PROTECTION OF BAT SPECIES IN SLOVAKIA

1. PROTECTION OF BAT SPECIES IN SLOVAKIA Authors:DarinaSidorová, Martin Ďuriš Co-authors:FilipPavlovič, NicolettGulka and project team Erasmus+ International project Erasmus+ 2017-2019 Zoos versus the protection of species

2. Our project team Photo taken by TomášVyhnálik, 2017

3. Our activities

4. Goals • Attend a lecture about bat protection & science café • Prepare a questionnaire • Conduct online research • Process information into a written form • Participate in practical activities (installation of bat compensation boxes)

5. What did we want to find out? • Why do bats fly even though they are mammals? • Do vampires (blood-sucking bats) really exist? • What are tent-making bats? • Why do bats hear better than see? • What is the use of bat guano?

6. Brief characteristics of bats Pipistrelluspipistrellus • mammals of the order Chiroptera • naturally capable of true and sustained flight • the second largest order of mammals (after the rodents) Bats fly and control their flight and power. Whereas birds have feathers, bats only have fur. Rhinolophuseuryale

7. Vampire bats 1. • food source is blood, a dietary trait called hematophagy • 3 bat species feed solely on blood: • Common vampire bat(Desmodusrotundus) • Hairy-legged vampire bat(Diphyllaecaudata) • White-winged vampire bat(Diaemusyoungi) • all three species are ranging from Mexico, Brazil, Chile to Argentina 1. 3. 2.

8. Tent-making bat (Urodermabilobatum) • American leaf-nosed bat (Phyllostomidae) found in lowland forests • a medium-sized bat with grey coat, pale white stripes running down the middle of the back, the face is characterised by a fleshy nose-leaf and four white stripes • primarily a frugivore, it may supplement its diet with insects, flower parts, pollen, and nectar • its common name comes from its curious behaviour of constructing tents out of large, fan-shaped leaves • these roosts provide excellent protection from the tropical rains, and a single tent roost may house several bats at once

9. Hearing and sight of the bats • instead of relying on their sense of sight for night-time vision, batsmake rapid high-pitched squeaks called “ultrasounds‘‘ • if these sounds hit something, they bounce back - sort of like when you hearyour echo in a mountain • all 1,100 bat speciescan see and their vision is often pretty good (although not as excellent as many other night-hunting animals) • Fruit bats actually rely on their daylight vision and cannot fly during moonless nights

10. Rhinolophusferrumequinum • about 70% of bat species are insectivores • they perform the vital ecological roles of pollinating flowers and dispersing fruit seeds • economically important, as they consume insect pests, reducing the need for pesticides Nyctalus Iasiopterus

11. Bat guano • versatile organic fertiliser which is harvested from local sources in Slovakia • according to the analysis, it is composed of about 15% nitrogen, 1% phosphorus and 2% potassium (the colony of bats in Ratková, 2004). • ideal for room plants, vegetables, fruit trees, flowers, lawns and ornamental plants.

12. Adaptation Echolocation • bats emit ultrasonic sounds to produce echoes • the brain and auditory nervous system produce detailed images of the bat's surroundings • they are able to detect, localise, and classify prey in darkness • high-pitched noises, frequency around 20 kHz+ (60-140 decibels)

13. A lecture held by a chiropterologist Photo taken by TomášVyhnálik, 2017

14. SciencecaféBats - animals shrouded in mystery Piešťany, 7 December 2017 Members of our project team attended a lecture about bats as animal species, held by RNDr. Marcel Uhrín PhD. from the Department of Zoology, University of PavelJozefŠafárik in Košice

15. Basic information from the lecture • natural bat habitats are tree cavities (mostly in old trees) • Forest Management destroys old trees • bats aren't capable of creating cavities • they are forced to search for other solutions (attics, facades, adits)

16. Special information from the lecture • a very rare species of bats has been mentioned - Greater Noctule bat (Nyctaluslasiopterus), the only bat (in Slovakia) that feeds on vertebrates (small birds) • most bats feed on invertebrates (such as insects) • this species occurs mainly in the Muránskaplanina, area in the south of the BanskáBystrica region GreaterNoctule bat

17. Map of Slovakia – location of Greater noctule bat (Nyctaluslasiopterus)

18. Age of newly discovered bat species Numbers of new species have been discovered in the early 19th century, then slowly decreasing until 20th century.

