2007 Operation Wallacea Expedition Bat Report, Sinai, Egypt

Jeremy Truscott

CONTENTS

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

Acknowledgements

References

Appendix: Future Work & Survey Recommendations

Plecotus christii

2007 Operation Wallacea Expedition Bat Report, Sinai, Egypt 2

Introduction

This report details the results of bat surveys undertaken in the St Katherine Protectorate, Sinai, Egypt in conjunction with BioMap, the Biodiversity Monitoring & Assessment Project of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, and Operation Wallacea a UK conservation body supporting biological and social science expedition projects throughout the world, and also supported by the British Council in Cairo.

Surveys were carried out in July 2007 as part of a biodiversity atlasing project of the National Park with the aim of producing a distribution map for target rare, threatened, endemic or medicinal plant species, summer breeding birds, reptiles, large mammals and bats in the St. Katherine Protectorate which covers the mountains of the southern Sinai. The project also aims to promote conservation and research of biodiversity within Egypt through the involvement of Egyptian scientists, National park rangers, International volunteers, Egyptian students and local Bedouin.

Bat surveys were initially undertaken in 2005 by Christian Dietz and in 2006 by Alana Maltby with twelve species identified, the results of these surveys are detailed in previous reports (Dietz 2005, Maltby & Dietz 2006).

Rhinolophus hipposideros

2007 Operation Wallacea Expedition Bat Report, Sinai, Egypt 3 Methods

During July 2007 mist netting was used to capture bats in free flight at potential foraging habitats. In addition opportunistic searches of potential roost sites were undertaken and any bats encountered caught using hand-held nets. Captured bats were identified in the hand through morphological features using the Illustrated Identification key to the bats of Egypt (Dietz 2005). Echolocation calls of captured bats were recorded to aid identification. In addition echolocation calls of free-flying bats were recorded at various locations, and species identified through comparisons to a call library.

Mist Netting On arrival at site potential bat foraging sites were assessed and mist nets set up in locations deemed most likely to catch bats, for example making use of landscape features such as trees, small water reservoirs (raised concrete walled water tanks usually without lids approximately 1m high, see plate X below) and natural corridors.

Mist nets consisted of a combination of two 12m and one 2m something nets held in place by wood, bamboo or metal poles depending upon the resources available at each site and a series of guy ropes.

Identification in the hand Upon capturing a bat in a mist or hand net the bat was initially placed inside a small cotton drawstring bag, of a type specifically produced for holding bats or birds. Upon removal from the bag a series of morphological measurements were taken to aid identification, namely weight and forearm length, and a photographic record taken. Further measurements were taken where necessary to aid identification based upon the available key (Dietz 2005). All bats were released on site within one hour of capture.

Echolocation calls Recordings of bat echolocation calls were made of each bat released following capture. In addition echolocation calls were recorded for a representative sample at each location.

Note Previously Hypsugo ariel was assigned to two species; H. bodenheimeri and H. ariel, however, these are believed to be conspecific and hence H. ariel, is used here – see Benda et al 2008.

Hypsugo ariel

2007 Operation Wallacea Expedition Bat Report, Sinai, Egypt 4 Results

General Site Description The St Katherine Protectorate was declared a protected area in 1996 for its biological and cultural interest. The protectorate encloses most of the mountainous area of central South Sinai. This high altitude ecosystem contains a diversity of plants and animals, with many endemic species; habitats include mountains, wadis, desert plains and oases.

Mountain habitat includes hilly country and slopes, as well as narrow small wadis, gullies and ravines. These are usually poorly vegetated at lower elevations, although higher up very thin vegetation cover shrouds the mountain slopes and floral and insect diversity is fairly high. Wadis contain much of the vegetation in the region with the major influences being infrequent flash floods and areas of cultivation. Many orchards and small areas of cultivation are scattered in wadis, particularly long established Bedouin gardens at higher elevations around the village of St Katrina.

Bat records

Full details of bats caught and identified in the hand and identified from recordings of echolocation calls are given in Tables 1 & 2, below. General descriptions are given for each site below.

Sites

St Katrina village & surrounds St Katrina village (N 28.55° E 33.95°) built up around a nearby monastery established some 1650 years ago; settlements and cultivated gardens have been in existence around this area since at least this time. At around 1700m asl the area is dominated by high granite mountains, including Mt Katrina and Mt Gebula part of a ring dyke of high mountains and valleys (wadis) surrounding the village. The base camp for surveys was located on the edge of the village.

