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Інститут екології Карпат НАН України, м. Львів
e-mail: atbashta@gmail.com

Bashta A.-T.
Bats (Chiroptera) of spruce forests in the Ukrainian Carpathians
Bat communities in monoculture spruce plantations (Skolivski Beskydy NNP, Gorgany (NNP
Syniohora) and Chornohora areas) and spruce forests of the upper mountain forest belt (Verkhovynskyi
NNP, Karpatskyi NNP) were studied by recording echolocation calls to assess the importance of such
ecosystems for this group of animals. 11 species were recorded at the sample plots: Northern bat
Eptesicus nilssonii, Serotine bat Eptesicus serotinus, Brand’s bat/Whiskered bat Myotis
brandtii/mystacinus, Daubenton’s bat Myotis daubentonii, Greater mouse-eared bat Myotis myotis,
Common noctule Nyctalus noctula, Brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus, Nathusius’s bat Pipistrellus
nathusii, Common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Soprano pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus, Parti-
coloured bat Vespertilio murinus. According to the degree of dominance (total number of registered
calls), E. nilssonii was the most numerous (32.7%). M. mystacinus/brandtii (25.6%) and P. nathusii
(18.9%) were somewhat less numerous. According to the spatial distribution (presence in the sample
plots), only the pair M. mystacinus/brandtii was detected in all the studied plots. Of the other species,
E. nilssonii (58.8%) and P. nathusii (41.2%) were most frequently represented. For the sibling species
M. mystacinus/M. brandtii no special habitat requirements were found, but the high frequency of their
observations in all ranges of forest biotopes shows them as typical "forest". The dominance of
E. nilssonii in spruce forests confirms that this species mainly uses semi-boreal coniferous forests in
the Central Europe. The highest value of Shannon's biodiversity index was found in spruce forests of
lower altitudes, Skolivski Beskydy NNP (H' = 1.616) and Syniohora NNP (H' = 1.627). Probably,
coniferous forests at lower altitudes can be more favourable foraging biotopes for representatives of
populations that are not topically associated with such forests: P. pygmaeus, P. pipistrellus,
V. murinus, N. noctula. The observed level of nocturnal activity and species diversity of bats in spruce
forests suggests that they may be important to their local populations. Coniferous monocultures can
play an important role for local bat populations by acting as migratory corridors and foraging sites.
Key words: Chiroptera, coniferous forests, forest ecosystems, activity, Carpathians.