25 Years of Bat Research at the Limestone Cave in Bad Segeberg Dipl.-Biol. Karl Kugelschafter departed/ roosting bats [n] 4000 3000 2000 1000 0-1000 -2000-3000 -4000 Bad Segeberg, 6 February 2014 15.8 30.8 14.9 29.9 14.10 29.10 13.11 ChiroTEC - Verhaltenssensorik und Umweltgutachten - 35102 Lohra
It happened exactly 25 years ago. And it was the event, which later on gave a new direction to my life. At least 353 bats caught by cats in 1989 (visual census on 11 March 1989: 370 bats) (Puchstein 1992) Foto: K. Spruck
Start-up team of the Segeberg-Project Susanne Vogel Alfred Ortmann Werner Kimpel Foto: T. Stephan
A. Ortmann former chairman of den NABU group Bad Segeberg His questions How many bats are hibernating in the cave? What are the seasonal activity patterns of the bats? Which species are using the cave? How many indivuals of which species are using the cave for hibernation?! I was supposed to collect the data without touching the bats
The car-marten-project at the Justus-Liebig University Gießen
Marderfoto, Wildbio etc. Karte mit Verbindungslinie This is where the light barrier system was developed Departement of natural sciences of the Justus-Liebig University in Gießen
Experimental development Arbeitskreis Wildbiologie an der Justus-Liebig University Gießen e.v. Dr. Dipl.-Phys. Thomas Horvath Dipl.-Phys. Werner Kimpel Foto: T. Stephan, 1994
Spring 1991: Start of the practical phase. Finally the third model fulfilled our expectations. Foto: T. Stephan 1 August 1992: Installation of two light barrier systems and start of the bat census.
29.10 13.11 Surprising results in autumn 1992 4000 3000 2000 1000 0-1000 -2000-3000 -4000 departing/ arriving bats [n] 15.8 30.8 14.9 29.9 14.10
40 35 As a result: >40.000 hibernating bats hibernating bats (n) 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 We were convinced, this can t be true! 20.8 9.9 29.9 19.10 8.11
Spring 1993 It started with a whole bunch of problems. Finally, at the 9th of March the light barrier system at the entrance was working. Two days later the light barrier system at the discovery opening was operating. And up from the 25th of March the third light barrier system, which was meant to monitor the crevices, was working.
First evidence for a mass hibernacula in spring 1993 no data no data no data 0-200 -400-600 -800 departed bats [n] 8.297 hibernating bats 14.3 21.3 28.3 4.4 11.4 18.4 25.4
In spring 1994 the results were confirmed 0-200 -400-600 -800-1000 9.267 hibernating bats hibernating bats [n] 4.3 11.3 18.3 25.3 1.4 8.4 15.4 22.4 29.4
But there were still doubts among colleagues Are there mosquitos in the cave? (J. Gebhard at the convention of the bat research workers in September 1995 in Kiel) Foto: T. Stephan
How the light barrier systems works Only logical interruptions of departing/ arriving bats are registered (objects from 3,5cm on)!
