Microchiropteran Bats

272 Pages·2001·10.18 MB·English

Global Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan
Microchiropteran Bats
Compiled by Anthony M. Hutson, Simon P. Mickleburgh,
and Paul A. Racey
IUCN/SSC Chiroptera Specialist Group
Donors to the SSC Conservation Communications Programme and
Microchiropteran Bats: Global Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan
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Global Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan
Microchiropteran Bats
Compiled by Anthony M. Hutson, Simon P. Mickleburgh,
and Paul A. Racey
IUCN/SSC Chiroptera Specialist Group
The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion
whatsoever on the part of IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the
delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN.
Published by: IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.
Copyright: © 2001 International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorised without prior written
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Citation: Hutson, A.M., Mickleburgh, S.P., and Racey, P.A. (comp.). (2001). Microchiropteran bats: global status survey and
conservation action plan. IUCN/SSC Chiroptera Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. x + 258 pp.
ISBN: 2-8317-0595-9
Cover photo: Brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus). F.R. Greenaway.
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This Action Plan is dedicated to four bat experts who
contributed to its preparation, but sadly died before seeing the
final printed version. John Edwards Hill, Karl Koopman, Frank
Ansell, and Arthur Greenhall all made major contributions to
the fields of bat biology and conservation over the past decades.
Their deaths have left a huge gap in knowledge and expertise. It
is hoped that this Plan will go a long way towards helping the
cause of bat conservation worldwide and they would have been
pleased by its final publication.
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iv
Contents
Foreword .....................................................................vii 3.2.6 Lack of information......................................49
3.2.7 Introduced predators....................................51
Acknowledgements .....................................................viii 3.2.8 Over-exploitation for food............................51
Executive Summary......................................................ix Chapter 4. Legal Protection.........................................52
4.1 Legal protection....................................................52
PART 1 4.2 Agreement on Conservation of Bats in Europe.....53
Biology, Ecology, and Systematics of 4.3 Program for the Conservation of Migratory
Microchiropteran Bats...................................................1 Bats of Mexico and the United States (PCMM)....53
Chapter 1. Biology and Ecology of Chapter 5. Conservation Recommendations.................54
Microchiropteran Bats...................................................2 5.1 Layout of chapter..................................................54
1.1 Background.............................................................2 5.2 General recommendations ....................................54
1.2 Order Chiroptera ....................................................2 5.2.1 Threatened species........................................54
1.3 Biology and ecology................................................3 5.2.2 Threatened habitats......................................55
1.3.1 Habitat use......................................................3 5.2.3 Underground habitats ..................................55
1.3.2 Roosts.............................................................4 5.2.4 Survey and monitoring .................................55
1.3.3 Food ...............................................................4 5.2.5 Systematics....................................................55
1.3.4 Predators.........................................................5 5.2.6 Biology and ecology......................................56
1.3.5 Movements and migration..............................6 5.2.7 Legislation ....................................................56
1.3.6 Ecological role ................................................7 5.2.8 Education......................................................56
1.3.7 Economic importance.....................................8 5.2.9 Vampire bats.................................................56
1.4 Population biology..................................................9 5.3 Key areas for bat biodiversity...............................57
5.3.1 WORLDMAP analysis of key areas
Chapter 2. World List of Microchiroptera with IUCN for bat biodiversity........................................57
Red List Categories of Threat and Distribution...........10 5.3.2 Other measures of key areas for
2.1 IUCN categories of threat.....................................10 biodiversity and their likely relevance
2.1.1 Definitions....................................................10 for bat biodiversity........................................65
2.1.2 The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species....10 5.4 Regional accounts and recommendations.............71
2.1.3 Use of the terms ‘threatened’ and 5.4.1 Afrotropical Region......................................71
‘IUCN Red List species’ ...............................10 5.4.2 Australasian Region .....................................81
2.1.4 Use of the Data Deficient category...............10 5.4.3 Indomalayan Region ....................................90
2.2 Systematics of microchiropteran bats ...................10 5.4.4 Nearctic Region..........................................100
2.3 Definitions of distributional regions.....................11 5.4.5 Neotropical Region.....................................109
2.4 Species list with status assessments 5.4.6 Palaearctic Region......................................123
and distribution.....................................................14 5.5 Species Action Plans............................................136
5.5.1 Introduction................................................136
PART 2 5.5.2 Species Action Plan –
Conservation Issues .....................................................35 Craseonycteris thonglongyai........................136
5.5.3 Species Action Plan –
Chapter 3. Threats to Microchiropteran Bats ..............36 Emballonura semicaudata............................138
3.1 Population declines...............................................36 5.5.4 Species Action Plan –
3.1.1 Rhinolophus species in Europe ......................36 Macroderma gigas.......................................140
