Distress calls are broadcast by bats when being physically constrained, such as when attacked by ... more Distress calls are broadcast by bats when being physically constrained, such as when attacked by a predator or handled by people. Although they have been studied in a few species, more work is needed especially to unveil their function. In our work, carried out in western Sicily in 2015, we set out to provide a first description of distress calls in greater mouse-eared bats Myotis myotis. We caught 20 subjects (13 adults and 7 juveniles) on roost emergence and recorded the calls they emitted when handled with a D1000X Pettersson real-time bat detector. Calls typically had a multiple component buzz structure and were audible to the unaided ear. We found that frequency of maximum energy (FMAXE) as well as start (SF) and end (EF) frequencies were all higher in adult calls than in juveniles. Adult calls also showed a smaller number of both harmonics and pulses in a buzz. Body size, expressed as forearm length (FAL) influenced the number of pulses in a buzz. FAL showed a positive correlation with body mass, FMAXE, EF but a negative correlation with call duration and number of pulses in a buzz. Although our study is preliminary, based on our first findings we suggest that distress calls convey individual information to conspecifics and perhaps elicit differential behavioural reactions (such as mobbing) in colony members. Besides increasing sample size in analyses, our next step will be to carry out behavioural tests in the field to explore the function of distress buzzes in greater mouse-eared bats.
Sicily is the widest region in Italy and also the largest island in
the Mediterranean sea. In spi... more Sicily is the widest region in Italy and also the largest island in the Mediterranean sea. In spite of that, data about the Sicilian bat fauna are scarse and fragmentary, above all as regards its geographical distribution, and still widely inadequate if compared to the richness of habitats and the great biogeographical value of this area. Since the past few years we have carried out a cognitive survey for the achievement of a Sicilian bat fauna atlas and the guidelines on the conservation of species and the sustainable use of habitats. The survey develops into different stages: first of all an accurate bibliographic research to get all previous data and the consultation of the most important zoological collections. The following step is based on a field survey with the main aim of filling the gap of knowledge in some areas of the region where no occurences have been recorded. In this stage data have been collected through inspections in natural or artificial shelters both known and/or potential (with a special attention on karstic cavities), captures (by means of mist net, harp trap, hand nets) and bioacoustic sampling (bat detector Petterson D1000X). The last stage, still in progress, consists in the analysis of the data collected and processing, together with past data, of the distribution maps. All data obtained so far agree with the expected data based on the ecological features of the species. The finding of new colonies during the exploration of various hypogeal sites and large regional areas, so far little or not at all known, allowed us to update the checklist of the sicilian bat fauna and build up preliminary distribution maps. In the current state of knowledge on the Sicily region territory the occurrence of 24 species has been recorded: Rhinolophus euryale, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Rhinolophus hipposideros, Rhinolophus mehelyi, Myotis bechsteinii, Myotis blythii, Myotis capaccinii, Myotis daubentonii, Myotis emarginatus, Myotis myotis, Myotis mystacinus, Myotis nattereri, Myotis punicus, Pipistrellus kuhlii, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Pipistrellus pygmaeus, Nyctalus lasiopterus, Hypsugo savii, Eptesicus serotinus, Barbastella barbastellus, Plecotus auritus, Plecotus austriacus, Miniopterus schreibersii, Tadarida teniotis. The most frequently recorded species, occurred in all nine sicilian provinces, are: P. kuhlii, P. pipistrellus, M. schreibersii and T. teniotis. For the moment the distribution maps we have done are not fully exhaustive for such a wide area, though they represent an important synthesis of the current knowledge and a good starting point for future studies. We believe that further researches, particularly carried in the woodland and on the Sicily minor island, might enhance both the checklist and echological knowledge about those species which are almost totally absent in Sicily.
