Bats of natural protected territories of Northern and Central Ukraine: interim report

Transcription

1 Rivnensky Natural Reserve, May 2016 On the road to place of night field work. Bats of natural protected territories of Northern and Central Ukraine: interim report All activities, planned for the 1st stage of the project, were encompassed. They included the next.

2 Fieldwork We carried out field work at the territory of two natural reserves (Rivnensky Nature Reserve, Kaniv Nature Reserve), three national natural parks (Pyryatyn National Park, Mezynsky National Park, Dermansko-Ostrozky National Park), two regional landscape parks, five landscape park monuments. Few more, not protected, territories were covered. Almost all field word was carried out in the main breeding season (from 15th May to 15th August). One additional autumn excursion, for checking bat swarming sites, was done to one national park. All together, we worked during over 40 bat field nights.

3 The standard set of methods was used. As planned, we made bat roosts search and their inspection, with count of dwellers where possible, capturing (with mist-nets), bat detector survey. All precautions to prevent or minimize disturbance to bats were kept.

4 A potential netting place? Checking the depth of the channel during day and netting at night

5 In total, during the summer and autumn fieldwork, we recorded 16 bat species: Myotis myotis, Myotis bechsteinii, Myotis nattereri, Myotis dasycneme, Myotis daubentonii, Myotis brandtii, Myotis mystacinus, Plecotus auritus, Plecotus austriacus, Barbastella barbastellus, Nyctalus leisleri, Nyctalus noctula, Pipistrellus kuhlii, Pipistrellus nathusii, Pipistrellus pygmaeus, Eptesicus serotinus. A lot of new bat roosts were revealed. The data about sex ratio, relative abundance were obtained. Records precise distribution ranges of species in borders of Ukraine. For some territories the data are the first bat data. In some cases new records considerably broadened lists of mammal fauna. E.g.: for Rivnensky Nature Reserve we recorded three new species; for Dermansko-Ostrozky National Park, nine.

6 Plecotus auritus Barbastella barbastellus New data about 16 bat species were collected. Myotis bechsteinii Nyctalus noctula

7 photo by Sergiy Rebrov Education Lecture, followed by evening bat excursion, was presented for children and students at the summer eco-camp in Pyryatin National Park in July 2016.

8 Conservation outputs The results of the work were involved for preparing scientific background for giving a protection status for the old park in Poltava Oblast and for broadening the existing borders of the Pyryatin National Park. Dissemination of results The reports on the results of the work at the territory of naturals reserves, national and regional landscape parks were prepared and sent to the administration of these territories for including them into nature history books. Some results were presented in an oral talk at one all- Ukrainian mammal research conference (23th Theriological school, , Slobozhansky National Park).

9 photo by Sergiy Rebrov The talk on bats and necessity of their conservation was presented at the regional conference (Pyryatyn, ). Participants: officers of national parks, representatives of local authorities, students-biologists.