Foraging range use by a colony of greater horseshoe bats Rhinolophus ferrumequinum in the Swiss Alps: implications for landscape planning

Abstract Abstract After having suffered a dramatic population decline, the greater horseshoe bat has been classified as highly endangered in central and western Europe. We studied seasonal foraging range use of one large colony by radio-tracking so as to get founded arguments in the face of rising land use conflicts. The individual bats used largely overlapping foraging ranges: on average 10 bats exploited more than 80 % of the colony range estimated to be 6.7 (±0.34) km 2 . Altitude above sea level and distance to the roost explained 30.5 % of the variation in utilisation density. Core foraging areas enclosed 74 % of the foraging activity of the bats within 30 % of colony home range. Foraging distances were larger in spring, which is probably the critical season for greater horseshoe bats. We conclude that conservation of the colony must be given priorit

The lesser horseshoe bat in Switzerland THE LESSER HORSESHOE BAT RHINOLOPHUS HIPPOSIDEROS IN SWITZERLAND: PRESENT STATUS AND RESEARCH RECOMMENDATIONS

ABSTRACT Once the lesser horseshoe bat Rhinolophus hipposideros (Bechstein, 1800) was known to be widespread and common in Switzerland. In the past 50 years their overall population has undergone a severe decline, as in most countries of Central Europe. With the aim to Following an evaluation of possible factors and an enquiry with bat experts, the most threatening factors are thought to be pesticides, changes in the structure of habitats and food shortage. Therefore we propose the following research topics with high priority: resource exploitation, pesticide contamination and the development and implementation of refined methods for monitoring populations. Moreover, depending on the results of the first research phase, studies about population dynamics, roost conditions, climate, populations genetics and the colonisation potential of these animals could be included in a second phase. Further we propose to carry out regional public enquiries to find more roosts in private houses and to build action plans to implement protection schemes