9th Meeting of the Advisory Committee - Eurobats

Doc.EUROBATS.AC9.10
9 th Meeting of the Advisory Committee
Report of the Intersessional Working Group
Transboundary programme – habitats: Data Compilation
1 Current state of data compilation
Guidelines on the data requirements for establishing a Europe-wide network of important
underground sites for bats were prepared for the 5 th Meeting of the Advisory Committee,
Zagreb, February 2000. Following the 6 th AC meeting, a Microsoft Access database to assist
Country No. of sites
Austria 70
Croatia 57
Czech Republic 62
Estonia 63
Georgia 2
Germany 292
Hungary 77
Ireland 92
Norway 19
Poland 119
Portugal 32
Romania 9
Russia 13
Slovakia 65
Slovenia 46
United Kingdom 42
TOTAL 1060
Table 1. Summary of the database. Parties
are shown in bold
data input was made available via the Eurobats web
site. Data collection has continued subsequently,
with recent contributions from Slovenia and
Estonia. Table 1 summarises the current state of the
database, which now contains details of more than
1000 sites. In addition, Finland and Luxembourg
have indicated that they have no significant
underground sites for bats.
A map of all sites for which geographic coordinates
were available is appended as Figure 1.
2 Analysis of the data
Although the dataset remains incomplete, some analysis is now possible to give an initial
view of the types of site, the species involved, number of bats, site usage and site protection.
This analysis will also help to highlight gaps in the data and where further information is
required to assess the extent of compliance with Resolution 4.3 adopted at the 4 th MOP. In
considering this analysis, it is important to remember that, at present, the database is far from
complete.
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2.1 Types of site
A summary of the types of site in the database is shown in Table 2.
As expected, cave sites are the most numerous, but the database also illustrates the importance
of (abandoned) mines to bats. Other important categories include building (mainly cellars)
Site type No. sites
Cave 454
Mine 275
Building/cellar 167
Fortification 98
Souterrain or burial site 25
Other 22
Road/rail tunnel 11
Waterway tunnel 4
Artificial bat site 2
Ice-house 1
Church 1
Table 2. Types of site in the database.
and fortifications. The latter can be particularly
important in those parts of Europe where natural caves
are rare, as exemplified by Nietoperek bat reserve in
western Poland.
2.2 Species
Species No. Sites
Rhinolophus hipposideros 440
Rhinolophus ferrumequinum 210
Myotis myotis 146
Myotis daubentonii 87
Myotis emarginatus 87
Barbastella barbastellus 86
Miniopterus schreibersii 81
Myotis nattereri 79
Plecotus auritus 79
Myotis blythii 64
Rhinolophus euryale 58
Myotis mystacinus 53
Myotis bechsteinii 43
Plecotus austriacus 42
Eptesicus serotinus 41
Myotis brandtii 34
Myotis dasycneme 26
Eptesicus nilssonii 18
Rhinolophus mehelyi 18
Myotis capaccinii 17
Pipistrellus pipistrellus 13
Myotis myotis/blythii 12
Table 3. Species representation
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As might be expected, sites used by the two
most widely distributed Rhinolophus
species dominate the database. These
species are perhaps the most dependent on
underground sites for hibernation across
their range. Species present in less than 12
sites are not included in the table, but
include N. noctula, H. savii, R. blasii, V.
murinus and P. kuhlii.

2.3 Number of bats
Opinions as to what constituted a nationally important site depended primarily on the number
of bats present as this is the most obvious way of selecting sites. However, many sites
containing only small numbers of species rare in the country ware also submitted,
emphasising, perhaps, a desire to avoid local extinctions.
The top 25 sites, in terms of numbers, are shown in Table 4.
Rank Site name Country Species Max count
1 Huda lui Papara cave Romania Miniopterus schreibersii 33000
2 Kustrovka cave Croatia Miniopterus schreibersii 30250
3 Visticina pit Croatia Miniopterus schreibersii 20000
4 Marvao I Portugal Miniopterus schreibersii 20000
5 Figueira Castelo Rodrigo Portugal Miniopterus schreibersii 12000
6 Kis-kőháti-zsomboly Hungary Myotis myotis 10000
7 Škocjanske jame in Tominčeva jama Slovenia Miniopterus schreibersii 9784
8 Canyon Russia Barbastella barbastellus 7000
9 Dielik Slovakia Barbastella barbastellus 6838
10 Miljacka II cave Croatia Myotis capaccinii 6000
11 Tradanj cave Croatia Myotis blythii 6000
12 Priepasť Čertova diera Slovakia Miniopterus schreibersii 5000
13 Astileu Cave Romania Myotis myotis/blythii 5000
14 Moura I Portugal Miniopterus schreibersii 5000
15 Huda lui Papara cave Romania Myotis myotis 4500
16 Sibenik factory Croatia Myotis emarginatus 4500
17 Bomboly-bánya Hungary Myotis myotis 4300
18 Meziad Cave Romania Miniopterus schreibersii 4000
19 Peschera Svetlaya Russia Miniopterus schreibersii 4000
20 Bradlo Slovakia Rhinolophus euryale 4000
21 Antal-táró Hungary Myotis myotis 4000
22 Sesimbra I Portugal Miniopterus schreibersii 4000
23 Cu Apa din Valea Lesului Cave Romania Myotis myotis/blythii 3500
24 Tatárárki-bg. Hungary Miniopterus schreibersii 3000
25 Culumova cave Croatia Myotis blythii 3000
Table 4. Sites with the largest number of bats
Miniopterus schreibersii is strongly represented in this list as the species congregates in large
numbers, both for reproduction and hibernation. Other interesting points are the lack of sites
for Rhinolophus species, except one for R. euryale, despite sites for these species being the
most numerous in the database, and the presence of two sites for Barbastella barbastellus, a
species generally considered to be rare in western Europe.
