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Bat activity and evidence of bat migration at two high elevation passes in the Western Alps

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Abstract

Information about bat migration routes across the Alps is generally scarce and there is no existing data available for the Italian part of the chain. Through acoustic surveys, we explored the possibility that even a region characterized by high Alpine mountains may be crossed by migrant bats. Data were recorded in August–September 2016 at two sites located near mountain passes in the Aosta Valley (NW Italy), respectively for 29 and 53 entire nights. Activity of different species/acoustic groups of species was associated with period and weather variables, the most important of which was wind speed (negatively related), followed by temperature (positively related). Only the acoustic group N. leisleri/N. noctula/V. murinus/E. serotinus, at both sites, showed a significant increase in activity in the period 31 August–14 September. Additional elements suggesting the occurrence of a late-summer migratory flow involving this group were the fact that it mainly consists of migratory species; the attribution to N. leisleri of the sequences that could be identified at the species level; and the timing of activity through the night (generally later than the other bats) and some characteristics of the recorded calls. Contacts with B. barbastellus were recorded at both study sites, possibly due to migrating individuals or, as an alternative, to resident bats using open environments located far from woods during the summer. The occurrence of P. kuhlii was ascertained at the highest elevation so far reported for this species in the Alps (2208 m a.s.l.).

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Acknowledgments

This work was carried out in the context of the chiropterological surveys funded by Regione Autonoma Valle d’Aosta – Assessorato Agricoltura e Risorse naturali – Servizio Aree protette. We are particularly grateful to S. Tutino, who actively promotes bat research and conservation in the region. The weather data were provided by F. Brunier (Regione Autonoma Valle d’Aosta - Centro funzionale regionale) and A. Ponti (Osservatorio meteorologico del Piccolo San Bernardo).

Logistic support was provided by Associazione “Jardin historique du Col du Petit St. Bernard – La Chanousia” and Associazione Onlus Gran San Bernardo (Lodi). We thank D. Chamberlain for his suggestions and language revision.

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  1. Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Biologia dei Sistemi, Università degli Studi di Torino, via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy

    Enrico Caprio

  2. Stazione Teriologica Piemontese, c/o Museo Civ. St. Naturale, via S. Francesco di Sales 188, 10022, Carmagnola, TO, Italy

    Elena Patriarca & Paolo Debernardi

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  1. Enrico Caprio
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Caprio, E., Patriarca, E. & Debernardi, P. Bat activity and evidence of bat migration at two high elevation passes in the Western Alps. Eur J Wildl Res 66, 63 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-020-01402-0

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