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Bats of Bunessan
- 1. Bats of Bunessan Daniel Howie Volunteer Seasonal Ranger Mull and Iona Ranger Service National Trust for Scotland
- 2. 22 Contents 1. Introduction 2. Background 3. Ecology 4. Distribution 5. Bats of Bunessan 6. Species 7. Tonight’s plan
- 3. 33 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
- 4. 44 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?!
- 5. 55 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
- 6. 66 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?
- 7. 77 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
- 8. 88 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
- 9. 99 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
- 11. 1111 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
- 12. 1212 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
- 13. 1313 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
- 14. 1414 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
Editor's Notes
- Rodents largest order, Soricomorhpa 3rd – shrews, mice etc. Mega and micra – debate as to whether or not they have descended from same common ancestor. Megabats thought to be more closely related to primates. Potagiums – stretch between elongated fingers on front limbs, allowing for powered flight Can be as small as bumble bees
- Varies between species but in Britain, slow moving water and open areas of grassland are preferred. Optimal habitats now rare in the UK due to intensification of agriculture and ubranization. Echolocation far more sophisticated than cetacean species – used to forage and fly. Signals bounce back and are interpreted. Bats provide a wide range of ecosystem services – seed dispersal, pollination and pest control. Maternal roosts in summer
- Extremely understudied in comparison to other species. Loss of woodland – particularly after WW2
- Fewer hours of darkness in north. NTS Properties – Culzean Castle has 8 and Threave has 7.
- Didn’t differentiate between species.
- Identified as being different due to echolocation, nostrils and smell! Photo – (Morgan, 2013). 2000 midges per night (BBC News) Soprano believed to be most common in Scotland
- Often flies close to ground and is known to land on ground to catch prey – vulnerable to predation – could mention feral cats? Ears curl up and often look like horns – ¾ the length of the body Roosts in caves, mines and trees – absent from other islands due to lack of woodland. Long ears to assist with foraging in cluttered environments. Emerge from roosts around an hour after sunset.