The list of sites with the largest number of bats is dominated by a small subset of European
species, most notably Miniopteris schreibersii and Myotis myotis, but it is also interesting to
look at where the largest concentrations of other species occur across Europe. The table in
Appendix 1 lists the top few (varying between 3-6) sites for each species. Apart from the
particular case of R. mehely in Portugali, it is clear that sites in eastern Europe, perhaps most
notably Romania and Croatia, are particularly important for large concentrations of bats. The
countries of western Europe are largely absent from this selective list, though interestingly it
appears that the UK may have notable concentrations of Myotis nattereri. However, it must be
emphasised that this picture may change as the database becomes more complete.
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2.4 Species diversity
The top 25 sites with the highest species diversity is shown in Table 5. At this stage, no
attempt has been made to separate summer and winter usage or to filter out ‘pseudo-species’,
such as myotis/blythii or mystacinus/brandtii.
The most diverse sites appear to fall largely in central Europe and the Alpine region. This
corresponds reasonably well with other estimates of mammal diversity across Europe (see for
example Fig. 1 in the Atlas of European Mammals).
Site name Country Species Total
Jasovská jaskyòa Slovakia 17 771
Malá Šimonka Slovakia 16 1043
Libanka Slovakia 16 2220
Klementgrotte, Hohenau/Raab Austria 14 382
Lurgrotte, Peggau & Semriach Austria 14 453
Milada Slovakia 14 266
Noßertal, Schieferstollen; Rhineland-Palatinate Germany 13 110
Hačavská jaskyňa Slovakia 13 106
Hermannshöhle, Kirchberg am Wechsel Austria 13 711
Plavecká jaskyňa Slovakia 13 835
Tempelherrenloch und Kalkstollen; Rhineland-Palatinate Germany 13 102
Rablloch, Naas Austria 13 118
Stoly pod Jeleni cestou u Male Moravky Czech Republic 13 1259
Jeskyne Byci skala Czech Republic 13 539
Große Badlhöhle, Peggau Austria 12 144
Rüdersdorf, open-cast mine; Brandenburg Germany 12 1331
Wülzburg neari Weißenburg; Bavaria Germany 12 221
Adolf-Mayer-höhle, Hohenau an der Raab Austria 12 403
Fledermausstollen, Bad Deutsch-Altenburg Austria 12 25
Sloupsko-sosuvske jeskyne Czech Republic 12 886
Planinska jama Slovenia 12 357
Mala Amerika Czech Republic 12 261
Stoly u Noveho Mesta pod Smrkem Czech Republic 12 211
Hohenfels troops training ground, caves; Bavaria Germany 12 208
Dubník slepé štôlne Slovakia 12 1018
Table 5. The top 25 sites for species diversity
2.5 Usage of sites
Main usage No of sites
Hibernation 871
All year 70
Maternity 65
Undefined 54
Transient/migratory 3
Table 6. Primary site usage
As expected, the great majority of sites in the database are used primarily for hibernation.
Sites that are used throughout the year fall into two groups; those used by one species
throughout the year and those used by one species for breeding and other species for
hibernation.
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2.6 Site protection
Type of protection No of sites
Undefined 787
Grilled or gated 114
Not protected 64
On private land 42
Partly protected 25
Difficult access 18
Volunteer warden 7
Open to public 6
Information on the protected status of the majority of sites is not yet available, so further data
collection will be required in order to provide information about the extent to which
Resolution 4.3 has been adopted. (Parties should ensure that the important underground habitats
they have identified are fully protected by law and, where appropriate, are physically protected against
unauthorised entry).
Tony Mitchell-Jones
Zoltán Biharí
Matti Masing
Luisa Rodrigues
April 2004
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Appendix 1. The top few underground sites for each species.
