc...

1. Conservation priorities are set on the basis of existing knowledge of the species concerned. Identification of cryptic species within former single taxa may significantly change the perspective on distribution and abundance which, in turn, might impact the species? conservation status. 2. In the 1990?s it was discovered that one of the most abundant bat species in Europe actually consists of two cryptic species, P. pipistrellus and P. pygmaeus. We systematically recorded echolocation calls from both species along road transects driven across Switzerland. Subsequently, we have used presence data obtained to analyse the species? habitat selection and respective ecological niches by GIS-modelling and by discriminant analysis. 3. Habitats mostly associated with P. pygmaeus presence are wide rivers and lakes, human settlements and open woodland habitats. P. pygmaeus is patchily distributed and only occurs in its optimum habitats, i.e. in areas characterized by the simultaneous presence of all habitats mentioned above. 4. P. pipistrellus has similar habitat preferences, but unlike P. pygmaeus, it is very tolerant with regard to deviations from its optimal habitat. The overall niche of P. pipistrellus encompasses nearly the entire global habitat availability. In contrast, the niche of P. pygmaeus is narrow and mostly included in one end of the niche of P. pipistrellus. 5. Due to its wide distribution and abundance P. pipistrellus sensu lato was ranked «not endangered» in Switzerland. In this study we found P. pipistrellus to occur in a 30-fold higher abundance than P. pygmaeus. However the rarity of P. pygmaeus and its restricted distribution significantly change the conservation status of this cryptic species. Extrapolated habitat suitability maps help to focus conservation efforts to protect important hunting areas (i.e. riparian woodlands) in regions with highest probability of occurrence. 6. Synthesis and applications. The present example points out that conservation status attributed to taxa encompassing sibling species may be misleading and needs to be changed constantly according to scientific advances. Progress in systematics will spawn more cryptic species in the near future. Ecological studies are required to assess their environmental requirements and provide the necessary baseline information for appropriate conservation.

The identification of two cryptic bat species of the genus Pipistrellus using a non-destructive and quick method of multiplex PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis is described. Two primer combinations were able to produce species-specific bands that identified reliably individuals that were previously identified by mtDNA sequencing. Robustness of the method was subsequently successfully tested on 16 randomly selected free-living animals from central Europe (tissue samples obtained from a 3 mm punch of wing-membrane) identified to species on the basis of echolocation calls. Nine out of 15 museum specimens and 100% of fresh faecal samples from seven individuals were also successfully identified by this method. The described method thus provides a good way to routinely distinguish two Pipistrellus species by using non-destructive sampling of living individuals or droppings, and will be used in field studies of their ecology.

The number of orientation, feeding and social calls emitted by pipistrelle batsPipistrellus pipistrellus Schreber, 1774 andP. pygmaeus Leach, 1825 was recorded throughout the night at eight different sites. Social calls were unaffected by weather variables, whereas orientation calls and feeding buzzes were both significantly affected by cloud and temperature conditions. The number of emissions of each call type was significantly different between sites, indicating that the bats used different sites for different activities. Significant positive correlations between all three combinations of call types occurred only during the middle of the night, corresponding with the nadir of flying insects. This suggests that bats were engaged in activities other than feeding at this time, such as territory protection or mate attraction.

Echolocation behaviour and the structure of calls of Pipistrellus pygmaeus and P. pipistrellus were studied using a time expansion bat detector. Echolocation signals were recorded in the field in south-eastern Moravia and northern Bohemia (Czech Republic) and in an ad hoc experimental laboratory. For each of the species, multivariate analyses of variance indicated significant differences in calls produced inside the experimental room and in the open. Paired T-test and MANOVA were also used to reveal influences of inter-individual contacts in each of the cryptic species on the spectral patterns of call variables. Differences were found in the spectral variables of echolocation calls of an individual flying in the room alone and in a group of conspecifics. The possibility that bats use their flexibility to avoid mutual disturbances of echolocation calls was tested. We found that bats flying in a group modify the parameters of their echolocation signals according to the presence of other individuals of the same species. These differences can indicate jamming avoidance and recognition of own echoes. However, they did not change the parameters if individuals of another species were present. Social calls are more numerous when bats fly in a species-mixed group than in a monospecific group.

Previous studies have indicated that the common European pipistrelle bat ( Pipistrellus pipistrellus ) comprises two cryptic species, P. pipistrellus and Pipistrellus pygmaeus , which differ in echolocation call frequency and mitochon- drial DNA sequence. However, levels of divergence based on nuclear markers have not been examined, and hence the potential for male-mediated gene flow between the species cannot be discounted. Moreover, little is known about pop- ulation structure and migration patterns in either species. Here, we describe the use of microsatellites to investigate nuclear DNA differentiation between, and the pattern of population genetic structure within, the two cryptic pip- istrelle species. In total, 1300 individuals from 82 maternity colonies were sampled across the British Isles and Con- tinental Europe. We show, using multivariate analyses, that colonies of the same species are generally genetically more similar to each other than to those from the other species regardless of geographical location. Our findings sup- port the hypothesis that the species are reproductively isolated. Significant patterns of genetic isolation by distance were identified in both species, indicating that mating may occur before any long-distance autumnal migration. The presence of a sea channel does not confer higher levels of genetic differentiation among colonies over and above dis- tance alone in either species. Differences in genetic population structure were identified between the species, with P. pipistrellus showing a wider range of levels of genetic differentiation among colonies and a stronger relationship between genetic and geographical distance than P. pygmaeus . Differences in dispersal, mating behaviour, colony size and/or postglacial colonization patterns could contribute to the differences observed. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 90 , 539-550. ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS: Chiroptera - isolation by distance - microsatellite - migration.

