Species diversity and distribution of Chiroptera (Vespertilionidae) in Karelia

The article deals with the least studied systematic group of mammals of Karelia – bats (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae). The aim of the study was to determine the status of the species in the process of their inventory by traditional and modern research methods. For the first time the comprehensive assessment of the species composition, relative abundance (%) and relative number (ind./km of the route) of bats during the period of hibernation and their summer activity in Karelia is presented. Monitoring of winter underground shelters was carried out in 2009–2018. It was shown that five species of bats winter in Karelia; they are the northern bat, the Brandt''s bat, the whiskered bat, the Daubenton''s bat, the brown long-eared bat. The northern bat predominates: its relative abundance is 65.3 %. In the summer the common noctule parti-coloured bat, the Natterer''s bat and the pond bat were registered in addition to wintering species mentioned above. It was done the road routes in the latitudinal direction using static ultrasound detector Song Meter SM2 Bat+ and Kaleidoscope Pro (ver. 3.1.1.) software on. In the summer surveys the northern bat dominated: its relative abundance is 70.4 %, relative number – 0.413 ind./km of the route. It was registered up to 66°11''N. Other species are much less common, the northern boundaries of their registration are located southwards, and their relative number is 0.001-0.028 ind./km of the route. Studies showed the absolute dominance of the northern bat in bat communities, both in wintering and during in summer activity. Northern boundaries of the species registration were determined. It changes the old ideas about their distribution and spread in the European North of Russia.