Year-round monitoring of bat records in an urban area: Kharkiv (NE Ukraine), 2013, as a case study

Authors : KSENIIA KRAVCHENKO, ANTON VLASCHENKO, ALONA PRYLUTSKA, OLENA RODENKO, VITALII HUKOV, VOLODYMYR SHUVAEV

Pages : 530-548

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Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study presents information about the year-round phenology of bats of temperate zones in a city area for the first time. In total, 967 individuals of 5 bat species insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Nyctalus noctula [87.5%], Eptesicus serotinus [10.6%], Pipistrellus kuhlii [0.8%], Vespertilio murinus [0.9%], and Plecotus auritus [0.1%]); were recorded during 2013 in Kharkiv. The population structures of temperate bat species are complex; segregation of sex and age groups varies spatially and seasonally. Most of the bats insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(88%); were collected during the hibernation period insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(January-March and November-December); and the autumn invasion insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(August-mid-September);. The breeding period saw a lower number of bats collected, making up 0.5% of records insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(May-July);. The degree of tolerance to urbanization is species-specific. The bats were found indoors insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(68.6%);, between window frames insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(26.6%);, outdoors insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2.8%);, in basements insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1.05%);, and on balconies insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(0.95%);. Bats of temperate latitudes inhabit big cities in significantly increasing numbers in winter, spring, and autumn. They avoid urban areas in both the breeding period and the period of fat-store accumulation before hibernation.
Keywords : Bats, Ukraine, Kharkiv, monitoring, urban ecosystem, bat phenology