ChiroBoxes

Monitoring protocol of fissure-dwelling bats using a network of bat boxes.

Monitoring protocol of fissure-dwelling bats using a network of bat boxes. Due to the lack of mature forests with old trees and the increasing presence of altered habitats, the availability of natural roost has dramatically decreased. Bat boxes are a compensatory measure, and therefore should not be used as a definitive replacement for natural roosts.

We gather information about the number of individuals and the species that occupy the bat boxes. This monitoring protocol is focused on urban species such as common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), soprano pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus), Kuhl’s pipistrelle (Pipistrellus kuhlii), Nathusius’ pipistrelle (Pipistrellus nathusii) and forest-dwelling species such as Leisler’s bat (Nyctalus leisleri), giant noctule (Nyctalus lasiopterus), brown and grey long-eared bats (Plecotus auritus and Plecotus aurstriacus), greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis), Iberian Natterer’s bat (Myotis escalerai), Bechstein’s bat (Myotis bechsteinii) and western barbastelle (Babastella barbastellus).