Bats of Stránská skála (Brno, Czech Republic) – roosting in spite of disturbance [Netopýři Stránské skály (Brno) – výskyt v úkrytu navzdory rušení]

Pages

33–40

Citation

GAISLER, Jiří. Bats of Stránská skála (Brno, Czech Republic) – roosting in spite of disturbance [Netopýři Stránské skály (Brno) – výskyt v úkrytu navzdory rušení]. Lynx, new series. Prague: National Museum, 2000, 31(1), 33–40. ISSN 0024-7774 (print), 1804-6460 (online). Also available from: https://publikace.nm.cz/en/periodicals/lns/31-1/bats-of-stranska-skala-brno-czech-republic-roosting-in-spite-of-disturbance-netopyri-stranske-skaly-brno-vyskyt-vukrytu-navzdory-ruseni

Lynx, new series | 2000/31/1

In 1976–2000, 27 checks were made in two underground galleries, 333 m and 85 m long, with respect to the presence of bats. Six of the checks included netting of bats at the entrances. The galleries were excavated into the foot of a Jurassic limestone hill Stránská skála which has been known as a very rich locality of Pleistocene mammals. Due to their situation at the border of a city with 350,000 inhabitants, the galleries are frequently visited by people. In spite of this, bats were recorded inside the galleries at 22 checks and outside the galleries at 4 nettings. The total number of records per species is Myotis myotis 93, M. daubentonii 8, Rhinolophus hipposideros 7, Eptesicus serotinus 4, Plecotus auritus 1, and P. austriacus 1. Inside the galleries, the highest maximum numbers of M. myotis per year were recorded in 1998–2000 and hibernating R. hipposideros were only recorded within these years. Roosting bats were found from October to March, with a maximum in March. Flying bats were netted in June, July, September and October. Two banded M. myotis were recaptured in the same gallery, one R. hipposideros moved to Stránská skála from Ochozská cave, a locality situated 8 km to the NE. Possible reasons are discussed why bats are roosting in the galleries exposed to disturbance although there are numerous and much safer underground shelters on the territory of the near by Moravian Karst. Positive trend observed in the shift of numbers of M. myotis and R. hipposideros corresponds to the data from other European localities.