espanolEn este trabajo se aportan 42 citas (en cuadriculas UTM de 10x10 km) de quiropteros para el municipio de Yecla (SE Espana). Se han identificado 14 especies de murcielagos y se amplia la distribucion de algunas especies raras. Los muestreos se realizaron entre 2011-2014 empleando diferentes metodologias. En total se realizaron 19 visitas a refugios potenciales, 59 puntos de escucha y 5 sesiones de fototrampeo. Las especies con mayor numero de citas son Pipistrellus pipistrellus y Pi. pygmaeus, pero se aportan datos de especies raras como Rhinolophus euryale, R. hipposideros, Myotis emarginatus y My. escalerai. Finalmente se discute el estado de conservacion de las especies en el municipio y se consideran medidas generales enfocadas a la gestion y conservacion de los murcielagos. EnglishThis study provides 42 new records of bats (UTM squares of 10x10 km) from Yecla (SE Spain). We identified at least 14 bat species and our results allow increasing the distribution area of some rare bat species. The records were obtained between 2011 and 2014 using different methodologies. In total, we made 19 visits potential roosts, 59 listening points and 5 photo-trapping sessions. Our results showed that bat species with high records were Pipistrellus pipistrellus and Pi. pygmaeus. Also, we recorded the presence of rare bat species as Rhinolophus euryale, R. hipposideros, Myotis emarginatus and My. escalerai. Finally, we discussed about their conservation status and which are the conservation and management measures that we must implement.

Pipistrellus pipistrellus Gomsiqe e Epërme (location same as above), 6 August 2003, 1 non-lactating ♀ ad. netted over a river in a rocky gorge. Syri i Kalter I (39°55.440 ʹ N, 20°11.564 ʹ E, 175 m a.s.l.), 23 April 2004, time-expanded echolocation calls of commuting individuals recorded over a karstic spring surrounded by a riparian woodland with oriental plane. The frequency of maximum energy was 43.2–44.5 (mean 44.2, n = 7), and the probability of correct species identification by iBatsID software was 0.93–0.99 (mean 0.97). Due to the separation of P. pipistrellus and P. pygmaeus (Barratt et al. 1997; Dietz et al. 2009) and the lack of any characters allowing for species identification, the only previous record (Uhrin et al. 1996) has to be assigned to P. pipistrellus sensu lato (Sachanowicz et al. 2006). Although scarcely known until 2003 (21 species and unidentified representatives of three species complexes), the bat fauna of Albania is presently adequately surveyed with 32 recorded species. Our research has confirmed that Albania is one of the European countries with the highest bat species richness. In the geographic Balkans, where 35 bat species are known (Dietz and Kiefer 2014), a greater or equal number of species has only been recorded in Bulgaria with 33 species if an acoustic record of Myotis dasycneme (Boie, 1825) over the Danube river is included (Benda et al. 2003; Mayer et al. 2007; Niermann et al. 2007) and continental Greece with 32 species (Hanák et al. 2001; Mayer et al. 2007). For two of the rarest European bats, R. mehelyi and N. lasiopterus, but also for M. brandtii, Pl. kolombatovici and B. barbastellus, we greatly extended their known geographic ranges in the south of Europe (Dietz et al. 2009). The previous record of M. nattereri in Albania (Chytil and Vlašín 1994) was most probably of this species, which is the only representative of the M. nattereri complex confirmed in the Balkans so far (Salicini et al. 2013). Of the two Balkan species not recorded in Albania, Eptesicus nilssonii is only known from single localities in Bulgaria (Benda et al. 2003) and Croatia (Pavlinić and Tvrtković 2003) whereas the known range of M. aurascens (sensu Mayer et al. 2007) covers only a small area of northeast Bulgaria and extends to Romania, Ukraine and Russia (Dietz and Kiefer 2014)., Published as part of Sachanowicz, Konrad, Ciechanowski, Mateusz, Rachwald, Alek & Piskorski, Michał, 2015, Overview of bat species reported in Albania with the first country records for eight species, pp. 513-521 in Journal of Natural History 50 on page 519, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2015.1059962, http://zenodo.org/record/3985566, {"references":["Barratt EM, Deaville R, Burland TM, Bruford MW, Jones G, Racey PA, Wayne RK. 1997. DNA answers the call of pipistrelle bat species. Nature. 387: 138 - 139.","Dietz C, von Helversen O, Nill D. 2009. Bats of Britain, Europe and Northeastern Africa. London: A & C Black; 398 pp.","Uhrin M, Horacek I, Sibl J, Bego F. 1996. On the bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of Albania: survey of the recent records. Acta Soc Zool Bohem. 60: 63 - 71.","Dietz C, Kiefer A. 2014. Die Fledermause Europas: kennen, bestimmen, schutzen. Stuttgart: Franckh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH and Co. KG; 394 pp.","Benda P, Ivanova T, Horacek I, Hanak V, Cerveny J, Gaisler J, Gueorguieva A, Petrov B, Vohralik V. 2003. Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of the Eastern Mediterranean. Part 3. Review of bat distribution in Bulgaria. Acta Soc Zool Bohem. 67: 245 - 357.","Mayer F, Dietz C, Kiefer A. 2007. Molecular species identification boots bat diversity. Front Zool. 4: 4.","Niermann I, Biederman M, Bogdanowicz W, Brinkman R, Le Bris Y, Ciechanowski M, Dietz C, Dietz I, Estok P, von Helversen O, et al. 2007. Biogeography of the recently described Myotis alcathoe von Helversen and Heller, 2001. Acta Chiropter. 9: 361 - 378.","Hanak V, Benda P, Ruedi M, Horacek I, Sofianidou TS. 2001. Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of the Eastern Mediterranean. Part 2. New records and review of distribution of bats in Greece. Acta Soc Zool Bohem. 65: 169 - 279.","Chytil J, Vlasin M. 1994. Contribution to the knowledge of bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in Albania. Folia Zool. 43: 465 - 467.","Salicini I, Ibanez C, Juste J. 2013. Deep differentiation between and within Mediterranean glacial refugia in a flying mammal, the Myotis nattereri bat complex. J Biogeogr. 40: 1182 - 1193.","Pavlinic I, Tvrtkovic N. 2003. The presence of Eptesicus nilssonii and Vespertilio murinus in the Croatian bat fauna confirmed. Nat Croat. 12: 55 - 62."]}

