Bats (Chiroptera) in forest ecosystems: key factors for the conservation of populations

• Published in: Scientific Bulletin of UNFU
• Main Author: Башта, А.-Т. В.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Ukrainian
• Published: Ukrainian National Forestry University 2022
• Subjects: Chiroptera; biodiversity; forest ecosystems; target species; conservation; біорізноманітність; лісові екосистеми; види-індикатори; охорона; Barbastella barbastellus
• Online Access: https://nv.nltu.edu.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/2395; https://doi.org/10.36930/40320109

The publication is devoted to the ecological features of forest bat species and the importance of certain forest habitats for their populations. The research was mainly performed using the method of ultrasonic detection. The research confirmed that the structure of forest stands in mixed forests and spruce plantations in the Beskids determined the existence of a number of ecological niches of different bat species with different topical preferences and forage strategies. The nocturnal activity of bats was 140 BP/night in mixed forests and up to 15 BP/night in spruce forests. Species diversity of bats (H) was significantly higher in mixed forests then in spruce plantations (H = 2.11 and 1.34, respectively). In the case of increasing structural diversity of the forest, the potential of the habitat and, accordingly, the diversity of bat species increases and the forest age in this regard is an important variable. The types of forest management, which are more focused on the creation of the natural composition of forests, allow maintaining a certain mosaic structure of forests and therefore they are characterized by greater species diversity and density of bat communities. The significant diversity of rare bat species indicates a low degree of transformation of forest ecosystems, while the relatively high number of local eurytopic species is an indicator of a higher degree of their transformation. The bat species (Myotis bechsteinii and Myotis alcathoe) of old deciduous or mixed forests have specific habitat requirements. Typical forest bat species can be good indicators in matters of forestry close to nature. Bats (namely Myotis bechsteinii, Myotis alcathoe, Barbastella barbastellus), which prefer mature forest age classes, can be indicators of the structure states of such forest ecosystems. The set of requirements of bats to the habitat can reflect complex ecosystem interactions and have a synergistic effect on other groups of animals. These include as follows: preservation of hollow trees in old deciduous ...