The light barrier systems changed our knowledge about hibernacula Phenomenon mass hibernaculas of bats (recent data) Kalkberghöhle/ Schleswig-Holstein: Alte Levensauer Hochbrücke (Kiel/ S-H): Landgrafenschloß (Marburg/ Hessen): Brunnen Meyer (NRW, Trappmann 2005): Mauerstollen (Grubenfeld Mayen, R-P): Trollenhagen (Keller, Meck-Pomm): Windloch (Naturhöhle, Bayern): 22.000 bats 8.000 bats 4.-7.000 bats 6.000 bats 4.000 bats 3.500 bats 3.000 bats
departing/ arriving bats [n] Moreover it allows a detailed look into the seasonal use of hibernacula
30.4 History of departing bats in springtime between 1994 and 1999 100 0-20 80-40 60-60 40-80 20-100 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Rel. Anteil ausgeflogener Fledermäuse [%] 19.2 24.2 1.3 6.3 11.3 16.3 21.3 26.3 31.3 5.4 10.4 15.4 20.4 25.4
Phenomenon springtime visits at hibernacula
Indeed, no mosquitos Cluster of Daubenton s bats (May 1993) Foto: A. Ortmann
Similar picture in August Thousands of Daubenton s bats visit the cave Foto: T. Stephan
From 1995 the next step was: species identification based on video sequences Bechstein s bat Daubenton s bat Frozen images from video tapes Natterer s bat
Time went by: 1999-2001 we were allowed to use harp traps
Results First of all the data point differences of the species (in their ecological niche) 300 250 200 150 100 17.08.99 23.08.99 24.08.99 25.08.99 28.08.99 01.09.99 05.09.99 16.09.99 24.09.99 25.09.99 29.09.99 06.10.99 10.10.99 14.10.99 15.10.99 16.10.99 22.10.99 03.11.99 12.11.99 21.11.99 30.11.99 50 12.03.00 13.03.00 01.04.99 01.04.00 02.04.99 02.04.00 13.04.00 0 n = 5.343 Wasserfledermäuse Fransenfledermäuse Bechsteinfledermäuse untersuchte Fledermäuse [n]
01.04.99 02.04.99 17.08.99 23.08.99 24.08.99 25.08.99 28.08.99 01.09.99 05.09.99 16.09.99 24.09.99 25.09.99 29.09.99 06.10.99 10.10.99 14.10.99 15.10.99 16.10.99 22.10.99 03.11.99 12.11.99 21.11.99 30.11.99 12.03.00 13.03.00 01.04.00 02.04.00 13.04.00 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 17.08.99 23.08.99 24.08.99 25.08.99 28.08.99 01.09.99 05.09.99 16.09.99 24.09.99 25.09.99 29.09.99 06.10.99 10.10.99 14.10.99 15.10.99 16.10.99 22.10.99 03.11.99 12.11.99 21.11.99 30.11.99 40 20 12.03.00 13.03.00 01.04.99 01.04.00 02.04.99 02.04.00 13.04.00 0 n = 2.844 Männchen Weibchen 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 adult juvenil untersuchte Wasserfledermäuse [n] untersuchte Wasserfledermäue [n] Detailed Results 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Daubenton s bats Männchen Weibchen n = 1.339 Natterer s bats untersuchte Fransenfledermäuse [n] 05.09.99 16.09.99 24.09.99 25.09.99 29.09.99 06.10.99 10.10.99 14.10.99 15.10.99 16.10.99 22.10.99 03.11.99 12.11.99 21.11.99 30.11.99 12.3.00 13.3.00 1.4.99 1.4.00 2.4.99 2.4.00 13.4.00
Weight development in autumn (on average) 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 Männchen Weibchen Durchschnittsgewicht [g] M. daubentonii 6 17.08.99 23.08.99 24.08.99 25.08.99 28.08.99 01.09.99 05.09.99 16.09.99 24.09.99 25.09.99 29.09.99 06.10.99 10.10.99 14.10.99 15.10.99 16.10.99 22.10.99 12.3.00 13.3.00 1.4.99 2.4.99 1.4.00 2.4.00 13.4.00 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 Männchen Weibchen Durchschnittsgewicht [g] M. nattereri 6 05.09.99 16.09.99 24.09.99 25.09.99 29.09.99 06.10.99 10.10.99 14.10.99 15.10.99 16.10.99 22.10.99 03.11.99 12.11.99 21.11.99 30.11.99 12.3.00 13.3.00 1.4.99 1.4.00 2.4.99 2.4.00