Caves are elective shelters for bat fauna, above all from a climatic point of view. The “buffer e... more Caves are elective shelters for bat fauna, above all from a climatic point of view. The “buffer effect” on the variability of environmental parameters of cavities, make them a suitable habitat for bats. The choice of roosting sites, the shift of colonies from one chamber or passage to another and the different species composition in the communities during the year, might be linked to changes in the microclimatic parameters in the cavities. In order to explain the real links between the roosts climate and the cave bats communities dynamics, a monitoring protocol both environmental and faunal, has been applied on four natural cavities in south-west Sicily (Grotta del Salnitro, Grotta dell’Acqua Fitusa, Grotta dei Personaggi, Grotta Barone). Three of these cavities are home to large bat colonies, while the fourth cavity is not used and serves as a control. Inside these caves 60 dataloggers (T/Rh) have been installed and periodical inspections and captures have been carried out in order to collect data on bats. Inside the three caves seven bat species were recorded: Rhinolophus euryale, R. ferrumequinum, R. hipposideros, Myotis myotis, M. capaccinii, Pipistrellus kuhlii, Miniopterus schreibersii. In particular, the Grotta del Salnitro is home to M. myotis, M. capaccinii, M. schreibersii and only occasionally to R. euryale, P. kuhlii, the Grotta dell’Acqua Fitusa is occupied by a community of R. euryale, R. ferrumequinum, R. hipposideros, M. myotis, M. capaccinii, M. schreibersii, while the Grotta dei Personaggi hosts only a community of R. euryale. Both the species composition and the environments used by the three communities vary during the year. The research areas are currently being monitored and, according to the first results, we assume a different use of the microenvironments, depending on temperature variations, and a different phenology compared to the known data on peninsular Italy, probably because of the significant latitudinal and climatic difference of Sicily.
Intra-sexual segregation is a form of social segregation widespread among vertebrates. In the bat... more Intra-sexual segregation is a form of social segregation widespread among vertebrates. In the bat Myotis daubentonii, males are disproportionately abundant at higher elevations, while females are restricted to lower altitude. Intra-male segregation is also known to occur yet its ecological and behavioural determinants are unclear. We studied male segregation along a river in Central Italy where we tested the following predictions: 1. Upstream (> 1000 m a.s.l.) males will rely on scarcer prey; 2. To deal with this limitation and exploit a cooler roosting environment, they will employ more prolonged and deeper torpor than downstream (< 900 m a.s.l.) males; 3. Body condition will be better in downstream males as they forage in more productive areas; 4. To cope with less predictable foraging opportunities, upstream males will use more habitat types. Consistent with our predictions, we found that prey were less common at higher altitudes, where bats exhibited prolonged and deeper torpor. Body condition was better in downstream males than in upstream males but not in all summer months. This result reflected a decrease in downstream males' body condition over the season , perhaps due to the energy costs of reduced opportunities to use torpor and/or intraspe-cific competition. Downstream males mainly foraged over selected riparian vegetation whereas upstream males used a greater variety of habitats. One controversial issue is whether upstream males are excluded from lower elevations by resident bats. We tested this by translocating 10 upstream males to a downstream roost: eight returned to the high elevation site in 1-2 nights, two persisted at low altitude but did not roost with resident bats. These results are consistent with the idea of segregation due to competition. Living at high altitude allows for more effective heterothermy and may thus be not detrimental for survival, but by staying at lower altitude males increase proximity to females and potentially benefit from summer mating opportunities.
The bat fauna of Sicily is still poorly known and no extensive survey of these mammals on the isl... more The bat fauna of Sicily is still poorly known and no extensive survey of these mammals on the island has been so far carried out. Here we report on the occurrence of Bechstein’s bat (Myotis bechsteinii) on the island. We recorded this species’ presence at two sites of the Nebrodi mountains (central Sicily) at an elevation of ca. 1500 m a.s.l. The occurrence of M. bechsteinii in Sicily has been regarded as doubtful and not mentioned in recent checklists. Our observations clearly establish that this species does occur on the island and awaits appropriate consideration for conservation actions.
