Species composition, abundance and spatial structure of bat community hibernating in Tanechkina and Staroladozhskaya Caves, Leningrad Region, Russia

Matlova M.A., Agafonova E.V., Guseva N.V., Chistyakov D.V.

P. 01-17

The paper presents the results of studies of bats hibernating in the Staroladozhskaya and Tanechkina caves in Leningrad Region, Russia. Species composition, abundance, peculiarities of bats’ spatial distribution, and microclimatic conditions in the caves were studied in 2003 and 2018–2022. Six species of bats were recorded: Myotis daubentonii, M. dasycneme, M. brandtii/mystacinus, M. nattereri, Plecotus auritus, and Eptesicus nilssonii. The most significant species diversity and abundance of bats were noted in the Tanechkina Cave, which is one of the longest in Leningrad Region. The number of hibernating bats has increased nearly fivefold since 2003, with circa 1900–2500 bats utilizing the cave presently. The composition of species abundance has changed over the years. In 2003, M. daubentonii and M. dasycneme predominated by number; whereas at the present, M. dasycneme comprises more than 70% of the total number of bats. The data on changes in the spatial structure of one of the largest bat communities in Leningrad Region over the period of ten years are presented in our paper for the first time.DOI: 10.15298/rusjtheriol.23.1.01