Distributional status of Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Schreber, 1774) and P. pygmaeus in the Czech Republic: results of mapping
| Title in English | Distributional status of Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Schreber, 1774) and P. pygmaeus |
|---|---|
| Authors | |
| Year of publication | 2004 |
| Type | Article in Proceedings |
| Conference | Abstracts of 13th International Bat Research Conference, Poland, Mikolajki, 23-27 August 2004 |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Zoology |
| Keywords | distribution; pipistrelles |
| Description | New cryptic species of common pipistrelles, P. pipistrellus sensu stricto and P. pygmaeus can be reliably identified in the field by bat-detectors (later by PC analyses) and on a basis of mtDNA analysis (cyt b gene) of a tissue target of patagium acquired from netted bats. In the area of the Czech Republic P. pipistrellus sensu lato was considered common bat species distributed in the majority of the state area. We summarized all former data about occurrence of all common pipistrelles at first, especially sites of nursery colonies. All sites we included to the grid map of the Czech Republic divided into 695 quadrats unified to all faunistic researches in the Czech republic. In total, a database comprised 916 records of P. pipistrellus s. l. in 146 quadrats (21% of the territory under study). Since 2002 the research project has been started to map the distribution of both pipistrelles separately using mainly bat-detectors. The line transects were conducted in suitable habitats of each mapping square visited. Hitherto, 296 sites of P. pipistrellus s. s. in 103 mapping quadrats (15%) and 135 sites of P. pygmaeus in 40 quadrats (6%) have been found. While P. pipistrellus s. s. occured almost in the whole territory except the high mountain elevation the range of P. pygmaeus was considerably lesser and the main area of its distribution is that in southern Moravia and southern Bohemia. P. pygmaeus especially prefers floodplain forests and other wetlands in the aluvium of Morava, Dyje and Svratka rivers and a pond landscape in the Třeboň and České Budějovice basins where it prevails sympatric P. pipistrellus s. s. Most records of P. pygmaeus come from low altitudes (150-200 m a. s. l., max. 450 m a. s. l.) whereas P. pipistrellus s. s. has been recorded up to 862 m a. s. l. and it does not avoid wooded highlands or human settlements contrary to former species. P. pipistrellus s. s. seems to be allopatric in the mountain northern part of the Czech Republic. The research was supported by the grant of the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic No. 206/02/0961. |
| Related projects: |