Russian Journal of Ecosystem Ecology (Dec 2019)
NEW DATA ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF BATS (CHIROPTERA) IN THE FLAT PART OF THE REPUBLIC OF DAGESTAN
Abstract
Background. The territorial study of the bat population of Dagestan remains insufficient. There are practically no data from remote and hard-to-reach mountain areas, and data on the flat part are modest. There are species, which findings are known only from the first half of the last century. The distribution features are unknown for many species. There is no accurate information about migrations of migratory species and the nature of their seasonal location. The aim of the work is to provide new information about bats of the flat part of Dagestan and adjacent foothill territories, as well as to give a brief analysis of the peculiarities of their distribution. Materials and methods. The studies were carried out from 14 to 28 of May and from 31 August to 12 September 2019. Bats were caught with spider nets at night and in the daytime they were searched in shelters. For remote detection of flying animals, ultrasonic detectors D-240 x and BATTLOGGER M were used. The initial signal processing was carried out in Betexplorer 2.1, and the final analysis-BatSound 3.31. Results. During the work 23 points were examined and 215 individuals of 19 species were found, 2 more species (Pl. auritus and N. lasiopterus) were registered only using echolocation signals. Conclusion. It was found that many species have a wider distribution than previously known (R. hipposideros, R. ferrumequinum, M. bechsteinii, M. mystacinus, M. davidii, N. leisleri). The habitat of M. blythii covers various landscapes from the lower reaches of the Terek river to the southern borders of the Republic. N. lasiopterus, N. leisleri, P. pygmaeus, H. savii, B. barbastellus and B. caspica habitat in the region is confirmed. A sporadic distribution has been noted for M. daubentoni. P. pipistrellus, P. kuhlii, P. nathusii, N. noctula and E. serotinus should be considered the most common in the flat part, and in some areas are massive. For pairs of cryptic species (M. mystacinus and M. davidii, P. pipistrellus and P. pygmaeus) places of their joint habitat are established. The species status of M. nattereri s.l. living in the Sarykum region has been revised. Based on the results of genetic analysis specimens from this part of the region should be classified as M. cf. tschuliensis. Data on migratory species show that the flat part of the territory serves as a place of mass summer stay of males of N. noctula and P. nathusii. At the same time, the findings of pregnant females prove that part of their populations in the Dagestan is settled and uses the floodplain forests of the plain as a place for reproduction.
Keywords
