Monitoring trends in bat populations through roost surveys: methods and data from Rhinolophus hipposideros

Warren, Ruth D.; Witter, Mark S.

doi:10.1016/s0006-3207(01)00209-9

Cited by 32 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…In our study, population growth can be observed also in species which reach margin of their distribution range in Slovakia or even form isolated populations and are thus considered to be more vulnerable and more sensitive to changes of environmental factors (Gaston 1994;Brown 1995). To support the pattern revealed from winter census, it would be necessary to collect data on abundance changes also in summer roosts (Warren & Witter 2002). Winter censuses can be used as a suitable monitoring method only for a part of the European bat fauna.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in abundance of hibernating bats in central Slovakia (1992–2009)

et al. 2010

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An analysis of long-term changes in abundance of hibernating bats as revealed from the annual monitoring programme conducted in four mountain regions of the Western Carpathians (Muránska planina Mts, Revúcka vrchovina Mts, Slovenský kras Mts, Štiavnické vrchy Mts) during the period 1992-2009 is providing in the paper. Data from 52 hibernacula were analysed. Among 18 bat species recorded, an apparent population increase of three most abundant thermophilous and originally cave dwelling species of bats, Rhinolophus hipposideros, R. ferrumequinum, Myotis myotis, was observed. In other bat species (e.g., R. euryale, M. emarginatus, M. mystacinus, M. dasycneme, Barbastella barbastellus), population trends could not be detected and because of data scarcity, they should be evaluated from more extensive datasets obtained from a wide range of hibernacula or from a completely different type of evidence.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in abundance of hibernating bats in central Slovakia (1992–2009)

et al. 2010

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“…Journal articles using volunteer-collected data are not as common as expected, especially with the wealth of volunteer-collected data available (see Ely 2008a for a list of such journal articles). Many articles (Warren and Witter 2002;Kershaw and Cranswick 2003;James et al 2006;Fore et al 2001) use data collected by volunteers but do not cite any attempts at training or compensation for volunteer error. It is not uncommon to see statements like the following: "While no evaluation of the effectiveness of the participatory aspects of the plan has been made..." (Contador 2005).…”

Section: Challenges For Citizen Sciencementioning

confidence: 99%

A review of citizen science and community-based environmental monitoring: issues and opportunities

Conrad

Hilchey

2010

Environ Monit Assess

1,068

801

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Worldwide, decision-makers and nongovernment organizations are increasing their use of citizen volunteers to enhance their ability to monitor and manage natural resources, track species at risk, and conserve protected areas. We reviewed the last 10 years of relevant citizen science literature for areas of consensus, divergence, and knowledge gaps. Different community-based monitoring (CBM) activities and governance structures were examined and contrasted. Literature was examined for evidence of common benefits, challenges, and recommendations for successful citizen science. Two major gaps were identified: (1) a need to compare and contrast the success (and the situations that induce success) of CBM programs which present sound evidence of citizen scientists influencing positive environmental changes in the local ecosystems they monitor and (2) more case studies showing use of CBM data by decision-makers or the barriers to linkages and how these might be overcome. If new research focuses on these gaps, and on the differences of opinions that exist, we will have a much better understanding of the social, economic, and ecological benefits of citizen science.

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“…The food reduction hypothesis (cryptic habitat deterioration; see Introduction) is therefore not supported. Although the evidence remains purely correlative, it is very unlikely that current conditions of prey abundance may represent an obstacle to population recovery (Warren & Witter 2002;Bontadina et al 2006). We were surprised to discover that insect abundance in coniferous woodland was comparable with abundance in broadleaf woodland.…”

Section: P R E Y a B U N D A N C E W I T H R E S P E C T T O C O L O mentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in prey abundance unlikely to explain the demography of a critically endangered Central European bat

Bontadina

Schmied

Beck³

et al. 2007

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Summary 1.Recognizing the factor(s) that caused a demographic crash is a prerequisite to the development of a tailored population restoration plan. While habitat destruction leaves little scope for population persistence, cryptic habitat deterioration (for example through reduction of food resources) may similarly render an area totally inhospitable, while it still appears to have a suitable habitat configuration. 2. Most European bat species have undergone dramatic declines over the past decades. Once among the most widespread and abundant bat species of Central Europe, the lesser horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros (Bechstein 1800), is today extinct in many regions. Although changes in the agricultural landscape have been suggested as the major cause of decline, recent studies have shown that this bat forages almost exclusively in woodland, a habitat that has increased in area across continental Europe over the past decades. This suggests that habitat eradication per se is unlikely to be the main cause of decline. But could cryptic habitat deterioration play a harmful role? 3. We looked at the abundance of insect prey in woodland in the vicinity of colonial roosts with diverging demographic status (extinct, declining or recovering populations), both in the Swiss lowlands (Swiss Plateau) and in the Alps. We predicted that population size correlates positively with prey abundance. 4. Diet composition mirrored local insect prey abundance, confirming an opportunistic foraging strategy. Prey abundance showed marked seasonal variation, but did not differ between sites harbouring extinct, declining or recovering populations. There was also no difference in food abundance between extinct populations in the lowlands and recovering populations in the Alps. 5. Synthesis and applications. Cryptic habitat deterioration through a reduction in prey abundance is unlikely to preclude recolonization of abandoned areas by presently recovering populations. However, sufficient areas of natural forest should be preserved or created around potential nursery roosts. Moreover, connectivity between forest patches must be ensured (by creation of hedges and tree lines) to prevent any spatial gap in recolonization within semi-open agricultural landscapes. Other threatened European forest bats may also benefit from these measures.

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Monitoring trends in bat populations through roost surveys: methods and data from Rhinolophus hipposideros

Cited by 32 publications

References 17 publications

Changes in abundance of hibernating bats in central Slovakia (1992–2009)

Changes in abundance of hibernating bats in central Slovakia (1992–2009)

A review of citizen science and community-based environmental monitoring: issues and opportunities

Changes in prey abundance unlikely to explain the demography of a critically endangered Central European bat

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