Data on presence, distribution and abundance of bats are particularly scarce in Sicily. Currently... more Data on presence, distribution and abundance of bats are particularly scarce in Sicily. Currently only 20 species have been listed and records on forest species are particularly scanty. Therefore, we decided to start a survey in forested ecosystems of the Nebrodi Regional Park to update recordings on the bat fauna. The Nebrodi are the largest preserved area of Sicily with some 50,000 ha of mixed evergreen and deciduous woods. Previous observations dating back to early ‘90s had recorded only 8 species in the park area, among which Plecotus austriacus and Nyctalus lasiopterus, the most meaningful and intriguing target of the study.
In August 2011 we carried out the first census, by searching roosts, doing acoustic sampling and capturing in mature oak and beech sample areas. Bat calls were detected by means of a D980 bat detector and bats were captured with mist nets near ponds within woodlands. We only found a small roost with Rhinolophus hipposideros. In one pond, located in a mixed oak woodland, we captured Hypsugo savii, Pipistrellus kuhlii, Plecotus austriacus and Myotis nattereri; in a second one, located in a beech woodland, Myotis nattereri and Plecotus austriacus. Apart from H. savii, which were represented by all adult males, we netted males and females for every species. Most M. nattereri and P. austriacus were adult females in lactation and post lactation stage. During the acoustic sampling we recorded 192 bat passes; those identified through FMAXE belong to R. hipposideros, R. ferrumequinum and Tadarida teniotis, the other acoustic records, still under analysis, were preliminarily identified as H. savii, M. nattereri, P. kuhlii, Eptesicus serotinus, Myotis myotis and P. pipistrellus. In this first survey we contacted 10 species, confirming many of the previously recorded ones except for M. nattereri, which represents a new record for the Nebrodi Regional Park. N. lasiopterus has not been recorded yet.
Distress calls are broadcast by bats when being physically constrained, such as when attacked by ... more Distress calls are broadcast by bats when being physically constrained, such as when attacked by a predator or handled by people. Although they have been studied in a few species, more work is needed especially to unveil their function. In our work, carried out in western Sicily in 2015, we set out to provide a first description of distress calls in greater mouse-eared bats Myotis myotis. We caught 20 subjects (13 adults and 7 juveniles) on roost emergence and recorded the calls they emitted when handled with a D1000X Pettersson real-time bat detector. Calls typically had a multiple component buzz structure and were audible to the unaided ear. We found that frequency of maximum energy (FMAXE) as well as start (SF) and end (EF) frequencies were all higher in adult calls than in juveniles. Adult calls also showed a smaller number of both harmonics and pulses in a buzz. Body size, expressed as forearm length (FAL) influenced the number of pulses in a buzz. FAL showed a positive correlation with body mass, FMAXE, EF but a negative correlation with call duration and number of pulses in a buzz. Although our study is preliminary, based on our first findings we suggest that distress calls convey individual information to conspecifics and perhaps elicit differential behavioural reactions (such as mobbing) in colony members. Besides increasing sample size in analyses, our next step will be to carry out behavioural tests in the field to explore the function of distress buzzes in greater mouse-eared bats.
