The monitoring of breeding bat colonies in the broader area of the Krka NP
17/10/2023
In the summer of 2023, the company Geonatura d.o.o. conducted monitoring of summer roosts of bats in the broader area of Krka National Park, including the Miljacka II and Topla pećina caves and the bridge near the Brljan waterfall
The activities carried out are a continuation of several years of research into and monitoring of bats in the broader area of the Park and its surroundings. Field research was conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the International Agreement on the Protection of European Bat Populations (UNEP\EUROBATS), and the national program for monitoring the state of bats in the Republic of Croatia, which was approved by the relevant Ministry. The investigation was conducted with the aim of collecting data on bat populations that live in the mentioned shelters during the period of formation of breeding colonies, on their number and species composition, along with an analysis of possible threats to the shelters. Based on field observations, recommendations for further activities were given.
A total of seven bat species were recorded, all of which are included in Appendix II of the Habitats Directive, i.e. on the “List of plant and animal species of importance for the European Union that require protection” Rhinolophus blasii (Blasius’s horseshoe bat), R. euryale (Mediterranean horseshoe bat), R. ferrumequinum (Greater horseshoe bat), Myotis blythii (Lesser mouse-eared bat), M. emarginatus (Geoffroy’s bat), M. capaccinii (long-fingered bat), and Miniopterus schreibersii (Common bent-winged bat).
The analysis of observations to the present in these three shelters indicates significant variations in the number of bats over the years, however, the collected data are not sufficient for a more detailed analysis of trends in the number of species present and the factors that influence this. For more detailed analysis and conclusions, regular multi-year monitoring using standardized methods is required in accordance with the protocol for monitoring bat fauna in underground and above-ground shelters.




Monitoring
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