Plecotus austriacus (Fischer, 1829)

Godlevska, L., Rebrov, S., Vorobei, P., Savchenko, M. & Panchenko, P., 2022, Bats Of Central Ukraine: A Synopsis, Zoodiversity 56 (3), pp. 203-232 : 220

Plecotus austriacus (Fischer, 1829)

The current distribution of the species in the region ( fig. 20) seems to be the consequence of the recent and continued nowadays range expansion in northern, northeastern and eastern directions. The records of the species in the ZMF- and ZFS-subregions were previously absent; see Note to P. auritus . The occurrence of the species there was first reported by Bilushenko (2009), in the ZFS-subregion. Until recently, the northernmost record locality of P. austriacus was at the border of the ZFS and ZMF-subregions in Kyiv ( Godlevska et al., 2016 a). However, in winter 2020/2021 the species was first recorded in the ZMF-subregion (Annex). Notably, all record points of the species in these subregions concern anthropogenic objects or habitats (mostly in different man-made structures).

The bat fauna of the DRS-subregion was studied much less than in two other regions; focused bat studies were carried out only recently. Thus, it is not possible to estimate how new the species is for the subregion. During the two last decades, the species in the DRSsubregion was recorded in almost the same number of localities as P. auritus (14 and 16 correspondingly). However, in comparison with P. auritus , an abundance of P. austriacus seems to be lower. In particular, the total number of P. austriacus in the underground hibernacula of the DRS-subregion was 32 individuals against 96 in P. auritus ( fig. 25 ).

In the study region, P. austriacus is recorded in all seasons of the year. Breeding females and/or juvenile individuals were found in seven localities of ZFS- and DRS-subregions ( Godlevska et al., 2010; 2021; Annex). Revealed maternity roosts were underground (mines) or in overground sections of (abandoned) buildings (ibid).

Known hibernation roosts are underground; the number per one hibernacula was up to 9 individuals ( Godlevska et al., 2012).

Figures

Fig. 25. Quantitative representativeness of bat species in underground hibernacula of the study area (by own data of 1999–2021). A, ZMF- and ZFS-subregions (34 and 16 objects; 1931 and 51 identified ind., correspondingly); B, DRS-subregion (26 objects, 1697 identified ind.). By: Godlevskaya, 2007; Godlevska et al., 2010, 2012; this paper. In case of numerous counts, maximal numbers were taken.