Sicily is the widest region in Italy and also the largest island in
the Mediterranean sea. In spi... more Sicily is the widest region in Italy and also the largest island in the Mediterranean sea. In spite of that, data about the Sicilian bat fauna are scarse and fragmentary, above all as regards its geographical distribution, and still widely inadequate if compared to the richness of habitats and the great biogeographical value of this area. Since the past few years we have carried out a cognitive survey for the achievement of a Sicilian bat fauna atlas and the guidelines on the conservation of species and the sustainable use of habitats. The survey develops into different stages: first of all an accurate bibliographic research to get all previous data and the consultation of the most important zoological collections. The following step is based on a field survey with the main aim of filling the gap of knowledge in some areas of the region where no occurences have been recorded. In this stage data have been collected through inspections in natural or artificial shelters both known and/or potential (with a special attention on karstic cavities), captures (by means of mist net, harp trap, hand nets) and bioacoustic sampling (bat detector Petterson D1000X). The last stage, still in progress, consists in the analysis of the data collected and processing, together with past data, of the distribution maps. All data obtained so far agree with the expected data based on the ecological features of the species. The finding of new colonies during the exploration of various hypogeal sites and large regional areas, so far little or not at all known, allowed us to update the checklist of the sicilian bat fauna and build up preliminary distribution maps. In the current state of knowledge on the Sicily region territory the occurrence of 24 species has been recorded: Rhinolophus euryale, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Rhinolophus hipposideros, Rhinolophus mehelyi, Myotis bechsteinii, Myotis blythii, Myotis capaccinii, Myotis daubentonii, Myotis emarginatus, Myotis myotis, Myotis mystacinus, Myotis nattereri, Myotis punicus, Pipistrellus kuhlii, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Pipistrellus pygmaeus, Nyctalus lasiopterus, Hypsugo savii, Eptesicus serotinus, Barbastella barbastellus, Plecotus auritus, Plecotus austriacus, Miniopterus schreibersii, Tadarida teniotis. The most frequently recorded species, occurred in all nine sicilian provinces, are: P. kuhlii, P. pipistrellus, M. schreibersii and T. teniotis. For the moment the distribution maps we have done are not fully exhaustive for such a wide area, though they represent an important synthesis of the current knowledge and a good starting point for future studies. We believe that further researches, particularly carried in the woodland and on the Sicily minor island, might enhance both the checklist and echological knowledge about those species which are almost totally absent in Sicily.
Caves are elective shelters for bat fauna, above all from a climatic point of view. The “buffer e... more Caves are elective shelters for bat fauna, above all from a climatic point of view. The “buffer effect” on the variability of environmental parameters of cavities, make them a suitable habitat for bats. The choice of roosting sites, the shift of colonies from one chamber or passage to another and the different species composition in the communities during the year, might be linked to changes in the microclimatic parameters in the cavities. In order to explain the real links between the roosts climate and the cave bats communities dynamics, a monitoring protocol both environmental and faunal, has been applied on four natural cavities in south-west Sicily (Grotta del Salnitro, Grotta dell’Acqua Fitusa, Grotta dei Personaggi, Grotta Barone). Three of these cavities are home to large bat colonies, while the fourth cavity is not used and serves as a control. Inside these caves 60 dataloggers (T/Rh) have been installed and periodical inspections and captures have been carried out in order to collect data on bats. Inside the three caves seven bat species were recorded: Rhinolophus euryale, R. ferrumequinum, R. hipposideros, Myotis myotis, M. capaccinii, Pipistrellus kuhlii, Miniopterus schreibersii. In particular, the Grotta del Salnitro is home to M. myotis, M. capaccinii, M. schreibersii and only occasionally to R. euryale, P. kuhlii, the Grotta dell’Acqua Fitusa is occupied by a community of R. euryale, R. ferrumequinum, R. hipposideros, M. myotis, M. capaccinii, M. schreibersii, while the Grotta dei Personaggi hosts only a community of R. euryale. Both the species composition and the environments used by the three communities vary during the year. The research areas are currently being monitored and, according to the first results, we assume a different use of the microenvironments, depending on temperature variations, and a different phenology compared to the known data on peninsular Italy, probably because of the significant latitudinal and climatic difference of Sicily.
Intra-sexual segregation is a form of social segregation widespread among vertebrates. In the bat... more Intra-sexual segregation is a form of social segregation widespread among vertebrates. In the bat Myotis daubentonii, males are disproportionately abundant at higher elevations, while females are restricted to lower altitude. Intra-male segregation is also known to occur yet its ecological and behavioural determinants are unclear. We studied male segregation along a river in Central Italy where we tested the following predictions: 1. Upstream (> 1000 m a.s.l.) males will rely on scarcer prey; 2. To deal with this limitation and exploit a cooler roosting environment, they will employ more prolonged and deeper torpor than downstream (< 900 m a.s.l.) males; 3. Body condition will be better in downstream males as they forage in more productive areas; 4. To cope with less predictable foraging opportunities, upstream males will use more habitat types. Consistent with our predictions, we found that prey were less common at higher altitudes, where bats exhibited prolonged and deeper torpor. Body condition was better in downstream males than in upstream males but not in all summer months. This result reflected a decrease in downstream males' body condition over the season , perhaps due to the energy costs of reduced opportunities to use torpor and/or intraspe-cific competition. Downstream males mainly foraged over selected riparian vegetation whereas upstream males used a greater variety of habitats. One controversial issue is whether upstream males are excluded from lower elevations by resident bats. We tested this by translocating 10 upstream males to a downstream roost: eight returned to the high elevation site in 1-2 nights, two persisted at low altitude but did not roost with resident bats. These results are consistent with the idea of segregation due to competition. Living at high altitude allows for more effective heterothermy and may thus be not detrimental for survival, but by staying at lower altitude males increase proximity to females and potentially benefit from summer mating opportunities.
