Bats of Bunessan
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Transcript of Bats of Bunessan
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Bats of BunessanDaniel HowieVolunteer Seasonal Ranger Mull and Iona Ranger Service National Trust for Scotland
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Contents
1. Introduction2. Background3. Ecology4. Distribution 5. Bats of Bunessan6. Species7. Tonight’s plan
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Introduction
• Daniel Howie – Volunteer Countryside Ranger – 10 week placement
• Graduate from SRUC and University of Edinburgh– Degree in Environmental Protection BSc Hons
• Dissertation focused on bats in West Lothian – Effect of weather variables on bat hibernation
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Background
• Belong to the Order Chiroptera– 2nd Largest mammalian Order– Two sub-orders
• Megachiroptera• Microchiroptera
• Only true flying mammal– Patagiums– Differ from other flying species
• Vampire bats?!
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Ecology
• Habitat – Optimal habitats now rare
• Mosaic of woodland, water and grassland• Wet woodland edges favoured
– Roosts • Hollow trees, rock crevices, caves and infrastructure • Maternal, mating, transitory and hibernaculum
• Echolocation– Highly sophisticated sonar system– Different frequencies e.g. Noctule and natterer’s
• Hibernation – During winter months– Torpor
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A threatened species?
• Suffered severe declines in the late 1970s – Intensification of agriculture
• Amalgamation of fields• Livestock moved indoors
– Increasing urbanization – Remedial timber treatment – Lack of scientific research
• Now a European Protected Species – Illegal to kill, injure or disturb bats and their roosts
• Does it work?
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Distribution in the UK
• Bats in Britain at the western edge of their range– 17 or 18 species
• 9 species in Scotland – Common and soprano pipistrelles – Daubenton’s– Brown long-eared– Natterer’s – Noctule – Leisler’s– Brandt’s– Whiskered bat
• Distribution increases further south and west– Longer winters and shorter summers in the North
• NTS Properties – Culzean Castle and Threave
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Bats of Bunessan
• What can we expect? – Common and soprano pipistrelles – Daubenton’s – Possibly brown long-eared and natterer’s
• Previous bat walks:– Pipistrelles and daubenton’s
• Pipistrelles roosting in Tiroran Eagle Hide – Previously roosts in Bunessan main street
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BCT Survey – 1997 & 2001
• Bat Conservation Trust carried out Ross of Mull Bat Survey– Established there was a ‘Bunessan Colony’ – ‘The Flats’ and old grocery store were two main roosting sites
• Approximately 240 individuals surveyed on each occasion – Pipistrelles
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BCT Survey Map
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Pipistrelles: Common and Soprano
• Sympatric species – Morphologically similar but echolocate at different frequencies– 500-750,000 individuals in Scotland– Feed on midges!!!
• Common Pipistrelle – Echolocates at 45 kHz – More of a generalist when foraging
• Soprano pipistrelle– Echolocates at 55 kHz– Prefers riparian habitats
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Daubenton’s Bat
• Strongly associated with smooth, slow flowing water– Often river glades or lochs – Observed over Loch na Laitch previously
• Rare in north-west Scotland– Are they present on Mull?
• Around 40,000 individuals
• Echolocate at ~48 kHz
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Brown long-eared bat
• Second most abundant species in Scotland
• Found as far north as Sutherland– Absent from outer lying islands
• Unsure if present on Mull
• Predominantly woodland species – Gleaning species – Moths, beetles, flies and spiders
• Echolocates at ~35 kHz
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Natterer’s bat
• Generally a scarce and poorly known species
• Range in Scotland to Great Glen fault – Found on Islay, Skye and Arran– Concentrated populations in central Scotland
• Echolocates at around 50 kHz– Forages mostly on midges!
• 17,500 species in Scotland
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Tonight’s plan