Bats (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) of the Bashkiria National Park

Abstract

In 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022 in the national park “Bashkiria” located in the southeastern part of the Republic of Bashkortostan, studies of the local fauna of bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) were carried out. The uniqueness of the specially protected natural area lies in the presence of linden-maple-oak forests located on the eastern border of their range and a wide variety of surface and deep relief forms associated with the development of karst rocks. As a result, data on the habitation of 12 species of bats, which belong to six genera of the Vespertilionidae family, were obtained. Of these, eight species are included in the regional Red Book. The species Nyctalus lasiopterus, listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation, was found in the Republic of Bashkortostan for the fi rst time. A cadastre is presented with a description of the places of work, geographical coordinates and results of catches, information on wintering places, the nature of stay in the region, reproduction, age and sex composition of populations, indicators of relative abundance. According to traps, the most numerous in the national park are: Pipistrellus nathusii, Vespertilio murinus, Myotis brandtii, Nyctalus noctula, M. daubentonii and Plecotus auritus. Few species are: Eptesicus nilssonii, M. mystacinus, N. leisleri and M. dasycneme, while M. nattereri and N. lasiopterus are rare. In addition to the identifi ed species, Pipistrellus pygmaeus, discovered by us 30 km south of the borders of the national park, can live on the territory. Recommendations on the protection of bats and the introduction of N. lasiopterus into the Red Book of the Republic of Bashkortostan are presented.