Long-term changes in the numbers of bats hibernating in mass hibernacula on the territory of Moravia (Czech Republic)
| Authors | |
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| Year of publication | 2005 |
| Type | Article in Proceedings |
| Conference | Abstracts of 10th European Bat Research Symposium, Galway, Ireland, 21-26 August. 2005 |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Zoology |
| Keywords | hibernation; winter census; bats; Czech Republic |
| Description | On the territory of Moravia (E-part of the Czech Republic) important hibernacula of bats are situated and high numbers of bats hibernate in some of them. Regular winter censuses have been carried out for tens of years in such sites (even since 1957). In total, 6 hibernation sites are evaluated with respect to the development of bat population size during hibernation. Similar trends in development of numbers of hibernating bats were recorded, i. e. at mine galleries Pod Jeleni cestou near Mala Moravka (Rehak & Gaisler 1999, 2001) (Jeseniky Mts., N-Moravia), in the Katerinska cave (Rehak et al. 1994, Zukal et al. 2001, 2004, 2005), Sloupské caves (Zukal et al. 2001, 2004), Byci skala cave (Zima 2001), Ochozska cave (Gaisler & Rehak 2001) (all in the Moravian Karst, C-Moravia), and in the Na Turoldu cave (Gaisler & Chytil 2003) (S-Moravia). While Myotis myotis and Rhinolophus hipposideros dominate in the limestone caves in the Moravian Karst, galleries near Mala Moravka are characterized by high species diversity of bat community with dominance of several bat species. The cave Na Turoldu is considered the most important hibernaculum of Rhinolophus hipposideros in S-Moravia. The numbers of bats decreased or inregularly fluctuated up to 70ties of 20th century, whereas since 80ties of 20th century the numbers of bats have increased continuously hitherto. This trend is high significant in Myotis myotis and weak significant in Rhinolophus hipposideros. At galleries near Mala Moravka Eptesicus nilssonii, Myotis mystacinus seu M. brandtii, M. daubentoniiand Barbastella barbastellus have also increased their numbers since 80ties. Development of numbers of particular bat species at hibernacula under study is shown in the diagrams. The research was supported by the grant of Ministry of Education, Young and Sports of the Czech Republic. |
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