Mist netting was undertaken at various locations; within gardens at the base camp, Fox Camp at the base of Wadi Shoraj, a small garden further up Wadi Shoraj, at the St Katherine Protectorate Research Centre on the edge of the village at the base of Wadi Arbaein, with recordings of echolocation calls also being made.

Mist Netting Location near moth light traps at the Protectorate Research Centre

2007 Operation Wallacea Expedition Bat Report, Sinai, Egypt 5 Four species of bat were recorded; calls of Egyptian fruit bat Rousettus aegyptiacus were recorded flying and foraging in gardens southeast of the village during a transact between Wadi Arbain (Moses Rock) and Fox Camp; one Sinai barbestelle, Barbastella leucomelas, was caught in a net at the St Katherine Protectorate Centre with calls of this species and desert pipistrelle, Hypsugo ariel, recorded and at least five individuals of each species observed foraging; and a desert long-eared bat, Plecotus christii, caught by a house in the village.

Ain Hodra Oasis A series of Bedouin gardens composed of date palms and fruit trees at a natural oasis near the head of Wadi Hodra in eastern Sinai (N 28.90° E 34.42° approximately 680m asl). The wadi consists of a sandy substrate with wind weathered canyons and steep sandstone cliffs. Historical references to the site suggest some form of human habitation and cultivation going back some considerable time. Mist netting and recordings of echolocation calls were undertaken and the surrounds searched for evidence of bat roosts.

Two species of bat were recorded; a desert long-eared bat, Plecotus christii, caught in a net and observed foraging around the garden and three or four desert pipistrelle, Hypsugo ariel, were observed foraging around the garden every night. No signs of bats were observed in a well on the edge of camp where Rousettus aegyptiacus was recorded in 2005.

Oasis Ein Hodra

Oasis Ein Hodra

2007 Operation Wallacea Expedition Bat Report, Sinai, Egypt 6 Wadi El Braga & surrounds, Sheik Awad & Wadi Kharba Wadi El Braga is connected to Wadi ‘Tlar which together run through the high granite mountains forming the edge of the ring dyke surrounding St Katrina. El Braga is situated at the base of the mountains where the valley meets the wider and barren Wadi Sulaf.

Mist netting and recordings of echolocation calls were made at three locations: a couple of gardens and farmstead at the bottom of Wadi El Braga, circa 1100m asl, in a wide flat sandy wadi bed irrigated through funding from the UNEP World Food Program; two older gardens close to the nearby village of Sheik Awad, Sulliman’s garden (N 28.63° E 33.90°) & Awad’s garden (N 28.63° E 33.90°) circa 1180m asl situated in a small valley surrounded by a plain at the base of mountains; and within date palm plantations in the bed of Wadi Kahba (N 28.65° E 33.91°), a deep narrow wadi running alongside cliffs forming the edge of the mountain range and within an adjacent village on a rise overlooking the wadi (N28.66° E 33.91°).

ga El Bra

Three species of bat were recorded; three Hemprich's long-eared bats, Otonycteris hemprichii, and one desert pipistrelle, Hypsugo ariel, were caught in a net at the Wadi El Braga camp; two lesser horseshoe bats, Rhinolophus hipposideros, an adult female and juvenile male (single bat maternity roost) were caught in a small building attached to Sulliman garden near Sheik Awad; calls of Hypsugo ariel and Botta's serotine, Eptesicus bottae, were recorded foraging around the Wadi El Braga camp; and Hypsugo ariel observed at Awad garden near Sheik Awad and around the village above Wadi Kharba.

Suliman Garden, Sheik Awad

2007 Operation Wallacea Expedition Bat Report, Sinai, Egypt 7 Wadi Kid A dry low altitude wadi approximately 580m asl, southwest of Dahab. The wadi primarily consisted of a wide flat gravel substrate with very sparse Acacia trees. The wadi also ran through a deep narrow sandstone gorge of with date palm plantations and a small farmstead and garden at the entrance to the gorge where surveys were undertaken (N 28.35° E 34.17°). A couple of miles south of the gorge a small village was located at the side of the wide open wadi at confluence with another arm of Wadi Kidd. Surveys were undertaken in a very small garden of fruit trees (but surprisingly no water pool) within the village (N 28.36° E 34.20°).

