Cross-sectoral Partnerships as Organisational Networks. The Analysis of Relations in Three Local Action Groups in Poland

W artykule analizowany jest charakter powiązań pomiędzy instytucjonalnymi uczestnikami współpracy międzysektorowej w ramach partnerstw terytorialnych (a dokładniej tzw. lokalnych grup działania LEADER) utworzonych na obszarach wiejskich w celu podejmowania wspólnych działań na rzecz rozwoju społeczno-ekonomicznego określonych regionów. W kontekście koncepcji kapitału społecznego, za pomocą podstawowych wskaźników sieciowych, zbadano powiązania w trzech partnerstwach położonych w odrębnych regionach historyczno-kulturowych Polski. Omówiono interakcje pomiędzy uczestnikami współpracy (koordynacja, kooperacja, konflikt, kontrola i konkurencja) oraz przepływy (informacji, środków finansowych, zasobów ludzkich i rzeczowych).This paper presents analysis of different connections between institutional participants of three area-based partnerships (LEADER Local Action Groups) that have been created in rural areas to coordinate actions which contribute to social and economic development of the respective regions. The relations in three partnerships located in different historical-cultural regions of Poland were analysed in the context of the social capital concept, using basic network relation indexes. Various types of interactions between agents (coordination, conflict, co-operation, control and competition) and flows (information, financial assets, human resources and tangible resources) have been analysed

The northernmost findings of the Alcathoe bat (Myotis alcathoe) in Poland

The Alcathoe bat (Myotis alcathoe von Helversen, Heller, 2001) is a newly described species of the cryptic complex of whiskered bat species living in sympatry across Europe. The habitats preferred by this species are natural, moist and deciduous forests with old trees and water streams. The majority of known locations of this species come from highlands, foothills and mountainous regions while practically not occurring in the lower elevations. They come mainly from cave areas, where bats were caught during autumn swarming, while records in other seasons are much less frequent. Currently, individual sites in Poland also come from lowlands, beyond the range of the mountains and uplands, which indicates a possible wider range of this species. The bats were captured using mist-nests in the Silesian Lowlands for three consecutive years (2013–2015). The localities were placed in various forest environments, ranging in elevation from 100 to 260 m a.s.l. Bats were initially identified based on morphological features, then the correctness of identification was confirmed by molecular methods. Two females and five males of Myotis alcathoe were captured into four new locations from the lowlands of Poland: Przemkow, Glebowice, Chodlewo, and Dalkowskie Jary (Silesian Lowland). Old trees and a small watercourse were important elements in all these locations. Currently, these findings are the northernmost locations of the species in Poland and one of the northernmost locations in Central Europe. The latest findings of the species are located about 50 km to the south, but the vast majority of the rest of locations is from the foothills belt. This finding suggests that the species may inhabit regions much further north than previously suggested, and the limiting factor is the presence of old trees in wet environments

Phenology of migratory bat activity across the Baltic Sea and the south-eastern North Sea

We compiled the available information on the occurrence and timing of migratory bat activity across the Baltic Sea and south-eastern North Sea coasts and islands, based on ultrasonic monitoring projects at 19 localities in 2007-2009. The data refer to three species; Nathusius' pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii, soprano pipistrelle P. pygmaeus and common noctule Nyctalus noctula. Pipistrellus nathusii occurred at all sites (north to 61 degrees N in Finland), while the other species were scarcer, particularly at the northernmost sites. The status of the recorded individuals is unknown. However, the activity most likely was of migrating individuals or individuals on migration stopover, because very few observations were made during the maternity period. Spring activity occurred predominantly in May, with the median observation date of P. nathusii 20 days earlier in the south (Germany) than in the north (Finland). Autumn migration was observed throughout August and September and activity that may or may not indicate migration was also observed in October and November. The median date of such activity in autumn usually occurred in September and without any significant difference in timing in relation to latitude. Migratory bats in the Baltic area apparently move on a broad front in most cases. The estimated speed of migration for P. nathusii in spring was 55 km/day. The entire coastline and islands around the Baltic Sea are of potential importance for migrating bats in spring (April-May) and autumn (August-September) and should achieve relevant protection according to EU legislation and its implementations

A species-level trait dataset of bats in Europe and beyond

Abstract Knowledge of species’ functional traits is essential for understanding biodiversity patterns, predicting the impacts of global environmental changes, and assessing the efficiency of conservation measures. Bats are major components of mammalian diversity and occupy a variety of ecological niches and geographic distributions. However, an extensive compilation of their functional traits and ecological attributes is still missing. Here we present EuroBaTrait 1.0, the most comprehensive and up-to-date trait dataset covering 47 European bat species. The dataset includes data on 118 traits including genetic composition, physiology, morphology, acoustic signature, climatic associations, foraging habitat, roost type, diet, spatial behaviour, life history, pathogens, phenology, and distribution. We compiled the bat trait data obtained from three main sources: (i) a systematic literature and dataset search, (ii) unpublished data from European bat experts, and (iii) observations from large-scale monitoring programs. EuroBaTrait is designed to provide an important data source for comparative and trait-based analyses at the species or community level. The dataset also exposes knowledge gaps in species, geographic and trait coverage, highlighting priorities for future data collection