Investigations on bats species and activity densities atAkdeniz University Campus

In this study, it was aimed to detect bat species at Akdeniz University Campus and its surroundings using non-invasive methods. In this purpose, real-time ultra-sonic sound detector (Batcorder 3.1) was used. Batcorder was placed to 8 different locations according to location and habitat type of Campus. Bat calls were recorded at these 8 locations as a total of 31 days. Recorded calls were analysed with bcAdmin, bcAnalyze and batIdent software in Apple Mac Book OSX 10.10.1. As a total, 49571 bat calls were recorded. As a result of analyses, 12 bat species belonged to 3 families were detected. These species were respectively; Rousettus aegyptiacus (Pteropodidae), Myotis blythii, Nyctalus noctula, Eptesicus serotinus, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Pipistrellus pyqmaeus, Pipistrellus kuhlii, Pipistrellus nathusii, Hypsugo savii, Barbastella barbastellus (Vespertilionidae) and, Miniopterus schreibersii (Miniopterinae). The most common species was Pipistrellus nathusii and highest number of calls were recorded for this species as well. Rousettus aegyptiacus was directly observed. Both species were recorded and/or directly observed in each month during the study period. The lowest number of calls recorded for Nyctalus noctula and Nyctalus leisleri. The lowest activity was detected in May for Nyctalus noctula and in September for Nyctalus leisleri. The results indicate that Akdeniz University Campus as a part of Urban Ecosystem is an important area for bat species diversity and bat activity.