Artificial lighting is a particular problem for animals active at night. Approximately 69% of mammal species are nocturnal, and one-third of these are bats. Due to their extensive movements—both on a nightly basis to exploit ephemeral food supplies, and during migration between roosts—bats have an unusually high probability of encountering artificial light in the landscape. This paper reviews the impacts of lighting on bats and their prey, exploring the direct and indirect consequences of lighting intensity and spectral composition. In addition, new data from large-scale surveys involving more than 265 000 bat calls at more than 600 locations in two countries are presented, showing that prevalent street-lighting types are not generally linked with increased activity of common and widespread bat species. Such bats, which are important to ecosystem function, are generally considered ‘light-attracted’ and likely to benefit from the insect congregations that form at lights. Leisler's bat ( Nyctalus leisleri ) may be an exception, being more frequent in lit than dark transects. For common pipistrelle bats ( Pipistrellus pipistrellus ), lighting is negatively associated with their distribution on a landscape scale, but there may be local increases in habitats with good tree cover. Research is now needed on the impacts of sky glow and glare for bat navigation, and to explore the implications of lighting for habitat matrix permeability.

We reported data on flying bat assemblages in a Mediterranean mountain landscape of central Italy on a 5-year time span (2005-2010) where a wind farm repowering has been carried out (from 2009, 17 three-blade turbines substituted an a priori set of one-blade turbines). In 4 yearly based surveys, we calculated a set of univariate metrics at species and assemblage level and also performing a diversity/dominance analysis (k-dominance plots) to evaluate temporal changes. Nine species of bats were present (eight classified at species level, one at genus level). Number of detected taxa, Margalef richness, and Shannon-Wiener diversity apparently decreased between 2005-2007 (one-blade turbine period) and 2009-2010 (three-blade turbines period). We showed a weak temporal turnover only between 2007 and 2009. In k-dominance plots, the occurrence curves of the years before the new wind farming activity (2005 and 2007) were lower when compared to the curves related to the 2009 and 2010 years, suggesting an apparent stress at assemblage level in the second period (2009 and 2010). Myotis emarginatus and Pipistrellus pipistrellus significantly changed their relative frequency during the three-blade wind farming activity, supporting the hypothesis that some bats may be sensitive to repowering. Further research is necessary to confirm a possible sensitivity also for locally rare bats (Miniopterus schreibersii and Plecotus sp.).

Bats may be vulnerable to predation during evening emergence and morning return to their roosts. Early emergence increases the risk of exposure to raptorial birds, but emerging late confers a risk of missing the dusk peak of aerial insects. Here, both emergence and return activity was studied in detail at the same roosts for the first time. We investigated six maternity colonies of pipistrelle bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus and P. pygmaeus) in NE Scotland and recorded light levels and time of emergence and return of the bats with respect to sunset and sunrise on the same nights. Parameters of return activity generally occurred at lower light intensities than those of emergence. Therefore, the interval between dawn return and sunrise was generally longer than that between sunset and dusk emergence. Emergence and return were equal in duration. Bats clustered more on emergence in comparison with return during pregnancy and lactation, whereas during postlactation this trend was reversed.

The songflight and the territorial behaviour of courting male pipistrelles (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) were observed in an urban habitat of this bat species, in the city of Bayreuth in Bavaria. (1) Within the city limits, from the middle of July to the end of October but most intensively in September, the male bats occupied courtship territories averaging about 200 m in diameter. At night they patrolled these territories along regular flight routes emitting characteristic advertisement calls. By day they sheltered in crevices in buildings. (2) The courtship territories were densely distributed in the center of the inner city and rarer at the outskirts. As all known larger winter roosts as well as the ‘invasion centers’ (typical late summer swarming sites of this species) also were in the inner city, territories were situated around winter quarters, but not in the vicinity of the nursery roosts, which were lying at the edge of the city and outside it. (3) The males evidently arrange their courtship territories in such a way that as many females as possible pass through them when they inspect the winter roosts. That is, they are not defending resources important to the females; instead, they position their courtship territories near the resources the females require. As male territories are densely packed, the males offer a possibility for mate choice to the females, so that the mating system also bears some likeness to a lek.

Sequences of the advertisement calls produced by male Nathusius’ pipistrelles (Pipistrellus nathusii) during the autumn mating period were recorded from individuals at two separate sites in Antrim, Northern Ireland, in August 2004. Several male roosts were found at these sites in close proximity to a single maternity roost, each containing approximately 200 adult females and their young. Analysis of measured parameters of four identified call types revealed that there were significant differences in call structure between sites and between individuals. Playback experiments, performed outside the adult female and juvenile roost sites, comprised of experimental advertisement call sequences of P. nathusii, Pipistrellus pygmaeus and Pipistrellus pipistrellus and control sound recorded without bats present (silence). Response was measured by simultaneously recording ultrasound during playbacks and counting the number of echolocation pulses identified as those of P. nathusii above a predetermined amplitude threshold. Significantly greater numbers of P. nathusii echolocation pulses were recorded during playback of male P. nathusii advertisement calls than during playback of congeners’ advertisement calls and control sound. The number of echolocation pulses recorded was similar during playback of P. pipistrellus and P. pygmaeus advertisement calls and silence. We suggest that, due to call complexity, male P. nathusii advertisement calls should be classified as ‘song’. Species-specificity and individual variation suggests that the songs of male P. nathusii have the potential to play a role in mate attraction and mate assessment.

