Γεωγραφική και υψομετρική κατανομή, ακουστικός προσδιορισμός και οικολογία των χειρόπτερων της Κρήτης
This study was focused on the distribution and abundance of Cretan bats. In total, 767 records from 283 localities along the island were collected: 432 own records and 335 resulting for the research efforts of other scientists (published or communicated to the author). The recent discovery of Nyctal...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis |
| Language: | Greek |
| Published: |
University of Crete (UOC)
2009
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10442/hedi/27243 https://doi.org/10.12681/eadd/27243 |
| Summary: | This study was focused on the distribution and abundance of Cretan bats. In total, 767 records from 283 localities along the island were collected: 432 own records and 335 resulting for the research efforts of other scientists (published or communicated to the author). The recent discovery of Nyctalus leisleri by Czech researchers and the author in the prefectures of Chania and Rethymno increases the number of Cretan species to 17. This species, along with Pipistrellus nathusii, Myotis mystacinus/aurascens, Plecotus kolombatovici and Plecotus macrobullaris are rarest and less abundant species of Crete, being located in small numbers in less than 15 localities each. The commonest and more abundant species in underground shelters are Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Myotis blythii/oxygnathus and Miniopterus schreibersii. On the contrary, in various feeding grounds Hypsugo savii, Pipistrellus hanaki, Pipistrellus kuhlii and Tadarida teniotis are by far more common and abundant. Similarly with other Mediterranean areas, some caves on Crete house maternity colonies of the species Rhinolophus blasii, R. ferrumequinum, R. hipposideros, Myotis blythii/oxygnathus, M. capaccinii, M. emarginatus and Miniopterus schreibersii. Furthermore, low to mid‐elevation caves are being used by Rhinolophus blasii, R. ferrumequinum, R. hipposideros and Miniopterus schreibersii, which emerge to forage during warm evenings with no rain. M. blythii/oxygnathus is the only species found to hibernate on Crete, in caves situated above 1450 m.a.s.l. The echolocation calls of the Cretan bats were also described here, in order to facilitate the study of their distribution and ecology. For this purpose 570 bats from 16 species (excluding Pipistrellus nathusii) were recorded after their capture or during free flight while exiting from their roosts or foraging. The echolocation calls of Pipistrellus hanaki were studied thoroughly for first time since its discovery. Investigation of the spectral and temporal parameters of the recorded calls showed that the ... |
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