The distribution of bat species across the underground sites of Georgia

By

Natradze, Ioseb
Buknikashvili, Alexander
Gazaryan, Suren
Sheklashvili, Giorgi
Mumladze, Levan

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2024

Original Publication

Subterranean Biology

Volume

50

Pages

65--77

Subjects

Caucasus , Chiroptera , Distribution , diversity , underground

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.50.134613

 

Abstract

In Georgia, investigations of bat species using caves have been conducted since the beginning of the 20th century. However, robust knowledge is still largely unavailable, as only about 15% of the roughly 2,000 underground sites have been surveyed for bats. The primary objective of this article was to document the use of underground habitats by various bat species. To achieve this, we consolidated field observations with existing data from literature and assessed potential threats to these underground habitats, specifically focusing on caves that harbor significant bat colonies. In this study, we considered underground sites across Georgia where at least one bat species has been documented. In total, twenty out of the thirty bat species recorded in Georgia were found in these underground sites. We characterize the spatial distribution, elevational range, usage of underground habitat, and colony size for these species. These twenty species belong to three families and ten genera. Three of these species have conservation status on the Georgian Red List, and one species is on the Red List of Threatened Species, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). We also report the spatial and elevational distribution of bat species richness and frequency of records in order to rectify conservation priorities in this important biodiversity hotspot.