Cryptic species are similar in morphology, and make interesting subjects for relating morphological differentiation to ecological resource partitioning. Can species that are morphologically almost identical occupy different ecological niches, and hence potentially need distinct conservation planning? The discovery that the most widespread bat in Europe – the pipistrelle – comprised two cryptic species ( Pipistrellus pipistrellus and Pipistrellus pygmaeus ) that emit echolocation calls at different frequencies provides a remarkable model system for investigating links between morphology, echolocation call design and resource partitioning. We investigated resource partitioning between the two cryptic species of sympatric pipistrelle bats by radio tracking breeding females. Habitat selection was investigated by using compositional analysis. P. pygmaeus selected riparian habitats over all other habitat types in its core foraging areas, whereas P. pipistrellus , although preferring deciduous woodland overall, was more of a generalist, spreading its foraging time in a wider range of habitats. Although morphologically very similar, the cryptic species show quite different patterns of habitat use. Our findings suggest that large-scale differences in habitat preferences can occur between sympatric bat species that are virtually identical in flight morphology; hence morphological differences may be a weak indication of ecological differences between taxa. Conservation planning needs to take account of these differences to meet policy and legal obligations associated with these protected cryptic species.

Ecomorphological studies of bat communities often reveal the spatial and temporal coexistence of morphologically similar species, leading to suggestions that these communities are structured by non-deterministic processes. However, the diversification of echolocation call structure in bats allows for considerable morphological similarity while still permitting niche differentiation based on specialisation for prey type and habitat structure. The recent separation of a common Palaearctic bat, the pipistrelle, into Pipistrellus pipistrellus and P. pygmaeus, which are sympatrically distributed throughout their range, raises the question as to whether these two morphologically similar species partition resources in time and space. To test the hypothesis that the coexistence of these cryptic species is facilitated by differential habitat use, 14 P. pipistrellus, and 12 P. pygmaeus were radio-tracked from adjacent maternity roosts, in northeast Scotland, from May to September 2002/2003. The two species showed distinct habitat partitioning with P. pygmaeus foraging predominantly in riparian woodland and over water, and P. pipistrellus foraging along woodland edges and short isolated tree lines. Inter-specific overlap in habitat use was low and consequently foraging ranges were segregated spatially. The degree of habitat partitioning revealed in these species, which show considerable overlap in echolocation call parameters and functional morphology, suggests that morphological features, whilst useful in separating chiropteran species into coarse-grained foraging guilds, may not predict fine-grained ecological segregation.

In May — August, bats were mist-netted along an altitudinal gradient of 350–1350 m a.s.l. in the Pol’ana Mts area, to verify the correlation of species number decrease and the increase in elevation, to find which species could be predictors of certain altitude levels and to compare the sexual occurrence of species in various altitudes. Seventeen bat species were recorded. The most abundant mist-netted species were Myotis daubentonii (16%), M. myotis (13%) and M. mystacinus (12%). Otherwise, the most frequently caught species were M. mystacinus (40%), Eptesicus serotinus, M. myotis (26%) and Nyctalus leisleri (23%). In this study at a local scale, from oak to spruce vegetation stages, decreasing number of species with increasing altitude was found. Species dominance of the individual altitudinal levels was significantly different (15 species up to 600 m a.s.l., six species over 1100 m a.s.l.). The results indicated that the occurrence of some bat species, due to their ecological adaptations, is more or less characteristic for higher or lower altitudes of the Western Carphathians. The “lowland” species were considered to be mainly E. serotinus, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, N. noctula, N. leisleri and M. daubentonii. In higher elevations (more than 850 m), the presence of reproductive females was not found, of all but one, N. noctula, of the “lowland” species which are breeding in the area. The “mountain” species were considered to be E. nilssonii and Plecotus auritus. The general occurrence and reproduction of M. mystacinus and Barbastella barbastellus, was not limited by elevation.

The extent of spatial partitioning in insectivorous bats, whose prey is patchily distributed and transient in nature, remains a contentious issue. The recent separation of a common Palaearctic bat, the pipistrelle, into Pipistrellus pipistrellus and Pipistrellus pygmaeus, which are morphologically similar and sympatric, provides an opportunity to examine this question. The present study used radio telemetry to address the spatial distribution and foraging characteristics of P. pipistrellus and P. pygmaeus in northeast Scotland, to test the hypothesis that coexistence between these species is facilitated through spatial segregation. We reveal large and significant differences in the spatial distribution and foraging characteristics of these two cryptic species. Individual P. pipistrellus home ranges were on average three times as large as that of P. pygmaeus, and they foraged for approximately an hour longer each night. Inter-specific spatial overlap was minimal (

In Cyprus, there are 16 species of bats most of which are threatened with extinction. With the exception of the megachiropteran Egyptian Fruit bat Rousettus aegyptiacus that feeds on fruit, the rest of them are insectivorous microchiropterans. The Fruit bat was declared as a pest by the Department of Agriculture of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment of Cyprus since the early 1900s. To reduce the number of this “pest”, the above-mentioned Department, since 1927, used fumigation, shooting, and the purchase of dead bats. Fumigating and closing caves not only destroyed Fruit bats by direct poisoning, but the entire cave ecosystems, including highly beneficial and protected insectivorous species. The first attempt to protect bats on the island was in 1988 with law No. 24 of 1988, ratifying the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, 82/72/EEC. This convention protects all microchiroptera species except Pipistrellus pipistrellus that is strictly protected. R. aegyptiacus is rare, with small populations that are not at present endangered or vulnerable but at risk. Cyprus recently became a member state of the European Union. This provided the opportunity to include R. aegyptiacus in the Annexes II and IV of the council directive 92/42/EEC of May 21, 1993 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, which will guarantee the long-range protection and survival of this species.