3.1.2 Declines in the USA......................................36 5.5.5 Species Action Plan –
3.1.3 Cave populations in Mexico.........................36 Hipposideros turpis......................................141
3.2 Threats..................................................................36 5.5.6 Species Action Plan –
3.2.1 Increasing human population.......................36 Rhinolophus ferrumequinum ........................143
3.2.2 Habitat destruction and modification...........38 5.5.7 Species Action Plan –
3.2.3 Roost site disturbance...................................42 Noctilio leporinus.........................................145
3.2.4 Health issues.................................................46 5.5.8 Species Action Plan –
3.2.5 Persecution....................................................49 Leptonycteris nivalis....................................146
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5.5.9 Species Action Plan – 5.6 Recent conservation and research initiatives.......171
Desmodus rotundus...................................148 5.6.1 Survey and monitoring ...............................171
5.5.10 Species Action Plan – 5.6.2 Education....................................................172
Myzopoda aurita .......................................150 5.6.3 Liaison with special interest groups............173
5.5.11 Species Action Plan – 5.6.4 Conferences and symposia..........................175
Kerivoula papuensis...................................151 5.6.5 Regional initiatives.....................................175
5.5.12 Species Action Plan – 5.6.6 International Action Plans..........................176
Antrozous pallidus.....................................153 5.6.7National and Local Action Plans
5.5.13 Species Action Plan – or Recovery Plans.......................................176
Myotis dasycneme .....................................154 5.6.8 Publications ................................................177
5.5.14 Species Action Plan – 5.6.9 Bat organisations........................................177
Myotis sodalis ...........................................156
5.5.15 Species Action Plan – Chapter 6. IUCN Red List Species Listed by
Plecotus townsendii....................................158 Country and Threat Category....................................178
5.5.16 Species Action Plan – 6.1 Arrangement of list.............................................178
Murina florium..........................................161 6.2 National Red Data Books and Lists...................178
5.5.17 Species Action Plan – 6.3 Data on bat faunas..............................................178
Miniopterus schreibersii.............................162 6.4 IUCN Red List species by country .....................178
5.5.18 Species Action Plan – 6.5 IUCN Red List species in order of threat
Mystacina tuberculata...............................164 status and including distribution by country.......218
5.5.19 Species Action Plan – 6.6 Microchiropteran bats – changes in threat status from
Cheiromeles torquatus...............................165 The 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals....229
5.5.20 Species Action Plan –
Otomops martiensseni................................167 References .................................................................231
5.5.21 Species Action Plan –
Tadarida brasiliensis..................................168 Appendix 1. IUCN Red List Categories.....................254
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Foreword
In 1992, I wrote the foreword to Old World Fruit Bats – An problems can be produced in the countries in which they
Action Plan for their Conservation. The plan was well occur.
received by governments, NGOs, and the conservation Microchiropteran bats have always faced challenges.
community and stimulated a great deal of activity. Fifteen They have a public relations problem and their roosting
of the 20 major recommendations have been addressed habits sometimes bring them into conflict with humans.
and, as a result, projects on fruit bats have been initiated Nevertheless, the bats covered by this volume are important
in many countries of the Old World tropics. components of ecosystems mainly as aerial insectivores
Encouraged by the success of the Old World Fruit Bat throughout the world. They also act as pollinators and
Plan, IUCN asked the compilers to produce a quick seed dispersers in the New World tropics. Bats are often
overview of the remaining 834 bat species, the major contributors to a country’s mammalian diversity
Microchiroptera. Seven years on, it certainly hasn’t been and the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity has
quick, but as successive drafts have been read and led to a new appreciation of the importance of such
commented upon by members of IUCN’s Chiroptera diversity.
Specialist Group and others, the quality of the information Bats have been the focus of conservation initiatives for
it contains has improved. many years, some of which have halted or reversed declines
This is the first attempt at producing a Global Action in numbers. These initiatives have shown what can be
Plan for a group of animals that occupies every continent done. The compilers are to be congratulated in producing
(with the exception of polar regions) and many oceanic a comprehensive document that together with the Plan on
islands. It is clear from the Plan that bats face a wide range Old World fruit bats provides the first detailed conservation
of threats, which have led to precipitous declines. With 834 overview for this highly important group. Stimulated by
species, it is impossible to deal with each individually. The this plan, I hope the growing community of bat biologists
compilers have, therefore, written 20 Species Action Plans and conservationists will renew their efforts to safeguard
for a wide diversity of bat species. These aim not only to this major part of our biological heritage.
stimulate action on those species, but also to provide
templates from which plans on species facing similar The Earl of Cranbrook DSc DL
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank The Bat Conservation Trust and Cox, Torsten Stjernberg, Tor Stormark, Peter Strelkov,
Fauna & Flora International for providing office facilities Hans-Peter Stutz, Per Ole Syvertsen, Gilberto Silva
and financial support, without which it would not have Taboada, Valdir Taddei, Mikhail Tiunov, R. Tizard, Marcel
been possible to undertake this project. We also thank the Uhrin, Zbigniew Urbanczyk, Ruth Utzurrum, Victor van
IUCN/SSC Peter Scott Action Plan Fund that provided Cakenberghe, Aldo Voute, Sally Walker, Steve Walker,
additional funding. Joe Walston, Gary Wiles, Don Wilson, Eduard Yavrovyan,
A large number of people have contributed to this Derek Yalden, and Szabolcs Zavoczky.
