Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 54A(1-2) 2011

Issue:

VOL 54A(1-2) 2011

DOI:

10.3409/azc.54a_1-2.77-93

Keywords:

Vespertilionidae, mist-netting, survey, methodology, habitat, phenology, protected areas

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Effectiveness of mist-netting of bats (Chiroptera, Mammalia) during the non-hibernation period in oak forests of Eastern Ukraine

• Alona GUKASOVA
• Anton VLASCHENKO

Abstract:

We tested how the effectiveness of capturing bats with mist nets varied by month (April-September), period in the bat life cycle, habitat and capture effort. A total of 898 bats of 10 species were captured in the National Nature Park “Gomolshansky lessy” from 2006 to 2009. The most successful month of mist-netting was July with a median value of 4.0 (range 0-16.7) b/h (bats per hour) index and bats caught on 94% of nights. The ratio of different bat species changed in different periods of the bat life cycle. The highest number of bat species was caught in July (n=9). Mist nets placed along an ecotone – the border between forest and river – were the most efficient. The period when young-of-theyear  bats become volant is concluded to be the most effective period for mist-netting.