Species Site_name Country Max count
Rhinolophus blasii Topla pec Croatia 60
Rhinolophus euryale Bradlo Slovakia 4000
Puskaporos-bg. Hungary 3000
Domica Slovakia 2502
Baradla-barlang Hungary 1500
Andrássy-tárórendszer Hungary 1500
Tradanj cave Croatia 1200
Rhinolophus ferrumequinum Muierii Cave Romania 1600
Golubinka cave Croatia 1000
Cu Apa din Valea Lesului Cave Romania 850
Tradanj cave Croatia 800
Huda lui Papara cave Romania 700
Rhinolophus hipposideros Javoricske jeskyne Czech Republic 1514
Marijino brezno Slovenia 949
Stola Franz Franz u Moravice Czech Republic 763
Libanka Slovakia 742
Viznyelő-barlang. Naszály-hegy Hungary 700
Hermannshöhle, Kirchberg am Wechsel Austria 596
Rhinolophus mehelyi Moura I Portugal 1000
Lagoa Portugal 300
Marvao I Portugal 300
Grandola I Portugal 200
Loule I Portugal 100
Myotis blythii
Tradanj cave Croatia 6000
Culumova cave Croatia 3000
Shubi-Nykhasskaya Peschera Russia 1191
Zagorska cave Croatia 1040
Skarin Samograd cave Croatia 1000
Loule II Portugal 1000
Myotis brandtii
Shtolnya Gory Verblud Russia 284
Virginskaya Shtolnya Russia 108
Peschery Ichalkovskogo Bora Russia 92
Peschera Urochischa Kamennogo Russia 68
Bornukovskaya Peschera Russia 48
Myotis capaccinii
Miljacka II cave Croatia 6000
Culumova cave Croatia 1000
Tradanj cave Croatia 900
Gura cu Musca cave Romania 500
Škocjanske jame in Tominčeva jama Slovenia 500
Myotis dasycneme
Shtolnya Gory Verblud Russia 498
Virginskaya Shtolnya Russia 83
Myotis daubentonii
Shtolnya Gory Verblud Russia 504
Little Blakenham Pits United Kingdom 288
Horringer Court Caves United Kingdom 229
Strzaliny, Wisielcza Góra Poland 142
Stoly u Noveho Mesta pod Smrkem Czech Republic 122
Myotis emarginatus
Sibenik factory Croatia 4500
Golubinka cave Croatia 2000
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Myotis myotis
Myotis myotis/blythii
Myotis mystacinus
Myotis nattereri
Pipistrellus pipistrellus
Nyctalus noctula
Eptesicus nilssonii
Barbastella barbastellus
Plecotus auritus
Plecotus austriacus
Miniopterus schreibersii
Draskova cave Croatia 900
Grad Rihemberg - kleti Slovenia 500
Malá Šimonka Slovakia 459
Kis-kőháti-zsomboly Hungary 10000
Huda lui Papara cave Romania 4500
Bomboly-bánya Hungary 4300
Antal-táró Hungary 4000
Drienovská jaskyňa Slovakia 2000
Astileu Cave Romania 5000
Cu Apa din Valea Lesului Cave Romania 3500
Meziad Cave Romania 2000
Dul Zaluzna I Czech Republic 65
Chilmark Stone Quarry United Kingdom 60
Singleton Tunnel United Kingdom 31
Beer Stone Quarries United Kingdom 26
Stoly pod Jeleni cestou u Male Moravky Czech Republic 20
Greywell Tunnel United Kingdom 484
Chilmark Stone Quarry United Kingdom 456
Szachownica Poland 400
Tomar I Portugal 400
Strzaliny, Wisielcza Góra Poland 212
Stift Zwettl Austria 750
Odvaskői-barlang Hungary 18
Istállóskői-barlang Hungary 15
Zagreb Croatia 300
Škocjanske jame in Tominčeva jama Slovenia 26
Planinska jama Slovenia 16
Dul Zaluzna I Czech Republic 107
Shtolnya Gory Verblud Russia 96
Pevnost Bouda u Techonina Czech Republic 62
Stoly pod Jeleni cestou u Male Moravky Czech Republic 54
Canyon Russia 7000
Dielik Slovakia 6838
Dul Zaluzna I Czech Republic 1167
Dubník slepé štôlne Slovakia 804
Cerny dul Czech Republic 626
Libanka Slovakia 560
Shtolnya Gory Verblud Russia 1482
Virginskaya Shtolnya Russia 166
Strzaliny, Wisielcza Góra Poland 131
Konepruske jeskyne Czech Republic 13
Burg Schlaining, Stadtschlaining Austria 12
Velka Amerika Czech Republic 11
Huda lui Papara cave Romania 33000
Kustrovka cave Croatia 30250
Visticina pit Croatia 20000
Marvao I Portugal 20000
Figueira Castelo Rodrigo Portugal 12000
Škocjanske jame in Tominčeva jama Slovenia 9784
Priepasť Čertova diera Slovakia 5000
Moura I Portugal 5000
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Figure 1. Sites in the database
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