document. Some of them are acknowledged elsewhere in Two workshops were held to help gather information
the Plan, but we would like to thank them all here: Gary for this Plan. We would particularly like to thank those
Ades, Issa Aggundey, Ludmilla Aguiar, L.F. Aguirre, who helped organise these: the Lubee Foundation,
Zubaid Akbar, J. Scott Altenbach, S. Andreev, the late particularly John Seyjaget and Roger Haagenson, for the
Frank Ansell, Hector Arita, Keith Atkinson, Stephane Neotropical Workshop in Florida in 1993 and Uwe
Aulagnier, Jonathan Baillie, Angela Bakka, Sergey Bakka, Schmidt for the Palaearctic Workshop in Bonn in 1994.
Paul Bates, Jackie Belwood, Jesus Benzal, Ric Bernard, We would also like to thank Dick Vane-Wright and
Vladimir Beshkov, Frank Bonaccorso, John Borg, Alex Paul Williams at the Natural History Museum in London
Borissenko, Alexandr Botvinkin, Evan Bowen-Jones, Peter for their invaluable help in the analysis of hotspots
Boye, Monika Braun, Anne Brooke, Neil Burgess, John A. presented in Chapter 5 and the regional accounts.
Burton, David Butler, Annette Carlstrom, John Collie, We would also like to thank those who generously
Gabor Csorba, D.H.M. Cumming, Geoffrey Davison, provided photographs for the Plan. Paul Bates, Daniel
Abigail Entwistle, Jacques Fairon, Nina Fascione, Brock Bennett, Stephen Dalton, C. Ecroyd, Frank Greenaway,
Fenton, Tim Flannery, Ted Fleming, Charles Francis, Gareth Jones, Ivan Kuzman, Thomas Lemke, Lindy
Barbara French, Jiri Gaisler, Justin Gerlach, Anne-Marie Lumsden, Pat Morris, Jorg Palmeirim, Noel Speechley,
Gillesberg, Mariano Gimenez-Dixon, Felix Gonzalez- Bob Stebbings, Rob Strachan, M. Tuttle, and David
Alvarez, Steve Goodman, the late Arthur Greenhall, Brian Woodfall.
Groombridge, Timothy Gross, Regine Grünmeier, Toni We are responsible for any errors or omissions that
Guillen, S.S. Guitart, Roger Haagenson, Marianne Haffner, may occur in this document. In a few cases, there may have
Les Hall, David Happold, Meredith Happold, Christine been conflicting views from experts and in such situations
Harbusch, Larry Heaney, Paul Heideman, Gerardo we have had to make our own decisions, for which we
Herrera, the late John Edwards Hill, S. Hoch, Kim Howell, accept responsibility.
Linette Humphrey, Vladimir Iljin, Nina Ingle, Carlos
Iudica, Gareth Jones, C. Joulot, Javier Juste, Tolibjon Anthony M. Hutson
Khabilov, Jonathan Kingdon, Tigga Kingston, Ronan Winkfield, Station Road, Plumpton Green,
Kirsch, Dieter Kock, Tomasz Kokurewicz, the late Karl East Sussex BN7 3BU, UK
Koopman, Carmi Korine, Irina Kovalyova, Eugenia Phone: [phone]
Kozhurina, Dorothea Krull, Sergey Kruskop, Boris Fax: [phone]
Krystufek, Tom Kunz, Ivan Kuzmin, Ralph Labes, Ya-Fu e-mail: [email protected]
Lee, Grzegorz Lesinski, Susan Liebermann, Herman (formerly of the Bat Conservation Trust)
Limpens, Peter Lina, Lindy Lumsden, Jader Marinho-
Filho, Matti Masing, Didier Masson, Kate McAney, Tim Simon P. Mickleburgh
McCarthy, Gary McCracken, Jeff McNeely, Rodrigo Fauna & Flora International, Great Eastern House,
Medellin, Jacqui Morris, Sam Morris, Jean Francois Tenison Road, Cambridge CB1 2TT, UK
Noblet, Colin O’Donnell, D. Ortega, Jorge Palmeirim, Phone: [phone]
Rumiana Pandurska, Milan Paunovic, Dainius-Haroldas Fax: [phone]
Pauza, Gunars Petersons, Dixie Pierson, Jacques Pir, e-mail: [email protected]
Artiom Polkanov, Bill Rainey, Ana Rainho, Irina
Rakhmatulina, Naas Rautenbach, Greg Richards, Klaus Paul A. Racey
Richarz, Mark Robinson, Luisa Rodrigues, Rolando University of Aberdeen, Department of Zoology,
Rodriguez-Munoz, Tamar Ron, Jens Rydell, Rafael Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, UK
Samudio Jr., Julieta de Samudio, Anthony Santana, Dino Phone: [phone]
Scaravelli, Josh Schachter, John Seyjaget, Benny Shalmon, Fax: [phone]
Rebecca Smith, Friederike Spitzenberger, Belinda Stewart- e-mail: [email protected]
viii