19. Common bat species in Slovakia • The common noctule – Nyctalusnoctula • The common pipistrelle – Pipistrelluspipistrellus • The greater mouse-eared bat – Myotismyotis Myotis myotis Nyctalus noctula

20. Common noctule – Nyctalusnoctula Body length: 63-82 mmForearmlength: 50-58 mm Wingspan: 32-36 cmWeight: 18-35 gFrequency: FM 17-25 kHz - the main way of hunting: fast flight at high altitudes - typical shelters: tree cavities (summer and winter), panel buildings (attics,facades) - shiny, ruby hair (mostly on flying membranes) - they mate in the autumn, but ovulate during spring - the male with its striking chattering tries to attract the female to the cavity (it causes noise at large colonies)

21. Common noctule

22. Greater mouse-eared bat–Myotismyotis Body length: 60-83 mmForearmlength: 59-67 mmWingspan: 35-43cmWeight: 20-40gFrequency: FM 27-35kHz The main way of hunting: from the ground Typical shelters: attic (summer), caves and adits (winter) - is the largest living bat in Slovakia - has long blanite ears, and a short, wide nose - each hair is black-brown at the root and has light ends - back: ruddy-brown or grey-brown, abdomen: pale-brown with a rusty hue, on the forehead there is a bright spot   - has pointed teeth (approximately the same height), at first they are temporary but later they are replaced with permanent ones

23. Greater mouse-eared bat

24. Common pipistrelle – Pipistrelluspipistrellus Body length: 33-50 mmForearmlength: 27-34 mmWingspan: approximately19 cmWeight: 3-8 gFrequency: FM 45 kHz The main way of hunting: a fast acrobatic flight between tree crowns Typical shelters: building slits (summer), caves and adits (winter) - the smallest of our bats - the back is brown to black-brown, slightly lighter at the bottom - often drifts into windowgaps, mailboxes, open windows   (mainly inexperienced individuals), undersheets covering the facade and the roof of the building

25. Common pipistrelle

26. Natural habitats • forest (tree cavities) • attics (in summer) • caves (hibernation) Adverse factors affecting bats, decreasing their quantity • mainly human activity through: • deforestation • urbanisation • thermal insulation (without checking the presence of bats)

27. Caves There are hundreds of caves in Slovakia, most of them are being used as habitats for hibernation.

28. The biggest accessible caves in Slovakia Jasovská cave 1. Belianska cave (7 bat spieces found) 2. Bystrianska cave (8 bat spieces found) 3. Demänovská cave of liberty (4 bat spieces found) 4. Demänovskáľadová cave (8 bat spieces found) 5. Dobšinskáľadová cave (12 bat spieces found) 6. Cave Domica(16 bat spieces found) 7. Cave Driny (11 bat spieces found) 8. Gombasecká cave (2 bat spieces found) 9. Harmanecká cave (9 bat spieces found) 10. Jasovská cave (19 bat spieces found) 11. Ochtinskáaragonitová cave (no bat spieces found) 12. Važecká cave (3 bat spieces found)

29. Important bat colonies in caves • Mediterranean horseshoe bat (Rhinolophuseuryale) colonyin Domica cave, around 1500 bats hibernate here • - Lesser horseshoe bat(Rhinolophushipposideros) and Greater horseshoe bat(Rhinolophusferrumequinum) colony in Jasovská cave

30. - Whiskered bat (Myotismystacinus) and Brandt's bat (Myotisbrandtii) colony in Ice cave of Dobšiná – the most important wintering of these spieces in central Europe. - Greater mouse-eared bat (Myotismyotis) and Lesser mouse-eared bat (Myotisblythii) colony in Harmanecká cave – around 1300 bats

31. Capturing methods • using bat detectors • direct observation • netting – using nets • indirect monitoring (by the presence of its droppings) • Factors that bats occupy old prefabs (due to big amount of hidden, small spaces) that fit their needs: • Warmth • Darkness • Quantity of insects = easier hunting

33. Jasenská cave • significant bat wintering • a place for monitoring the movement of 16 species of bats in the number of 550 for over 2 decades • In particular, colonies of 1) Greater horseshoe bat • 2) Lesser horseshoe bat • 3) Greater mouse-eared bat Colony hibernating on the cave wall

34. Bad Hole cave • about 250 bats of 12 species • the most numerous ones are Lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophushipposideros), Greater mouse-eared bat (Myotismyotis) during hibernation (November-April) • by the end of April, all bats form a big group which flies out of the cave to the area of human dwellings for their mating season. • they occasionally return to the cave during the summer period. Inside view from the cave

35. Typical bat shelters

36. Bats in the local park Sihoť (Nitra) • 11 bat species have been identified(Serotine bat, very rare Saviov bat (2005),Daubenton's bat (2006)) • Mainly bigger species (Common noctule) hunt in high altitudes • Smaller species (Daubenton's bat, Pond bat) usually hunt nearby tree crowns, ponds and the river Nitra. Informative board about bats at Sihoť

37. Solutions for bats - prefabs in Nitra Our project team up on the prefab,looking for signs of bats

38. Projects in Slovakia Ongoing: • Let‘s be friendly to bats together 2017 - 2018 Visegrad Fund Past: • Protection of bats in old mines in Slovakia2012 - 2014 CMS Small Grants Programme • NetopierOVINY of Rajecká valley2013 NadationPontis, Foundation Fund of the Bank of Slovakia • Support of European cooperation on bats protection2009 - 2010 Deutsche BundesstiftungUmwelt, etc...

39. Thank you for your attention! Sources:www.netopiere.skwww.wikipedia.orgwww.defenders.org Picture creditsM. Anděra, M. Ševčík, M. Kováč,Š. Danko,P. Kaňuch, etc...