Garden, Wadi Kidd

Garden, Wadi Kidd

Two species of bat were recorded; three juvenile desert pipistrelle, Hypsugo ariel, were caught in a net at garden north of the camp (see plates), with much foraging activity and two individuals observed exiting a small building it is assumed a maternity roost was present; a single Hypsugo ariel was also caught in a net within a small garden (notably lacking in water) in the village south of the camp together with two desert long-eared bats, Plecotus christii.

2007 Operation Wallacea Expedition Bat Report, Sinai, Egypt 8 Other Sites

Between Wadis Sulaf & Hebron Surveys were undertaken at an overnight camp in a pass between the Wadi Sulaf and Hebron. This was located near the head of a small valley feeding Wadi Sulaf with gravely substrate and very sparse vegetation cover, a very small pool was fed by irrigation pipes. Much foraging activity and calls Hypsugo ariel were recorded at an overnight camp at the beyond the end of Sulaf & Before Hebron (N28.47° E33.74°).

Village (name unknown) Occasional calls of Hypsugo ariel were recorded in a village (name unknown) at the edge of the large plain between the mountains and El Tor on the coast, several miles below the end of Wadi Hebron (N 28.46° E 33.69°).

Village

Rotog Mist netting and recording of echolocation calls were undertaken in a small stony garden at 1700m asl at N28.47° E33.99°. Very occasional passes of Hypsugo ariel were recorded.

El Fruish No bats were observed or heard at an overnight camp in the middle of the El Fruish area (N28.56° E34.04° ~1700m asl); a series of interconnected wide sparse sandy valleys amongst high granite mountains forming the edge of the ring dyke system; more like a high desert plain in characteristics.

El Fruish

2007 Operation Wallacea Expedition Bat Report, Sinai, Egypt 9 Table 1. Summary of bats identified in the hand Date Location GPS Species sex Age & condition Wt (g) FA (mm) Other notes

05.07.07 Ein Hodra Oasis N 28.90° Plecotus christii F Adult parus 7.5 40.3 Tail 34.4mm E 34.4167° 08.07.07 St Katherine Village, N 28.55° Barbastella leucomelas M Adult 7.25 38.9 D5: 49.6mm Protectorate Centre E 33.95° 08.07.07 St Katherine Village, N 28.55° Plecotus christii M Adult 6.5 39.2 Mansour’s House E 33.95° 10.07.07 Wadi El Braga Camp N 28.63765° Hypsugo ariel F Adult parus 3.5 32.0 E 33.82533° Otonycteris hemprichii M Adult 20.0 61.8

Otonycteris hemprichii M Adult 15.0 61.9

Otonycteris hemprichii M Adult 15.5 60.9

12.07.07 Sheik Awad – N 28.63086° Rhinolophus hipposideros F Adult parus 4.5 37.5 Mother & son Sulliman garden E 33.89825° maternity roost Rhinolophus hipposideros M Juv 3.0 36.35

18.07.07 Wadi Kid garden at N 28.34950° Hypsugo ariel F Juv 2.0 30.2 top – old man’s E 34.17083° Hypsugo ariel F Juv 2.7 32.3

Hypsugo ariel F Juv - -

19.07.07 Wadi Kid small village N 28.33593° Plecotus christii M Adult 6.0 39.75 – small garden with a E 34.19508° few trees but no water Hypsugo ariel M Adult 3.0 31.8

Plecotus christii - Adult - - Distressed so released immediately

Table 2. Summary of bats identified by call

Date Location & Description GPS ID by Echolocation Call

01.07.07 St Katherine Village: between N 28.55° Rousettus aegyptiacus Wadi Arbain (Moses Rock) & E 33.95° Fox Camp

03.07.07 Ein Hodra Oasis - gardens N 28.90° Hypsugo ariel E 34.4167°

08.07.07 St Katherine Protectorate N 28.55° Barbestelle leucomelas & Hypsugo ariel Centre E 33.95°

10.07.07 Wadi El Braga Camp N 28.63765° Hypsugo ariel & Eptesicus bottae E 33.82533°

25.07.07 Camp at pass between Wadi N28.47427° Hypsugo ariel Sulaf & Wadi Hebron E33.73762°

26.07.07 Beduoin village after Wadi N 28.45758° Hypsugo ariel Hebron E 33.68756°

28.07.07 Rotog N28.47448° Hypsugo ariel E33.99470°

Barbestelle leucomelas

Rhinolophus hipposideros Plecotus christii

2007 Operation Wallacea Expedition Bat Report, Sinai, Egypt 11

Discussion

During 2007 seven species of bat were recorded, five caught and identified in the hand; Barbestelle leucomelas, Hypsugo ariel, Otonycteris hemprichi, Plecotus christii and Rhinolophus hipposideros; and a further two species identified from echolocation calls, Eptesicus bottae and Rousettus aegyptiacus.

