Bat population decreases in Portugal

A report by the Monitoring program of underground shelters of national importance of Bats, which examined data between 1988 and 2012, there has been a 30% decline in population in the shelters of bats, noting that the small rat bat is increasingly threatened.

In a statement, Quercus, environmental NGOS who played data provided, draws attention to the need to invest more in research and conservation of these species of mammals, regretting that, after more than 20 years since the publication of the National Plan for the conservation of Bats Cavernícolas, there are no further details about the presence of different species in each shelter. On the other hand, there is also a detailed characterization of each shelter that identify threat factors â€" and the measures taken for its preservation.

According to the data provided, Quercus found that identified 76 shelters of national importance and, in accordance with the population trend of the colonies, there was a decrease in the populations of bats in 30% of shelters â€" and an increase of the population in 20%. In 14% of these, it turns out that the population is stable. The remaining 36%, a very significant part, does not present sufficient data.

Of the nine species monitored, only was presented a population trend for four, and, of these, the large-bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) Horseshoe, the big rat bat (Myotis myotis), the bat (Miniopterus schreibersii) Teddy-show a stable population, while the small rat bat (Myotis blythii) presents a population decrease.

Of the four species listed, the most representative is the bat-to-Teddy, having been identified in 23 shelters, followed by the Myotis myotis, present in 16 shelters and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, 13 shelters. The rest were classified as "Undetermined" or "non-hazardous".

The morecego-mouse-small is the species less representative and more threatened, since it is currently classified as critically endangered on the Red Book of vertebrates.

"This program demonstrates that, despite the efforts made, in particular between 2006 and 2012, there are knowledge gaps on most species which occupy underground shelters, and there is a very significant percentage of shelters that showed a worrying decrease of population (30%)," advances the ONGA.

"There is a species-the small rat bat â€" which should be the subject of particular attention and a specific plan of conservation and monitoring, under penalty, if nothing is done to counter the trend, to reach a situation of pré-extinção", concludes the Association.

Foto: Guilherme Jófili/Creative Commons

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