Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 50A(1-2) 2007

Issue:

VOL 50A(1-2) 2007

Keywords:

Vespertilionidae, Rhinolophidae, cave-dwelling bats, Turkish Thrace, Dupnisa Cave System, hibernation, breeding, microclimate

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Seasonal changes of cave-dwelling bat fauna, and their relationship with microclimate in Dupnisa Cave System (Turkish Thrace)

• PAKSUZ S.
• ÖZKAN B.
• POSTAWA T.

Abstract:

In the Dupnisa Cave System (Sulu, Kuru and Kýz Caves in Turkey), between April 2002 and December 2005 34 surveys were conducted. The total number of species found there was 11. Five species of the Dupnisa Cave bat population constitute 99% of the fauna: M. schreibersii (78.0%), M. myotis/blythii (7.9%), R. euryale (6.9%), R. ferrumequinum (4.5%) and M. capaccinii (1.8%). During the winter months (November-March) the maximum number of bats recorded there amount to over 54 000, although in summer (April-October) the total was over 10 000 individuals. The different parts of the cave system are used differently according to the season (winter or summer): Sulu Cave is used almost solely by hibernating bats (70.6% vs 0.1%), Kuru Cave is used as a nursery (0.2% vs 10.6%), while Kýz Cave is used both for hibernation and as a nursery (13.5% vs 5.0%). We found correlations between the species composition and the temperature recorded during the investigated season in particular parts of the system, although no influence of humidity was observed on M. myotis/blythii, M. capaccinii, R. ferrumequinum and M. schreibersii. Sulu Cave (the coldest in summer and in winter) is a hibernaculum, but Kuru Cave is used for breeding purposes as well as for hibernation by R. mehelyi and R. euryale. The Dupnisa Cave System is the most important shelter in theThrace region of Turkey.