Long-term population trends of Rhinolophus hipposideros and Myotis myotis in Poland. Issue 1 (1st January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Węgiel, A.; Grzywiński, W.; Kosicki, J. Z.; Tryjanowski, P.; Nowak, J.; Węgiel, J.
• Is Part Of: European zoological journal. Volume 88:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 1189
• Page End: 1200
• Publication Date: 2021-01-01
• Subjects: Bats -- endangered species -- long-term monitoring -- caves -- hibernacula; Zoology -- Periodicals; Zoology; Periodicals; 590.5
• DOI: 10.1080/24750263.2021.2006324
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2475-0263

Abstract

Abstract: Bats are particularly susceptible to environmental changes because of their low reproductive rate, longevity, and high metabolic rates, which lead to relatively high food requirements. Thus, bat populations take a relatively long time to recover from increased mortality rates, and monitoring schemes should cover long time periods. In this work, we analyzed the population trajectories of two bat species, Rhinolophus hipposideros and Myotis myotis, the most numerous in five caves in southern Poland, which are known as important bat hibernacula on a continental scale. Data were collected by regular counts in 1985–2020, depending on the particular cave; in addition, previous data on the number of hibernating bats in these caves, available since 1951, were taken from existing publications. We analyzed time-series data using average locality indices and TRIM (TRends and Indices for Monitoring data) methods, and both produced similar results. Generally, the populations of the two studied bat species showed recent increasing trends, especially visible as an effect of recovery after years of decline. The situation recorded in southern Poland is very similar to that described in other places in Europe, where recoveries of bat populations have also been observed in the last decades. Although it is difficult to present results from formal analyses, because of the lack of good data, at least some factors—less exposure to contaminants (pesticides, heavy metals), improving food availability due to climate change, and a lower predation rate (including human pressure), both in the breeding season and during wintering—positively affected both species.