Microchiropteran Bats
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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 Donors to the SSC Conservation Communications Programme and Microchiropteran Bats: Global Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan The IUCN/Species Survival Commission is committed to communicate important species conservation information to natural resource managers, decision-makers, and others whose actions affect the conservation of biodiversity. The SSC’s Action Plans, Occasional Papers, news magazine (Species), Membership Directory, and other publications are supported by a wide variety of generous donors, including: The Sultanate of Oman established the Peter Scott IUCN/SSC Action Plan Fund in 1990. The Fund supports Action Plan development and implementation; to date, more than 80 grants have been made from the Fund to Specialist Groups. As a result, the Action Plan Programme has progressed at an accelerated level, and the network has grown and matured significantly. The SSC is grateful to the Sultanate of Oman for its confidence in, and support for, species conservation worldwide. Fauna & Flora International (FFI) acts to conserve threatened species of wild animals and plants world-wide, choosing solutions that are sustainable, based on sound science and that take account of human needs. Founded in 1903, FFI is the world’s longest established international conservation body. It is one of the few organisations whose remit is to protect the entire spectrum of endangered plant and animal species on the planet. FFI provides support to conservation initiatives throughout the world in the form of partnerships, technical assistance, direct funding and consultancy. The Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) is the UK organisation solely devoted to the conservation of bats and their habitats. It helps bats by campaigning locally, nationally and internationally for bat conservation, enabling local action through a UK network of volunteers, encouraging research into bat ecology and monitoring bat populations, supporting and educating people about bats, and by encouraging everyone to appreciate and enjoy bats. The Council of Agriculture (COA), Taiwan has awarded major grants to the SSC’s Wildlife Trade Programme and Conservation Communications Programme. This support has enabled SSC to continue its valuable technical advisory service to the Parties to CITES, as well as to the larger global conservation community. Among other responsibilities, the COA is in charge of matters concerning the designation and management of nature reserves, conservation of wildlife and their habitats, conservation of natural landscapes, co-ordination of law enforcement efforts, as well as promotion of conservation education, research, and international co-operation. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) provides significant annual operating support to the SSC. WWF’s contribution supports the SSC’s minimal infrastructure and helps ensure that the voluntary network and Publications Programme are adequately supported. WWF aims to conserve nature and ecological processes by: (1) preserving genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity; (2) ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable both now and in the longer term; and (3) promoting actions to reduce pollution, and the wasteful exploitation and consumption of resources and energy. WWF is one of the world’s largest independent conservation organisations with a network of National Organisations and Associates around the world and over 5.2 million regular supporters. WWF continues to be known as World Wildlife Fund in Canada and in the United States of America. The Department of the Environment Transport and the Regions (DETR), UK supports a Red List Officer post at the SSC Centre in Cambridge, UK, where the SSC Trade Programme staff are also located. Together with two other government-funded agencies, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, DETR is also financing a Specialist Plants Officer. Further support for the Centre is being offered by two NGO members of IUCN: the World Wide Fund for Nature – UK, and Conservation International, US. The Center for Marine Conservation (CMC), with its headquarters in the US, provides valuable in-kind and funding support to the marine work of SSC. It is the major funder of the Marine Turtle Specialist Group, employs the MTSG Programme Officer, and administers funds on behalf of the Shark and Cetacean Specialist Groups. A CMC staff member acts as SSC staff liaison for the marine specialist groups and the marine focal point for SSC, and also supports the development of SSC’s work in the marine realm. CMC serves as the marine focal point for the IUCN/ SSC Red List Programme. It is dedicated to protecting ocean environments, and conserving the global abundance and diversity of marine life through science-based advocacy, research, and public education. 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 permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. 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. Produced by: The Nature Conservation Bureau Ltd, Newbury, UK. Printed by: Information Press, Oxford, UK. Available from: IUCN Publications Services Unit 219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, United Kingdom Tel: +44 1223 277894, Fax: +44 1223 277175 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.iucn.org A catalogue of IUCN publications is also available. The text of this book is printed on 115 gsm Zone Silk, which is rated as 4-star under the Eco-Check system and is made from 100% sustainable fibre sources using chlorine-free processes. ii 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. iii 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 .....................................