Small in size but rich in bats - species diversity and abandoned man-made structures put Asinara Island (Sardinia) into conservation focus for bats in the Mediterranean region

• Autorzy: Winter R. , Mucedda M. , Pidinchedda E. , Kierdorf U. , Schmidt S. , Mantilla-Contreras J.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

During the last decades, the important role of bats in ecosystems and the threats to many bat species were increasingly recognized, and bats were integrated into several conservation acts. Protected areas like national parks may play a major role in bat conservation if species requirements are included in management plans. With its high bat diversity and many unexplored off-shore islands, Sardinia has a high potential for the protection of European bats and for research on their ecology. We conducted the first survey of the bat fauna on the Sardinian off-shore island and National Park Asinara, a formerly inhabited island. We applied a multi-method approach over two years to create a proper species inventory and to obtain data on the use of man-made structures by the bats. We recorded bat calls at different sites in summer and winter, captured bats via mist-netting, and performed roost surveys of man-made structures. Ten species were identified, three of them are highly protected, namely Rhinolophus hipposideros, R. ferrumequinum and Miniopterus schreibersii. Thirty-nine day roosts and 14 night roosts of, in total, five species were found in man-made structures. Many structures provided day and night roosts for different bat species. Although forest and water bodies are limited, and intensive grazing has created several open areas on the island, a remarkably high bat diversity developed, making Asinara an important offshore retreat area for bats in Italy. Our findings indicate an essential role of the abandoned buildings, and artificial ponds, of the island for bat conservation. The results of this study provide a basis for future bat conservation measures on Asinara Island.

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Acta Chiropterologica
• Rocznik: 2017
• Tom: 19
• Numer: 1
• Opis fizyczny: p.119-126,fig.,ref.

Twórcy

autor

Winter R.

• Department of Biology, University of Hildesheim, Universitatsplatz 1, 31141 Hildesheim, Germany

autor

Mucedda M.

• Centro Pipistrelli Sardegna, Via Giacomo Leopardi 1, 07100 Sassari, Italy

autor

Pidinchedda E.

• Centro Pipistrelli Sardegna, Via Giacomo Leopardi 1, 07100 Sassari, Italy

autor

Kierdorf U.

• Department of Biology, University of Hildesheim, Universitatsplatz 1, 31141 Hildesheim, Germany

autor

Schmidt S.

• Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bunteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany

autor

Mantilla-Contreras J.

• Department of Biology, University of Hildesheim, Universitatsplatz 1, 31141 Hildesheim, Germany

