A long-term study on the ecology of one of the least known but most impressive and enigmatic forest bat species of the Western Carpathians - Nyctalus lasiopterus. The field part of this research could only be carried out thanks to the great help of many volunteers.
The home-range of the colonies’ roosts was about 3.5 square kilometres. Eurasian aspen accounted for 100% of the roosts in mixed stands. But even in the spruce monocultures, the bats roosted in cavities of this tree whenever possible. Bats preferred to roost at the edges of the stands and on steep slopes that offered a free exit from the roost into the open space.
Using GPS tracking technology, we found that the bats have large foraging home ranges (on average 430 square kilometres) and had long foraging transits (up to 130 km) with large distance from the roosting area (up to 49 km). The bats foraged at altitudes from 1013 to 1308 m a.s.l. (max 2666 m a.s.l.), and up to 1659 m above ground.
The first records of Nyctalus lasiopterus in central Slovakia are presented. A total of seven individuals were mist-netted in three sites there in 2005 and 2006. Data on food composition and ectoparasites are added and the population status of the species in Slovakia is discussed.
