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Măntoiu DŞ, Mirea IC, Şandric IC, Cîşlariu AG, Gherghel I, Constantin S, Moldovan OT. Bat dynamics modelling as a tool for conservation management in subterranean environments. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275984. [PMID: 36264951 PMCID: PMC9584375 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bat species inhabit subterranean environments (e.g., caves and mines) in small areas with specific microclimatic conditions, during various periods of their life cycle. Bats can be negatively influenced by microclimatic changes within their roosts if optimal habitat patches become unavailable. Therefore, proper management solutions must be applied for the conservation of vulnerable bat populations, especially in show caves. We have pursued an ensemble species distribution modelling approach in subterranean environments to identify sensible patches for bats. Using multi-annual temperature monitoring and bat distribution surveys performed within ten caves and mines, including show caves, we modelled relevant habitat patches for five bat species. The temperature-based variables generated from this approach proved to be effective when processed via species distribution models, which generated optimal validation results, even for bats that were heavily clustered in colonies. Management measures are proposed for each show cave to help in long-time conservation of hibernation and maternity colonies. These measures include creating suitable microclimatic patches within the caves by ecological reconstruction measures, tourist management practices in relation to bats, and show cave fitting recommendations. This approach has never been performed at this scale due to the complex geostatistical challenges involving subterranean environment mapping and can be further used as best practice guidelines for future conservation projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dragoş Ştefan Măntoiu
- “Emil Racoviță” Institute of Speleology—Cluj Department, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- * E-mail:
| | - Ionuţ Cornel Mirea
- Department of Geospeleology and Paleontology, “Emil Racoviță” Institute of Speleology, Bucharest, Romania
- Romanian Institute of Science and Technology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Ionuţ Cosmin Şandric
- Faculty of Geography, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Alina Georgiana Cîşlariu
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Iulian Gherghel
- Department of Exact Sciences and Natural Sciences, Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iaşi, Iaşi, Romania
- Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Ovidius University Constanţa, Constanţa, Romania
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States of America
| | - Silviu Constantin
- Department of Geospeleology and Paleontology, “Emil Racoviță” Institute of Speleology, Bucharest, Romania
- Romanian Institute of Science and Technology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Oana Teodora Moldovan
- “Emil Racoviță” Institute of Speleology—Cluj Department, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Romanian Institute of Science and Technology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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