The bat fauna of Sicily is still poorly known and no extensive survey of these mammals on the isl... more The bat fauna of Sicily is still poorly known and no extensive survey of these mammals on the island has been so far carried out. Here we report on the occurrence of Bechstein’s bat (Myotis bechsteinii) on the island. We recorded this species’ presence at two sites of the Nebrodi mountains (central Sicily) at an elevation of ca. 1500 m a.s.l. The occurrence of M. bechsteinii in Sicily has been regarded as doubtful and not mentioned in recent checklists. Our observations clearly establish that this species does occur on the island and awaits appropriate consideration for conservation actions.
Data on presence, distribution and abundance of bats are particularly scarce in Sicily. Currently... more Data on presence, distribution and abundance of bats are particularly scarce in Sicily. Currently only 20 species have been listed and records on forest species are particularly scanty. Therefore, we decided to start a survey in forested ecosystems of the Nebrodi Regional Park to update recordings on the bat fauna. The Nebrodi are the largest preserved area of Sicily with some 50,000 ha of mixed evergreen and deciduous woods. Previous observations dating back to early ‘90s had recorded only 8 species in the park area, among which Plecotus austriacus and Nyctalus lasiopterus, the most meaningful and intriguing target of the study.
In August 2011 we carried out the first census, by searching roosts, doing acoustic sampling and capturing in mature oak and beech sample areas. Bat calls were detected by means of a D980 bat detector and bats were captured with mist nets near ponds within woodlands. We only found a small roost with Rhinolophus hipposideros. In one pond, located in a mixed oak woodland, we captured Hypsugo savii, Pipistrellus kuhlii, Plecotus austriacus and Myotis nattereri; in a second one, located in a beech woodland, Myotis nattereri and Plecotus austriacus. Apart from H. savii, which were represented by all adult males, we netted males and females for every species. Most M. nattereri and P. austriacus were adult females in lactation and post lactation stage. During the acoustic sampling we recorded 192 bat passes; those identified through FMAXE belong to R. hipposideros, R. ferrumequinum and Tadarida teniotis, the other acoustic records, still under analysis, were preliminarily identified as H. savii, M. nattereri, P. kuhlii, Eptesicus serotinus, Myotis myotis and P. pipistrellus. In this first survey we contacted 10 species, confirming many of the previously recorded ones except for M. nattereri, which represents a new record for the Nebrodi Regional Park. N. lasiopterus has not been recorded yet.
Uploads
Papers by Antonio Fulco
the Mediterranean sea. In spite of that, data about the Sicilian bat fauna are scarse and fragmentary, above all as regards its geographical distribution, and still widely inadequate if compared to the richness of habitats and the great biogeographical value of this area. Since the past few years we have carried out a cognitive survey for the achievement of a Sicilian bat fauna atlas and the guidelines on the conservation of species and the sustainable use of habitats.