Most previous studies of the use bats make of their foraging areas have been concerned with general habitat preferences rather than with microhabitats. The present study focuses on microhabitat preference within three landscape features: linear landscape elements, ponds and rivers. The importance of linear landscape elements to bats was investigated by placing recording stations next to treelines, and others in adjacent open spaces approximately 35 m away. Most pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus and P. pygmaeus) bat activity was recorded next to treelines and very little over open spaces. Bats used treelines for both commuting and foraging, but flew closer to treelines when commuting than when foraging. More insects were caught, and more pipistrelle feeding attempts were recorded close to treelines than further away. The relationship between the number and type of landscape elements leading to and surrounding ponds, and the use pipistrelle and Daubenton's (Myotis daubentonii) bats make of suc...

From 2001 to 2003 we radio tracked 23 Pipistrellus pipistrellus and 23 Pipistrellus pygmaeus to investigate whether there are any differences in foraging behaviour between the two cryptic species during the summer, and to consider whether any differences between these species are important for their conservation planning. There were significant differences between the two species in relation to flying time, mean maximum distances travelled from the roost, numbers of foraging bouts made and span of home ranges. The results suggest that P. pipistrellus makes more flights to a greater number of foraging locations (and possibly) feeding habitats than P. pygmaeus, although these foraging areas are likely to be closer to the roosts. This behaviour is particularly marked during lactation. In contrast, P. pygmaeus spends less time flying, makes fewer foraging bouts but travels further distances, suggesting that this species is selecting specific foraging habitats. These differences in foraging behaviour support the hypothesis that these species occupy different ecological niches, and conservation planners should be aware of these differences when considering the requirements of pipistrelles in the UK.

In contrast to proposed paleobiogeographic scenarios based on molecular data, the fossil record suggests that in Central Europe the common pipistrelles, quite rich in the Holocene fossil record, first appeared as late as the present glacial cycle (including the Weichselian interstadials). Bats of this group are completely absent from the rich pre-Weichselian record available from Central Europe but occur in the early Middle Pleistocene record in the Mediterranean (Spain, Malta). Thus, it seems that the European range of common pipistrelles was restricted to the Mediterranean region until their northward spread during the present glacial cycle. The proposed range expansion (supposedly from multiple sources) is explained by climatic specificities of the present glacial cycle, namely with repeated extension of the semiarid, warm open-ground habitats that began in the Mediterranean region by the end of the Eemian.

The distribution of pipistrelles of the Pipistrellus pipistrellus complex (= P. pipistrellus s.l.) reaches only marginally the African continent. These bats are known only from a narrow belt of the Mediterranean zone in Maghreb and from NE Libya. We analysed museum specimens of African populations of P. pipistrellus s.l. using both morphologic and genetic techniques and compared them with Eurasian specimens of the complex. The African representatives of P. pipistrellus complex include two morphologically, genetically and geographically distinct populations. One of them inhabits the Mediterranean part of Cyrenaica, Libya. Belonging to the P. pygmaeus genetic lineage, these bats are represented by larger and more rusty coloured individuals with large massive rostrum and canines. In morphologic traits, this population differs significantly from all Western Palaearctic populations of the P. pipistrellus complex. These bats differ by about 6–7% in genetic distance from P. pygmaeus s. str. Within the P. pygmaeus lineage Libyan bats seem to be unique in their echolocation calls: the maximum energy of terminal frequencies was recorded at about 45 kHz. We consider the Libyan pipistrelles to represent a separate species, Pipistrellus hanaki sp. nov. Another distinct African pipistrelle population inhabits the Mediterranean parts of NW African countries, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. Individuals from the latter population are small and somewhat darker members of the P. pipistrellus genetic lineage, with relatively short and narrow mesial part of rostrum. Although both morphological and genetic differences between this population and Eurasian P. pipistrellus s. str. were found (genetic distance about 3–5%), they are probably not sufficient for the separation of this form at the specific level. However, the differences from European samples show rather not a cline character and therefore potential subspecific level of NW African P. pipistrellus has to be taken into consideration.

In this study we measure and classify frequency modulation patterns in echolocation signals of two species of bats. By using the derivative of an exponential model fitted to pulses emitted by Pipistrellus pipistrellus and Myotis myotis, we show that the modulation functions differ fundamentally between the two species and also vary within each species. This variation makes it unlikely that pulse design and the concomitant modulation pattern can be explained by a single common principle as previously suggested.

The parasite load of seven European bat species (Myotis daubentonii, Myotis emarginatus, Myotis myotis, Myotis mystacinus, Myotis nattereri, Nyctalus noctula, Pipistrellus pipistrellus) was compared and tested to see if there was a relationship between high parasite load and poor body condition in bats. Considerable variations of the parasite load between host species, ages and sexes were found, which can be attributed to roosting conditions and behavioural differences of the bats. Overall, male bats had the fewest parasites. Very different parasite population densities were found in different years, and also at the same time at different sites. A generally high parasite load during the nursing season was not observed. There was no strong trend of increasing parasite load in bats with decreasing condition. If weak bats had more parasites than other individuals, the high number of parasites seemed to be a symptom and not the direct cause of the bad condition.

