Acoustical Investigation of Bats in Selcuklu District of Konya Province

Based on the shape and model of echolocation calls, the acoustic definition of insectivorous bat species has become a successful tool for revealing the use of different habitats, activity and behaviour patterns. Many researchers have used ultrasonic detectors to identify bat species and assess habitat use. This method has become particularly valuable for species that are difficult to capture. In this study, a total of 3167 bat passages were recorded in the Selcuklu district of Konya province, by using an ultrasonic detector. As a result of the survey, 6 species (Myotis myotis / blythii, Barbastella barbastellus, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Hypsugo savii, Eptesicus serotinus and Miniopterus schreibersii) were analysed. B. barbastellus and E. serotinus were recorded acoustically for the first time in the study area. ANOVA analysis showed that there were no significant differences in the call parameters between the locations where M. myotis / blythii, B. barbastellus, P. pipistrellus and M. schreibersii species were recorded. Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) was performed to classify 5 species (M. myotis / blythii, B. barbastellus, P. pipistrellus, H. savii and M. schreibersii). As a result of the DFA, the species were classified as 100%.

Automated summary

The acoustic definition of insectivorous bat species based on echolocation calls can reveal habitat use, activity, and behavior patterns. Using ultrasonic detectors to identify bat species and assess habitat use has become a valuable method, especially for difficult-to-capture species. In this study, six bat species were analyzed in the Selcuklu district of Konya province, and discriminant function analysis classified the species with 100% accuracy.