The survey develops into different stages: first of all an accurate
bibliographic research to get all previous data and the consultation of the most important zoological collections. The following step is based on a field survey with the main aim of filling the gap of knowledge in some areas of the region where no occurences have been recorded. In this stage data have been collected through inspections in natural or artificial shelters both known and/or potential (with a special attention on karstic cavities), captures (by means of mist net, harp trap, hand nets) and bioacoustic sampling (bat detector Petterson D1000X). The last stage, still in progress, consists in the analysis of the data collected and processing, together with past data, of the distribution maps. All data obtained so far agree with the expected data based on the ecological features of the species. The finding of new colonies during the exploration of various hypogeal sites and large regional areas, so far little or not at all known, allowed us to update the checklist of the sicilian bat fauna and build up preliminary distribution maps. In the current state of knowledge on the Sicily region territory the occurrence of 24 species has been recorded: Rhinolophus euryale, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Rhinolophus hipposideros, Rhinolophus mehelyi, Myotis bechsteinii, Myotis blythii, Myotis capaccinii, Myotis daubentonii, Myotis emarginatus, Myotis myotis, Myotis mystacinus, Myotis
nattereri, Myotis punicus, Pipistrellus kuhlii, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Pipistrellus pygmaeus, Nyctalus lasiopterus, Hypsugo savii, Eptesicus serotinus, Barbastella barbastellus, Plecotus auritus, Plecotus austriacus, Miniopterus schreibersii, Tadarida teniotis. The most frequently recorded species, occurred in all nine sicilian provinces, are: P. kuhlii, P. pipistrellus, M. schreibersii and T. teniotis.
For the moment the distribution maps we have done are not
fully exhaustive for such a wide area, though they represent an
important synthesis of the current knowledge and a good starting point for future studies. We believe that further researches, particularly carried in the woodland and on the Sicily minor island, might enhance both the checklist and echological knowledge about those species which are almost totally absent in Sicily.
Inside the three caves seven bat species were recorded: Rhinolophus euryale, R. ferrumequinum, R. hipposideros, Myotis myotis, M. capaccinii, Pipistrellus kuhlii, Miniopterus schreibersii. In particular, the Grotta del Salnitro is home to M.
myotis, M. capaccinii, M. schreibersii and only occasionally to R. euryale, P. kuhlii, the Grotta dell’Acqua Fitusa is occupied by a community of R. euryale, R. ferrumequinum, R. hipposideros, M. myotis, M. capaccinii, M. schreibersii, while the Grotta dei Personaggi hosts only a community of R. euryale. Both the species composition and the environments used by the three communities vary during the year.
The research areas are currently being monitored and, according to the first results, we assume a different use of the microenvironments, depending on temperature variations, and a different phenology compared to the known data on peninsular Italy, probably because of the significant latitudinal and climatic difference of Sicily.
In August 2011 we carried out the first census, by searching roosts, doing acoustic sampling and capturing in mature oak and beech sample areas. Bat calls were detected by means of a D980 bat detector and bats were captured with mist nets near ponds within woodlands. We only found a small roost with Rhinolophus hipposideros. In one pond, located in a mixed oak woodland, we captured Hypsugo savii, Pipistrellus kuhlii, Plecotus austriacus and Myotis nattereri; in a second one, located in a beech woodland, Myotis nattereri and Plecotus austriacus. Apart from H. savii, which were represented by all adult males, we netted males and females for every species. Most M. nattereri and P. austriacus were adult females in lactation and post lactation stage. During the acoustic sampling we recorded 192 bat passes; those identified through FMAXE belong to R. hipposideros, R. ferrumequinum and Tadarida teniotis, the other acoustic records, still under analysis, were preliminarily identified as H. savii, M. nattereri, P. kuhlii, Eptesicus serotinus, Myotis myotis and P. pipistrellus. In this first survey we contacted 10 species, confirming many of the previously recorded ones except for M. nattereri, which represents a new record for the Nebrodi Regional Park. N. lasiopterus has not been recorded yet.
the Mediterranean sea. In spite of that, data about the Sicilian bat fauna are scarse and fragmentary, above all as regards its geographical distribution, and still widely inadequate if compared to the richness of habitats and the great biogeographical value of this area. Since the past few years we have carried out a cognitive survey for the achievement of a Sicilian bat fauna atlas and the guidelines on the conservation of species and the sustainable use of habitats.