The habitat selection by the Common Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pipistrellus sensu lato, was studied using heterodyne bat detectors during 19 nights in the Dinevar region of Kermanshah Province, western Iran. Our data indicate that this bat forage predominantly in a different range of aquatic habitat although other terrestrial habitats are also used regularly. From 699 P. pipistrellus s. l. passes, 25% were made above riparian vegetation, 24% in marshland, 23% above water meadows, 14% in fields, and 13% in conifer plantations.

New records from 41 localities are given for six species of vespertilionid bats, namely Myotis myotis (Borkhausen, 1797), M. blythii (Tomes, 1857), M. capaccinii (Bonaparte, 1837), Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Schreber, 1774), P. kuhlii (Kuhl, 1819) and Barbastella barbastellus (Schreber, 1774). The diploid number of chromosomes (2n) and the total numbers of autosomal arms (NFa) were determined as 2n= 44, NFa= 50 for M. myotis, M. blythii, M. capaccinii, P. pipistrellus, P. kuhlii and as 2n= 32, NFa= 50 for B. barbastellus.

Summary 1. Agricultural intensification is perceived to be a major cause of the decline in many European bat populations. Because organic farming prohibits the use of agrochemicals, we compared organic vs. conventional farm types to test the hypothesis that agricultural intensification based on high levels of agrochemical use has been a factor in bat population declines. Bat activity and species richness were compared on matched pairs of organic and conventional farms. 2. Bat activity was quantified using acoustic surveys within specific habitats on farms in southern England and Wales. Eighty-nine per cent of bat passes were identified to species level using artificial neural networks (ANN). A further 9% were identified to genus. 3. Total bat activity was significantly higher on organic farms than on conventional farms. Significantly more bat passes were recorded over water on organic farms than on conventional farms. Foraging activity (quantified in two ways: total feedings buzzes and feeding buzzes per pass) was significantly higher on organic farms than on conventional farms. 4. The dominant species on both farm types were Pipistrellus pipistrellus and Pipistrellus pygmaeus . Significantly more passes of Myotis species were recorded on organic farms than on conventional farms. This difference was also significant when water habitats were considered alone. 5. The activity of both Myotis daubentonii and Myotis brandtii was significantly higher on organic farms than on conventional farms. The activity of Myotis bechsteinii and Myotis brandtii was significantly higher over organic water habitats than over conventional water habitats. Rhinolophus hipposideros and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum were only recorded on organic farms in wooded, arable and pasture habitats. 6. Synthesis and applications. This study highlights the position of bats as bioindicators and victims of agricultural change. The differences in bat activity between farm types may reflect features such as taller hedgerows and better water quality on organic farms. Higher foraging activity also suggests that habitat quality in terms of prey availability is greater on organic farms. Less intensive farming benefits bats, and as the number of organic enterprises increases it may help to reverse declines in bat populations.

This paper reports the molecular and cytogenetic characterization of a HindIII family of satellite DNA in the bat species Pipistrellus pipistrellus. This satellite is organized in tandem repeats of 418 bp monomer units, and represents approximately 3% of the whole genome. The consensus sequence from five cloned monomer units has an A‐T content of 62.20%. We have found differences in the ladder pattern of bands between two populations of the same species. These differences are probably because of the absence of the target sites for the HindIII enzyme in most monomer units of one population, but not in the other. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) localized the satellite DNA in the pericentromeric regions of all autosomes and the X chromosome, but it was absent from the Y chromosome. Digestion of genomic DNAs with HpaII and its isoschizomer MspI demonstrated that these repetitive DNA sequences are not methylated. Other bat species were tested for the presence of this repetitive DNA. It was absent in five Vespertilionidae and one Rhinolophidae species, indicating that it could be a species/genus specific, repetitive DNA family. Heredity (2003) 91, 232‐238. doi:10.1038/sj.hdy.6800303

We determined habitat use by foraging bats by broad-band acoustic surveys in 10 habitat types from a Mediterranean area (southern Italy). We applied discriminant functions to identify time-expanded echolocation calls from free-flying bats. Moon phase and cloud cover had no effect on bat activity. Only Hypsugo savii was influenced by temperature, and activity of Myotis daubentonii and Myotis capaccinii was reduced at higher wind speeds. Both total numbers of bat passes and feeding buzzes were highest over rivers and lakes. Pipistrellus kuhlii and H. savii were most frequently recorded. Pipistrellus kuhlii, Pipistrellus pipistrellus and Tadarida teniotis proved generalists in using foraging habitats. Water sites and conifer plantations were respectively the most and the least used habitats by H. savii. Rivers were especially important to Myotis bats, Miniopterus schreibersii and Pipistrellus pygmaeus. Unlike P. kuhlii, P. pipistrellus was frequent in beech woodlands; P. pygmaeus made a considerable use of chestnut woodlands and Myotis spp. were moderately active in both these woodland types. A large number of endangered or vulnerable species featured in riparian habitats, broadleaved woodlands and olive groves. Riparian and woodland habitats constitute an important target for conservation. Typical land use forms such as woodlands used for chestnut production and traditionally managed olive groves should be encouraged in conservation plans. The negative impact of urbanisation on bats might be counteracted by fostering trees, gardens and small cultivated patches. Farmland practices should encourage landscape complexity and limit the use of pesticides.