Bibliografia

• 1. Angelici, F. M., A. Laurenti, and A. Nappi. 2009. A checklist of the mammals of small Italian islands. Hystrix, the Italian Journal of Mammalogy, 20: 3–27. Google Scholar
• 2. Arlettaz, R., C. Ruchet, J. Aeschimann, E. Brun, M. Genoud, and P. Voge. 2000. Physiological traits affecting the distribution and wintering strategy of the bat Tadarida teniotis. Ecology, 81: 1004–1014. Google Scholar
• 3. Avery, M. I. 1985. Winter activity of pipistrelle bats. Journal of Animal Ecology, 54: 721–738. Google Scholar
• 4. Bogdanowicz, W. 1994. Myotis daubentonii. Mammalian Species, 475: 1–9. Google Scholar
• 5. Carmel, Y., and U. Safriel. 1998. Habitat use by bats in a Mediterranean ecosystem in Israel — conservation implications. Biological Conservation, 84: 245–250. Google Scholar
• 6. Davy, C. M., D. Russo, and M. B. Fenton. 2007. Use of native woodlands in traditional olive groves by foraging bats on a Mediterranean island: consequences for conservation. Journal of Zoology (London), 273: 397–405. Google Scholar
• 7. Dietz, C., and A. kiefer. 2014. Die Fledermäuse Europas-Kennen, Bestimmen, Schützen. Franckh-Kosmos Verlags GmbH, Stuttgart, 400 pp. Google Scholar
• 8. Dietz, C., and O. Von Helversen. 2004. Identification key to the bats of Europe. Electronical publication, version I.0, Tübingen and Erlangen. Available from http://www.fledermaus-dietz.de/publications/publications.html [01 February 2013]. Google Scholar
• 9. Dietz, C., O. Von Helversen, and D. Nill. 2007. Handbuch der Fledermäuse Europas und Nordwestafrikas. Franckh-Kosmos Verlags GmbH, Stuttgart, 399 pp. Google Scholar
• 10. Ente Parco Nazionale dell'Asinara. 2014. Piano di gestione della ZPS Isola dell'Asinara [Management plan of the SAC island of Asinara ITB010001]. Available from http://www.parcoasinara.org/download.php?id=1029 [20 October 2015, in Italian]. Google Scholar
• 11. Entwistle, A. C., P. A. Racey, and J. R. Speakman. 1996. Habitat exploitation by a gleaning bat, Plecotus auritus. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, 351B: 921–931. Google Scholar
• 12. Fahrig, L. 1997. Relative effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on population extinction. Journal of Wildlife Management, 61: 603–610. Google Scholar
• 13. Fenton, M. B. 1989. The foraging behaviour and ecology of animal-eating bats. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 68: 411–421. Google Scholar
• 14. Fenton, M. B., L. Acharya, D. Audet, M. B. C. Hickey, C. Merriman, M. K. Obrist, and D. M. Syme. 1992. Phyllostomid bats (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) as indicators of habitat disruption in the Neotropics. Biotropica, 24: 440–446. Google Scholar
• 15. Flaquer, C., I. Torre, and A. Arrizabalaga. 2007. Comparison of sampling methods for inventory of bat communities. Journal of Mammalogy, 88: 526–533. Google Scholar
• 16. Gorresen, P. M., and M. R. Willig. 2004. Landscape responses of bats to habitat fragmentation in Atlantic forest of Paraguay. Journal of Mammalogy, 85: 688–697. Google Scholar
• 17. Grill, A., P. Casula, R. Leci, and S. Menken. 2007. Endemism in Sardinia. Pp. 273–296, in Phylogeography of southern European refugia ( S. Weiss and N. Ferrand, eds.). Springer, Dordrecht, ix + 377 pp. Google Scholar
• 18. Hayes, J. P., and S. C. Loeb. 2007. The influences of forest management on bats in North America. Pp. 207–235, in Bats in forests: conservation and management ( M. L. Lacki, J. P. Hayes, and A. Kurta,, eds.). Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD, 329 pp. Google Scholar
• 19. Humes, M. L., J. P. Hayes, and M. W. Collopy. 1999. Bat activity in thinned, unthinned, and old-growth forests in western Oregon. Journal of Wildlife Management, 63: 553–561. Google Scholar
• 20. Hutson, A. M., S. P. Mickleburgh, and P. A. Racey (comp.). 2001. Microchiropteran bats: global status survey and conservation action plan. IUCN/SSC Chiroptera Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, x + 258 pp. Google Scholar
• 21. IPCC [Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change]. 2013. Climate change 2013. The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fifth Assessment 171 Report of the International Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1535 pp. Google Scholar
• 22. Kalko, E. K. V., and H.-U. Schnitzler 1989. The echolocation and hunting behavior of Daubenton's bat, Myotis daubentonii. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 24: 225–238. Google Scholar
• 23. Knight, T., and G. Jones. 2009. Importance of night roosts for bat conservation: roosting behaviour of the lesser horseshoe bat Rhinolophus hipposideros. Endangered Species Research, 8: 79–86. Google Scholar
• 24. Kunz, T. H. 1982. Roosting ecology. Pp. 1–55, in Ecology of bats ( T. H. Kunz, ed.). Plenum Press, New York, xiv + 425 pp. Google Scholar