The survey develops into different stages: first of all an accurate
bibliographic research to get all previous data and the consultation of the most important zoological collections. The following step is based on a field survey with the main aim of filling the gap of knowledge in some areas of the region where no occurences have been recorded. In this stage data have been collected through inspections in natural or artificial shelters both known and/or potential (with a special attention on karstic cavities), captures (by means of mist net, harp trap, hand nets) and bioacoustic sampling (bat detector Petterson D1000X). The last stage, still in progress, consists in the analysis of the data collected and processing, together with past data, of the distribution maps. All data obtained so far agree with the expected data based on the ecological features of the species. The finding of new colonies during the exploration of various hypogeal sites and large regional areas, so far little or not at all known, allowed us to update the checklist of the sicilian bat fauna and build up preliminary distribution maps. In the current state of knowledge on the Sicily region territory the occurrence of 24 species has been recorded: Rhinolophus euryale, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Rhinolophus hipposideros, Rhinolophus mehelyi, Myotis bechsteinii, Myotis blythii, Myotis capaccinii, Myotis daubentonii, Myotis emarginatus, Myotis myotis, Myotis mystacinus, Myotis
nattereri, Myotis punicus, Pipistrellus kuhlii, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Pipistrellus pygmaeus, Nyctalus lasiopterus, Hypsugo savii, Eptesicus serotinus, Barbastella barbastellus, Plecotus auritus, Plecotus austriacus, Miniopterus schreibersii, Tadarida teniotis. The most frequently recorded species, occurred in all nine sicilian provinces, are: P. kuhlii, P. pipistrellus, M. schreibersii and T. teniotis.
For the moment the distribution maps we have done are not
fully exhaustive for such a wide area, though they represent an
important synthesis of the current knowledge and a good starting point for future studies. We believe that further researches, particularly carried in the woodland and on the Sicily minor island, might enhance both the checklist and echological knowledge about those species which are almost totally absent in Sicily.
Inside the three caves seven bat species were recorded: Rhinolophus euryale, R. ferrumequinum, R. hipposideros, Myotis myotis, M. capaccinii, Pipistrellus kuhlii, Miniopterus schreibersii. In particular, the Grotta del Salnitro is home to M.
myotis, M. capaccinii, M. schreibersii and only occasionally to R. euryale, P. kuhlii, the Grotta dell’Acqua Fitusa is occupied by a community of R. euryale, R. ferrumequinum, R. hipposideros, M. myotis, M. capaccinii, M. schreibersii, while the Grotta dei Personaggi hosts only a community of R. euryale. Both the species composition and the environments used by the three communities vary during the year.
The research areas are currently being monitored and, according to the first results, we assume a different use of the microenvironments, depending on temperature variations, and a different phenology compared to the known data on peninsular Italy, probably because of the significant latitudinal and climatic difference of Sicily.
In August 2011 we carried out the first census, by searching roosts, doing acoustic sampling and capturing in mature oak and beech sample areas. Bat calls were detected by means of a D980 bat detector and bats were captured with mist nets near ponds within woodlands. We only found a small roost with Rhinolophus hipposideros. In one pond, located in a mixed oak woodland, we captured Hypsugo savii, Pipistrellus kuhlii, Plecotus austriacus and Myotis nattereri; in a second one, located in a beech woodland, Myotis nattereri and Plecotus austriacus. Apart from H. savii, which were represented by all adult males, we netted males and females for every species. Most M. nattereri and P. austriacus were adult females in lactation and post lactation stage. During the acoustic sampling we recorded 192 bat passes; those identified through FMAXE belong to R. hipposideros, R. ferrumequinum and Tadarida teniotis, the other acoustic records, still under analysis, were preliminarily identified as H. savii, M. nattereri, P. kuhlii, Eptesicus serotinus, Myotis myotis and P. pipistrellus. In this first survey we contacted 10 species, confirming many of the previously recorded ones except for M. nattereri, which represents a new record for the Nebrodi Regional Park. N. lasiopterus has not been recorded yet.