Summary 1 Life-history theory assumes increased mortality at certain stages such as hibernation. However, seasonal variation of survival rates of hibernating mammals has rarely been estimated. In this study, apparent survival of pipistrelle bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) hibernating and performing summer swarming at a large hibernaculum (Marburg Castle, Hesse, Germany), was modelled using seasonal (summer/winter) capture–recapture data for the years 1996–2000. The spring survival interval includes the period of arousal at the end of hibernation and therefore validly measures survival associated with hibernation. 2 In five summers and four winters, 15 839 bats were captured and released (13 082 individuals) and 3403 recaptures recorded. Analysis was complicated by transience and trap-dependence. Recapture rates varied seasonally and by group. The autumnal survival estimates were negatively biased due to transience effects that could not be taken into account. 3 Survival could be modelled using two age-classes, with reduced first-year juvenile survival. The age effect persisted over the first autumn and spring. There was virtually no evidence for sex-specific survival rates; male and female survival were found to be almost equal. In the best-fitting models, survival rates varied over time and differed among sexes and age-classes by a constant amount. Between years, there was only a small variation in spring survival, which could not be explained by winter severity. 4 Adult spring survival was surprisingly high, averaging 0·892 (= 0·028). No evidence for increased mortality during hibernation could be found. This contradicted the expectation of reduced over-winter survival due to depleted fat reserves at the end of hibernation. Thus, hibernation does apparently not entail a survival cost for the pipistrelle bat. Rough estimates of annual adult survival averaged 0·799 ( = 0·051), which considerably exceeds previous estimates; annual juvenile survival was estimated at 0·527 ( = 0·095). Hence, previous studies have substantially underestimated pipistrelle bat survival. Possible consequences of these findings for various aspects of life histories are discussed.

Een soortmanagementplan (SMP) is een instrument dat dient als ecologische onderbouwing bij een te verlenen gebiedsgerichte ontheffing onder de huidige Flora- en faunawet artikel 75c. In een SMP worden op een grootschalig gebiedsniveau maatregelen beschreven waarmee een soort beschermd wordt in dat betreffende plangebied, en worden bovendien de voorziene ruimtelijke ontwikkelingen binnen datzelfde gebiedsniveau beschreven. In dit rapport is onderzocht of er in twee van deze pilotgebieden voor de soort Gewone dwergvleermuis (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) sprake is van een duurzame populatie en of de maatregelen van een SMP voldoende zijn om te garanderen dat er geen afbreuk wordt gedaan aan het streven de populatie van de soort in zijn natuurlijke verspreidingsgebied in een gunstige staat van instandhouding te laten voortbestaan. Deze eis komt immers voort uit de Habitatrichtlijn, waaronder de Gewone dwergvleermuis beschermd is.

International audience; Context : According to the current trend of biodiversity loss, information on population trends at large temporal and spatial scales is necessary. However, well-documented animal population dynamics are generally based on intensive protocols requiring animal manipulation, which can be impossible to conduct in species for which conservation is a concern.Aims : For many bat species, an alternative approach entails performing an appropriate analysis of counts in roost cavities. Because of managers’ perception of chaotic variations through time, relatively few count monitoring surveys are regularly analysed. Here, we present the analysis of a twenty-two-year survey of a large hibernaculum of pipistrelle bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) located in a railway tunnel in Paris, France.Methods : We propose that using combinations of population dynamics modelling using demographic parameters from the literature and statistical analyses helps with identifying the biological and methodological effects underlying the dynamics observed in census analyses. Key results : we determined that some of the observed year-to-year variations of population size cannot be explained only by the intrinsic dynamics of the population. In particular, in 1993-391994, the population size increased by >40%, which should have implied a massive immigration. This change coincided with the end of the operation of the railway line. After consideration of a drastic trend of population decline (7%/year) we were able to detect this event and several environmental effects. Specifically, the winter conditions and the temperature in July affected the colonysize, presumably because of aggregative behavior and reproduction success, respectively.Conclusions : Emigration-immigration processes might have preponderant effects on population dynamics. In addition, we our analysis demonstrates that (1) the study population suffered a large decline(2) a combination of human disturbance and meteorological variatione xplains these dynamics;(3) Emigration-immigration processes have preponderant effects on the population dynamics,Implications : To conduct a meaningful analysis of non standardtime series and provide a source of data for implementing biodiversity indicators, it is necessary to include (1) the local knowledge of the people involved in the field surveys in these analyses (the existence of disturbances and site protections) and (2) meteorological information for the appropriate seasons of the year

The development of a rapid method for identification of the fifteen common species of British bat is described: Barbastella barbastellus, Eptesicus serotinus, Myotis bechsteinii, Myotis daubentonii, Myotis mystacinus, Myotis nattereri, Nyctalus leisleri, Nyctalus noctula, Plecotus auritus, Plecotus austriacus, Pipistrellus nathusii, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Pipistrellus pygmaeus, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and Rhinolophus hipposideros. A single multiplex PCR containing five fluorescently-tagged primers and fifteen species-specific primers targeting the mitochondrial control region and genes for cytb and ND1 produces clear peaks that are unique to each species when visualised on a DNA sequencer. The multiplex also includes primers to test for PCR-amplifiable bat DNA. This method will facilitate high throughput species identification of British bats, particularly in cases where phenotypic identification is difficult.

Een soortmanagementplan (SMP) is een instrument dat dient als ecologische onderbouwing bij een te verlenen gebiedsgerichte ontheffing onder de huidige Flora- en faunawet artikel 75c. In een SMP worden op een grootschalig gebiedsniveau maatregelen beschreven waarmee een soort beschermd wordt in dat betreffende plangebied, en worden bovendien de voorziene ruimtelijke ontwikkelingen binnen datzelfde gebiedsniveau beschreven. In dit rapport is onderzocht of er in twee van deze pilotgebieden voor de soort Gewone dwergvleermuis (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) sprake is van een duurzame populatie en of de maatregelen van een SMP voldoende zijn om te garanderen dat er geen afbreuk wordt gedaan aan het streven de populatie van de soort in zijn natuurlijke verspreidingsgebied in een gunstige staat van instandhouding te laten voortbestaan. Deze eis komt immers voort uit de Habitatrichtlijn, waaronder de Gewone dwergvleermuis beschermd is.