13,1-14 g 14,1-15 g 15,1-16 g Weight development in autumn (in detail) M. daubentonii 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 n = 274 (5.9.) Männchen Weibchen 40 30 20 10 Gewichtsklassen [%] 0 n = 411 5.9.-6.10. 5-6 g 6,1-7 g 7,1-8 g 8,1-9 g 9,1-10 g 10,1-11 g 11,1-12 g 12,.1-13 g 13,1-14 g 14,1-15 g 15,1-16 g 5-6 g 6,1-7 g 7,1-8 g 8,1-9 g 9,1-10 g 10,1-11 g 11,1-12 g 12,.1-13 g 25 20 15 10 5 0 Männchen Weibchen n = 450 (24.9.-6.10.) Gewichtsklassen [%] 5-6 g 6,1-7 g 7,1-8 g 8,1-9 g 9,1-10 g 10,1-11 g 11,1-12 g 12,.1-13 g 13,1-14 g 14,1-15 g 15,1-16 g 25 20 15 10 5-6 g 6,1-7 g 7,1-8 g 8,1-9 g 9,1-10 g 10,1-11 g 11,1-12 g 12,.1-13 g 13,1-14 g 14,1-15 g 15,1-16 g 5 0 n = 185 (14.10.-3.11.) Männchen Weibchen Männchen Weibchen 13,1-14 g 14,1-15 g 15,1-16 g Gewichtsklassen [n%] Gewichtsklassen [%] 40 30 20 10 0 n = 422 10.10.-3.11. Männchen Weibchen 13,1-14 g 14,1-15 g 15,1-16 g M. nattereri Gewichtsklassen [%] 12,.1-13 g 5-6 g 6,1-7 g 7,1-8 g 8,1-9 g 9,1-10 g 10,1-11 g 11,1-12 g 30 n = 194 20 12.11.30.11. 5-6 g 6,1-7 g 7,1-8 g 8,1-9 g 9,1-10 g 10,1-11 g 10 0 Männchen Weibchen Gewichtsklassen [%] 11,1-12 g 12,.1-13 g
2001: first attempts with automatic scales
Shock in 2001: where did the bats go? 25000 20000 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 15000 10000 5000 hibernating bats [n] 0 N = 2.955 departing bats
Renewal of the exit cabins in 2003 Foto: T. Schipmann Foto: T. Schipmann
At the same time: renewal of the light barrier system
Increase of hibernating bats Implications for openings in former cabins 25000 Technical problems 20000 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 15000 10000 5000 hibernating bats [n] 0
2005 building Noctalis
From 2007 on not too far from Bad Segeberg: development of the photo technique
Surprising species richness in the Levensauer Hochbrücke near Kiel
2011: application of the new technique in SE discovery opening departure discovery opening arrival entrance-departure entrance-arrival Foto: F. Gloza-Rausch
Results of the sampling 2.991 Daubenton s bats (incl. pond bats) 1.122 Natterer s bats + 8 + 4
Estimated number of hibernators > 400 Bechstein s bats
What s the future research in Bad Segeberg Sexing based on photo technique?
Bat research is Teamwork Bats are highly developed mammals with complex behaviour. Those who want to work with them need to act as a team. To all the people I worked with the last 20 years, discussed, developed ideas or just had a beer with: Thank you!!
Thanks Special thanks to A. Ortmann. He had the vision of the light barrier system and managed to realize it. Thanks to the different institutions and administrations for their financial and visionary support: the Arbeitskreis Wildbiologie at the Justus-Liebig University Gießen e.v., the NABU Bad Segeberg, the government of the province Schleswig-Holstein, the NABU LV Schleswig-Holstein e.v., the bayr. LfU, the environmental ministry Hessen u.v.a. Last but not least, a warm thank you to all the bat workers and assistants for their support. Without your help the complex research work would have not been realized: Dipl.-Biol. H. Demant, H. Dieterich, Dr. Dipl.-Biol. M. Dietz, D. Fünfstück, H. Friedrich, Dipl.-Ing. M. Göttsche, Dr. J. Götz, Dipl.-Biol. F. Gloza-Rausch, Dipl.-Biol. C. Harrje, M. Harder, Dipl.-Biol R. Heuser, Dr. Dipl.-Phys. T. Horvath, Dipl.-Biol. H. Jauker, Dipl.-Phys. W. Kimpel, C. Kreidler, G. Knipfer, L. Leber, R. Leitl, S. Lüders, Dipl.-Biol. B-U. Rudolph, Dr. Dipl.-Phys. B. Spruck, Dr. vet.med. M. Straube, A. Twardy, Kaya Spruck, Klaus Spruck, T. Stephan, T. Volk, J. Vollmer, Dipl.-Biol. A. Weckert, B. Wimmer u.v.a.
Thank you for your attention Foto: T. Stephan