• 25. Kunz, T. H., E. L. Anthony, and W. T. Rumage. 1977. Mortality of little brown bats following multiple pesticide applications. Journal of Wildlife Management, 41: 476–483. Google Scholar
• 26. Kunz, T. H., E. B. Arnett, W. P. Erickson, A. R. Hoar, G. D. Johnson, R. P. Larkin, M. D. Strickland, R. W. Thresher, and M. D. Tuttle. 2007. Ecological impacts of wind energy development on bats: questions, research needs, and hypotheses. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 5: 315–324. Google Scholar
• 27. Mitchell-Jones, A. J., G. Amori, W. Bogdanowicz, B. Kryš Tufek, P. J. H. Reinjders, F. spitzen Berger, M. Stubbe, J. B. M. Thissen, V. Vohralík, and J. Zima (eds.). 1999. The atlas of European mammals. Academic Press, London, xi + 484 pp. Google Scholar
• 28. Mucedda, M., and E. Pidinchedda. 2010. Pipistrelli in Sardegna. Conoscere e tutelare i mammiferi volanti. [Bats of Sardinia. Know and protect the flying mammals]. Nuova Stampa Color, Muros, 46 pp. [In Italian]. Google Scholar
• 29. Mucedda, M., A. Kiefer, E. Pidinchedda, and M. Veith. 2002. A new species of long-eared bat (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) from Sardinia (Italy). Acta Chiropterologica, 4: 121–135. Google Scholar
• 30. Myers, N., R. A. Mittermeier, C. G. Mittermeier, G. A. B. Da Fonseca, and J. Kent. 2000. Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature, 403: 853–858. Google Scholar
• 31. Norberg, U. M., and J. M. V. Rayner. 1987. Ecological morphology and flight in bats (Mammalia; Chiroptera): wing adaptations, flight performance, foraging strategy and echolocation. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, 316B: 335–427. Google Scholar
• 32. O'farrell, M. J., and W. L. Gannon. 1999. A comparison of acoustic versus capture techniques for the inventory of bats. Journal of Mammalogy, 80: 24–30. Google Scholar
• 33. Park, K. J., G. Jones, and R. D. Ransome. 2000. Torpor, arousal and activity of hibernating greater horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum). Functional Ecology, 14: 580–588. Google Scholar
• 34. Planton, S., P. Lionello, V. Artale, R. Aznar, A. Carrillo, J. Colin, L. Congedi, C. Dubois, A. Elizalde, S. Gualdi , et al. 2012. The climate of the Mediterranean Region in future climate projections. Pp. 449–502, in The climate of the Mediterranean Region. From the past to the future ( P. Lio-Nello, ed.). Elsevier, London, 502 pp. Google Scholar
• 35. Rainho, A. 2007. Summer foraging habitats of bats in a Mediterranean region of the Iberian Peninsula. Acta Chiropterologica, 9: 171–181. Google Scholar
• 36. Ransome, R. D. 1968. The distribution of the greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, during hibernation, in relation to environmental factors. Journal of Zoology (London), 154: 77–112. Google Scholar
• 37. Russo, D., and G. Jones. 2002. Identification of twenty-two bat species (Mammalia: Chiroptera) from Italy by analysis of time-expanded recordings of echolocation calls. Journal of Zoology (London), 258: 91–103. Google Scholar
• 38. Russo, D., and G. Jones. 2003. Use of foraging habitats by bats in a Mediterranean area determined by acoustic surveys: conservation implications. Ecography, 26: 197–209. Google Scholar
• 39. Russo, D., M. Di Febbraro, H. Rebelo, M. Mucedda, L. Cistrone, P. Agnelli, P. P. De Pasquale, A. Martinoli, D. Scaravelli, C. Spilinga , et al. 2014. What story does geographic separation of insular bats tell? A case study on Sardinian rhinolophids. PLoS ONE, 9: e110894. Google Scholar
• 40. Schnitzler, H.-U., and E. K. V. Kalko. 2001. Echolocation by insect-eating bats. Bioscience, 51: 557–569. Google Scholar
• 41. Seibold, S., J. Buchner, C. Bässler, and J. Müller. 2013. Ponds in acidic mountains are more important for bats in providing drinking water than insect prey. Journal of Zoology (London), 290: 302–308. Google Scholar
• 42. Skiba, R. 2009. Europäische Fledermäuse. Kennzeichen, Echoortung und Detektoranwendung. Westarp Wissen schaften, Hohenwarsleben, 220 pp. Google Scholar
• 43. Ulrich, W., K. Sachanowicz, and M. Michalak. 2007. Environmental correlates of species richness of European bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera). Acta Chiropterologica, 9: 347–360. Google Scholar
• 44. Veith, M., M. Mucedda, A. Kiefer, and E. Pidinchedda. 2011. On the presence of pipistrelle bats (Pipistrellus and Hypsugo; Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Sardinia. Acta Chiropterologica, 13: 89–99. Google Scholar
• 45. Walsh, A. L., and S. Harris. 1996. Foraging habitat preferences of vespertilionid bats in Britain. Journal of Applied Ecology, 33: 508–518. Google Scholar
• 46. Waters, D. A., and G. Jones. 1995. Echolocation call structure and intensity in five species of insectivorous bats. Journal of Experimental Biology, 198: 475–489. Google Scholar

Identyfikatory

DOI

10.3161/15081109ACC2017.19.1.009