Bat activity was quantified in 15 historic landscape parks in England to assess the importance of habitat features within them for foraging bats. Unimproved grassland, water and plantation woodland were selected (used more than expected based on availability) by all bat species. Pipistrellus pipistrellus selected unimproved grassland and areas around water; Pipistrellus pygmaeus selected semi-natural woodland and tree lines; ‘Myotis group’ bats, (including Myotis spp., Plecotus spp. and Barbastella barbastellus) selected water and plantation woodland; and ‘Nyctalus group’ bats (including Nyctalus spp. and Eptesicus serotinus) selected unimproved grassland and parkland. The relative area of watercourses and tree lines in the landscape parks was the best predictor of bat activity. Landscape parks including unimproved grassland, water, parkland, semi-natural woodland, plantation woodland and tree lines have the most potential for foraging bats, and may form favourable ‘islands’ in intensively managed agricultural landscapes. To maximize the conservation value of historic landscape parks for bats, these habitats should be conserved or created.

Agricultural intensification in Northern Ireland has brought about large-scale changes to the landscape with a detrimental effect on biodiversity. Between 1996 and 1998, we surveyed a stratified random sample of 1 km squares for bats using a spot-sample technique and time expansion bat detector to establish linear and area habitat associations. Bats strongly selected water bodies with bankside vegetation, treelines, and deciduous and mixed woodland edge, avoiding open areas such as upland/unimproved grassland and improved grassland. Of three sympatric pipistrelle species (Pipistrellus pipistrellus, P. pygmaeus and P. nathusii), two were shown to forage in different habitats; P. pipistrellus being more of a ‘generalist’, foraging in a wider variety of habitats than P. pygmaeus, a ‘specialist’ which foraged in a smaller range of habitats. Nyctalus leisleri selected parkland/amenity grassland, deciduous woodland edge and rivers/canals and avoided improved grassland, hedgerows, whilst Myotis spp. selected deciduous woodland centre, lake/reservoir margins and rivers/canals. Reduction in area and quality of inland water, deciduous woodlands and field boundaries in Northern Ireland may impact on bat populations. Habitat management should focus on improving those habitats which are selected by bats, including the maintenance and enhancement of connecting linear habitats. # 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Summary The species composition and activity of bats flying over a small river (surrounded by dense forest), a 0.2 ha pond on a large clearing in the middle of a forest complex, and a 0.02 ha pond near the village was studied during 1998-1999 in the Darzlubska Forest (N Poland). Bats were captured in mist nets and observed with an ultrasound detector. Large differences were found in bats community structure and level of activity between the capture points. Over the river, the dominant species was Myotis daubentonii (84%), with a regular occurrence of Pipistrellus pipistrellus s. l., while on a forest water reservoir Nyctalus noctula (63%) and P. nathusii (21%) were most numerous. Noctules and pipistrelles (both with Eptesicus serotinus ) dominated over the small pond near the village. Species diversity index (H') was the highest over the small ponds, while activity of bats was the highest over the river. The studied artificial reservoirs were situated on clearings and meadows, which made them accessible for bats adapted to flight over open areas ( Nyctalus, Eptesicus ), unable to feed and drink in the cluttered habitat of the river with a canopy closed over the water surface. Species strongly associated with waters as feeding grounds (e. g. M. daubentonii ), seem to avoid small, isolated ponds during their night time activity.

The geographic ranges of European plants and animals underwent periods of contraction and re-colonisation during the climatic oscillations of the Pleistocene. The southern Mediterranean peninsulas (Iberian, Italian and Balkan) have been considered the most likely refugia for temperate/warm adapted species. Recent studies however have revealed the existence of extra-Mediterranean refugia, including the existence of cryptic north-west European refugia during the Last Glacial Maxima (24–14.6 kyr BP). In this study we elucidated the phylogeographic history of two sibling bat species, Pipistrellus pipistrellus and P. pygmaeus in their western European range. We sequenced the highly variable mtDNA D-loop for 167 samples of P. pipistrellus (n = 99) and P. pygmaeus (n = 68) and combined our data with published sequences from 331 individuals. Using phylogenetic methodologies we assessed their biogeographic history. Our data support a single eastern European origin for populations of P. pygmaeus s.str., yet multipl...

As the global population urbanizes, dramatic changes are expected in city lighting and the urban form, which may threaten the functioning of urban ecosystems and the services they deliver. However, little is known about the ecological impact of lighting in different urban contexts. Movement is an important ecological process that can be disrupted by artificial lighting. We explored the impact of lighting on gap crossing for Pipistrellus pipistrellus, a species of bat (Chiroptera) common within UK cities. We aimed to determine whether the probability of crossing gaps in tree cover varied with crossing distance and lighting level, through stratified field surveys. We then used the resulting data on barrier thresholds to model the landscape resistance due to lighting across an entire city and explored the potential impact of scenarios for future changes to street lighting. The level of illumination required to create a barrier effect reduced as crossing distance increased. For those gaps where crossing was recorded, bats selected the darker parts of gaps. Heavily built parts of the case study city were associated with large and brightly lit gaps, and spatial models indicate movement would be highly restricted in these areas. Under a scenario for brighter street lighting, the area of accessible land cover was further reduced in heavily built parts of the city. We believe that this is the first study to demonstrate how lighting may create resistance to species movement throughout an entire city. That connectivity in urban areas is being disrupted for a relatively common species raises questions about the impacts on less tolerant groups and the resilience of bat communities in urban centres. However, this mechanistic approach raises the possibility that some ecological function could be restored in these areas through the strategic dimming of lighting and narrowing of gaps.