The distribution of bat species across the underground sites of Georgia
In Georgia, investigations of bat species using caves have been conducted since the beginning of the 20th century. However, robust knowledge is still largely unavailable, as only about 15% of the roughly 2,000 underground sites have been surveyed for bats. The primary objective of this article was t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Pensoft Publishers
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Subterranean Biology |
| Online Access: | https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/134613/download/pdf/ |
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| _version_ | 1846158979189702656 |
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| author | Ioseb Natradze Alexander Bukhnikashvili Suren Gazaryan Giorgi Sheklashvili Levan Mumladze |
| author_facet | Ioseb Natradze Alexander Bukhnikashvili Suren Gazaryan Giorgi Sheklashvili Levan Mumladze |
| author_sort | Ioseb Natradze |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In Georgia, investigations of bat species using caves have been conducted since the beginning of the 20th century. However, robust knowledge is still largely unavailable, as only about 15% of the roughly 2,000 underground sites have been surveyed for bats. The primary objective of this article was to document the use of underground habitats by various bat species. To achieve this, we consolidated field observations with existing data from literature and assessed potential threats to these underground habitats, specifically focusing on caves that harbor significant bat colonies. In this study, we considered underground sites across Georgia where at least one bat species has been documented. In total, twenty out of the thirty bat species recorded in Georgia were found in these underground sites. We characterize the spatial distribution, elevational range, usage of underground habitat, and colony size for these species. These twenty species belong to three families and ten genera. Three of these species have conservation status on the Georgian Red List, and one species is on the Red List of Threatened Species, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). We also report the spatial and elevational distribution of bat species richness and frequency of records in order to rectify conservation priorities in this important biodiversity hotspot. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9d5fb4cc69c747c99cc69672fddf301e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1314-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Pensoft Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Subterranean Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-9d5fb4cc69c747c99cc69672fddf301e2024-11-24T08:31:21ZengPensoft PublishersSubterranean Biology1314-26152024-11-0150657710.3897/subtbiol.50.134613134613The distribution of bat species across the underground sites of GeorgiaIoseb Natradze0Alexander Bukhnikashvili1Suren Gazaryan2Giorgi Sheklashvili3Levan Mumladze4Ilia State UniversityIlia State UniversityAgreement on the Conservation of Populations of European Bats (EUROBATS)Ilia State UniversityIlia State UniversityIn Georgia, investigations of bat species using caves have been conducted since the beginning of the 20th century. However, robust knowledge is still largely unavailable, as only about 15% of the roughly 2,000 underground sites have been surveyed for bats. The primary objective of this article was to document the use of underground habitats by various bat species. To achieve this, we consolidated field observations with existing data from literature and assessed potential threats to these underground habitats, specifically focusing on caves that harbor significant bat colonies. In this study, we considered underground sites across Georgia where at least one bat species has been documented. In total, twenty out of the thirty bat species recorded in Georgia were found in these underground sites. We characterize the spatial distribution, elevational range, usage of underground habitat, and colony size for these species. These twenty species belong to three families and ten genera. Three of these species have conservation status on the Georgian Red List, and one species is on the Red List of Threatened Species, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). We also report the spatial and elevational distribution of bat species richness and frequency of records in order to rectify conservation priorities in this important biodiversity hotspot.https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/134613/download/pdf/ |
| spellingShingle | Ioseb Natradze Alexander Bukhnikashvili Suren Gazaryan Giorgi Sheklashvili Levan Mumladze The distribution of bat species across the underground sites of Georgia Subterranean Biology |
| title | The distribution of bat species across the underground sites of Georgia |
| title_full | The distribution of bat species across the underground sites of Georgia |
| title_fullStr | The distribution of bat species across the underground sites of Georgia |
| title_full_unstemmed | The distribution of bat species across the underground sites of Georgia |
| title_short | The distribution of bat species across the underground sites of Georgia |
| title_sort | distribution of bat species across the underground sites of georgia |
| url | https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/134613/download/pdf/ |
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