Maternity colonies of Myotis brandtii in the Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve

Abstract

Two lactating females of Brandt’s bat were radio-tracked during 26–28 June 2016 and 14–20 June 2017 in the Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve (Khoiniki district, Gomel region). Four tree roosts of nursery colonies of Brandt’s bat were found. The roosts were detected at the dead oak trees in an old oak forest at a distance of 142–870 m from each other. Roosts were located in trunk cracks and behind peeling bark at a height of 4–16 m above the ground. Visual inspection during the evening revealed that the maternity colony consisted of 8–10 individuals of Brandt’s bat. In 2016, there was a mixed colony of Brandt’s bat and the soprano pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus). This is the first documented record of maternity colonies of Brandt’s bat and the easternmost finding localities of this species in Belarus.

Keywords

• maternity colony
• bats
• Myotis brandtii
• Polesie
• Reserve
• Belarus