Three locations were visited during the OpWall expedition, two of these repeat visits to Ein Hodra Oasis, previously surveyed in both 2005 and 2006, and Wadi El Braga /Shelk Awad, different parts of which were surveyed in each previous year; with new surveys undertaken in Wadi Kid. Bat surveys were also undertaken around the base camp at St Katherine Village, also previously surveyed in 2005 & 2006.

At the end of the OpWall expedition two short trips were undertaken through various wadis, with bat surveys undertaken at overnight camps in a pass between the Wadi Sulaf and Hebron; at an unnamed village at the (at the edge of the large plain between the mountains and El Tor on the coast, several miles below the end of Wadi Hebron); and at Wadi Rotog & within the El Fruish region.

The results of the surveys extended the distribution range for a couple of species and confirm the continued presence of species at other locations. A brief summary for each species is given below:

- Several Barbestelle leucomelas was recorded at the St Katherine Research Centre where they had been previously recorded in 2005, although not at other locations.

- Hypsugo ariel was recorded in many locations, including new sites at Wadi Kidd, Rotog and the unnamed village, and can be considered widespread and abundant in all parts of the southern Sinai.

- Otonycteris hemprichi was recorded in its typical desert environment at the El Braga camp near Wadi Suluf; having previously been recorded in settlements at Feiran and El-Arish. It was not recorded during surveys at this location in 2006.

- Plecotus christii was also recorded at a number of sites, including a new location at Wadi Kidd, and is also considered widespread in the southern Sinai.

- A confirmed roost for Rhinolophus hipposideros within the Sinai for the first time, with a female adult and it’s offspring a juvenile male recorded.

- Calls of Eptesicus bottae were recorded from a new location which together with previous surveys shows a relatively widespread range.

- Calls of Rousettus aegyptiacus were also recorded around St Katherine’s village where previously recorded in 2005, although not at other locations.

A more detailed and comprehensive discussion of the bats of Sinai, including distribution and taxonomic information is in preparation (Benda et al 2008) and readers are referred here. This work includes the data from all three Operation Wallacea expeditions in addition to a further Czech expedition in September 2005; together with analysis of historical records, museum specimens, records from neighbouring regions and taxonomic notes from comparison of morphological features and genetic data.

2007 Operation Wallacea Expedition Bat Report, Sinai, Egypt 12 Acknowledgements

Thanks to everyone who has been involved in the project: Operation Wallacea staff especially Tim Coles & Alison Darlington for giving me the possibility to work here; Biomap staff especially Samy Zalat & Francis Gilbert for organising the expedition and providing support and assistance, aided by Ahmed Gheith & Mohamed Maher and his whistle; the other Operation Wallacea staff in the field, the family Byng for expedition support and fellow surveyors Matt White & Clay Trauernicht; Eman Ezzat & Alaa Mohammed for their assistance and help catching bats; Heitham Zalat & Ahmed El Gabass for that trek and all the volunteers for their enthusiasm and persistence. Thanks also to Alana Maltby & Christian Dietz for discussions regarding previous surveys and to the Bedouin guides for welcoming me to their homeland and providing assistance and support in the field, especially Farag & Suliman Fox, the guides and the many others who made us welcome.

References

Benda P, Dietz C, Andreas M, Hotový J, Lučan R, Maltby A, Meakin K, Truscott J & Vallo P (2008) Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. Part 6. Bats of Sinai (Egypt) with several taxonomic notes on that fauna (in publication)

Dietz C (2005) Final Report Operation Wallacea Sinai 2005 Bats

Dietz C (2005) Illustrated identification key to the bats of Egypt. Electronic publication, Version 1.0, 21.12.2005

Dietz C & Maltby (2006) Final Report Operation Wallacea Sinai 2005/2006 Bats

contact details: [email protected]

2007 Operation Wallacea Expedition Bat Report, Sinai, Egypt 13