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Maternity roosts of the giant noctule, Nyctalus lasiopterus, in preserved and disturbed forests of the Western Carpathians.
- Source :
-
Journal of Vertebrate Biology . Apr2024, Vol. 73 Issue 24022/24023, p1-9. 9p. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- The giant noctule is a rare European bat about which we have little ecological information, but it is a priority species for which we need to determine the best conservation measures. Acoustic monitoring followed by a radio-tracking survey resulted in the localisation of two maternity colonies in different forest areas in the Western Carpathians, one in protected mixed stands in a national park (Muránska planina Mts) and the other in disturbed secondary spruce forests (Balocké vrchy Mts). The 95% home-range polygon of the roosts was about 3.5 km2 for both colonies. Eurasian aspen (Populus tremula) accounted for 100% of roosts (n = 18 trees) in mixed stands. However, even in the spruce monocultures, bats roosted in cavities of this tree whenever possible, although 76% of roosts (n = 21 trees) were still in Norway spruce (Picea abies). Regardless of forest type, the bats preferred to roost at the edges of the stands and on steep slopes that offered a free exit from the roost into open space. Small-scale salvage logging during bark beetle outbreaks can also create suitable open roosting habitats. Our observations indicate that structured stands with a higher proportion of aspen will positively affect tree-dwelling bats in mountain forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 26947684
- Volume :
- 73
- Issue :
- 24022/24023
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Vertebrate Biology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 176980886
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.25225/jvb.24022