1. No category

UNFAVOURABLE Conservation status of
Rhinolophus ferrumequinum in Slovenia
Primož Presetnik , Andrej Hudoklin and Monika Podgorelec
1
2
1
Centre for Cartography of Fauna and Flora, Ljubljana office, Klunova 3, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; E-mail: primoz.presetnik@ckff.si, monika.podgorelec@ckff.si
2
Ob Sušici 15, 8350 Dolenjske Toplice, Slovenia, E-mail: andrej.hudoklin@zrsvn.si
1
Status
Rhinolophus ferrumequinum reaches the northern edge of its European distribution in Slovenia and it is found
approximately in 40% of the country (figure below right). It is common in southern regions, but rare in the Alps and
missing in the NE. Maternity roosts are located both in caves (3) and in attics (5). The estimated population size is
roughly 2000 to 3000 specimens.
Its hibernacula have been monitored for the longest period of time in Slovenia, although regular surveys of a few sites
only started in the early 90s of the last century. A large number of hibernacula geographically covering the whole
species area have been monitored from 2002 when surveys on maternity roosts also began (figure below right).
Huda luknjaHuda
pri Gornjem
Doliču
luknja pri
Gornjem Doliču
500
500
Rhinolophus ferrumequinum
Rhinolophus ferrumequinum
450
Rhinolophus hipposideros
Rhinolophus hipposideros
of animals
no. ofno.
animals
400
400
350
350
Huda luknja pri Gornjem Doliču
300
Huda luknja pri Gornjem Doliču
300
500
no. of animals
no. of animals
450
http://eunis.eea.europa.eu
Rhinolophus ferrumequinum
250
Rhinolophus hipposideros
Rhinolophus ferrumequinum
200
Rhinolophus hipposideros
250
450
500
200
400
450
350
150
400
150
300
100
350
100
50
300
250
50
200
2500
0
1993/94 1994/95 1993/94
1995/96 1994/95
1996/97 1995/96
1997/98 1996/97
1998/99 1997/98
1999/00 1998/99
2000/01 1999/00
2001/02 2000/01
2002/03 2001/02
2003/04 2002/03
2004/05 2003/04
2005/062004/05
2006/072005/06
2007/082006/07 2007/08
150
200
winter
winter
Predjamski sistem
100
150
250
50
100
Rhinolophus ferrumequinum
Predjamski sistem
Rhinolophus hipposideros
0
50
2001993/94 1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08
250
0
Rhinolophus ferrumequinum
winter
1993/94 1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99
1999/00 2000/01sistem
2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08
Predjamski
Rhinolophus hipposideros
no. of animals
no. of animals
no. of animals
winter
150
200
250
Rhinolophus ferrumequinum
Rhinolophus hipposideros
100
150
200
50
100
150
100500
1993/94 1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08
winter
50 0
1993/94 1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08
winter
0
1993/94 1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08
winter
Jazbina pri Podturnu
250
Rhinolophus ferrumequinum
Rhinolophus hipposideros
no. of animals
200
Problem
150
Numbers of R. ferrumequinum has noticeably decreased in some of hibernacula with
longest monitoring datasets (figures left). Therefore we have tested if that negative trend
is noticeable also for the whole Slovenia.
100
50
8
7
/0
07
20
/0
06
/0
6
20
5
4
/0
05
20
04
20
/0
3
/0
03
20
2
1
/0
02
20
01
20
/0
0
/0
00
20
9
8
/9
99
19
98
19
7
/9
97
19
/9
6
/9
96
19
19
95
5
/9
94
19
19
93
/9
4
0
winter
1000
900
Data analysis (program TRIM) of 27 hibernacula covering distributional range of the species in
800
Slovenia (figure above right), has shown more than a 20% decline (p<0.05) in the numbers over
the past 6 years (figure right); a decline especially evident in hibernation roosts at the northern
distribution edge (e.g. in the Huda luknja pri Gornjem Doliču cave and the Predjamski cave
system).
imputed no. of speciemens
Results
700
600
500
400
300
The causes of the decline are not clear and are, apparently, specific for R. ferrumequinum as R.
200
euyale (estimated 500-1000 specimens in Eastern Slovenia) shows stable numbers in hibernacula,
100
and the population of R. hipposideros (27.000-33.000 specimens in Slovenia) is even increasing
0
2002 /03
(p<0.05).
Conclusions
R. ferrumequinum in Slovenia therefore meets two of the conditions for unfavourable conservation
status. In the worst case scenario if the negative population trend continues (figure right):
1) the species cannot maintain itself on a long term basis – in the next 25 years a decline of more
than 50 % is expected (red alert!),
2) the natural range of the species will be reduced within a decade or two.
2003 /04
2004 /05
2005 /06
2006 /07
2007 /08
year
Recomended research
To gain a better insight into the ecological requirements of R. ferrumequinum, endangering factors
and possible mitigation measures for specific colonies, research should focus on:
• foraging habitats,
• migration routes,
• a search for undiscovered maternity or hibernation roosts of the known colonies and continuation
of monitoring.
Acknowledgements:
In last decade many persons have participated in the surveys of bat hibernacula and each help was valuable. Thank you: Ana Celestina, Brane Čuk, Andrej Drevenšek, Matej Dular, Cene Fišer, Franci Janžekovič, Katerina Jazbec, Andrej Kapla, Klemen Koselj, Jure Košutnik, Simona Kralj, Irena Kranjec, Irena
Krašna, Boris Kryštufek, Matej Kržič, Zvezdana Kržič, Nace Labernik, Manca Markelj, Blanka Markovič, Jure Marolt, Tomaž Miklavčič, Jana Mlakar, Matija Perne, Alenka Petrinjak, Slavko Polak, Mitja Prelovšek, Aleksandra Privšek, Lucija Ramšak, Silvo Ramšak, Zdeněk Řehák, David Stanković, Miha Staut, Uroš
Stepišnik, Marjetka Šemrl, Branka Tavzes, Aleš Tomažič, Dušan Tominc, Tomi Trilar, Alojz Troha, Rafko Urankar, Boštjan Vrviščar, Mojca Vrviščar Zazula, Maja Zagmajster, Valerija Zakšek, Jan Zukal, Nataša Zupančič, Uroš Žibrat, Jože Žumer.