Living Planet: Connected Planet
Nathusius’ pipistrelle distribution and migration
Norway
Finland
Russian Federation
Sweden
Estonia
Denmark
Latvia
North Sea
United Kingdom
Lithuania
Ireland
The Netherlands
Belarus
Poland
Distribution Breeding area Hibernation area
Belgium
Czech Republic
Celtic Sea
Germany
Ukraine Moldova
Slovakia Hungary
Austria
Swizerland
France
Romania
Slovenia Croatia Serbia Bosnia & H.
Broad migratory flyway Narrower migratory flyway Possible migratory flyway Unknown status Source: personal communication with UNEP Eurobats Secretariat experts.
Black Sea
Montenegro
Georgia Azerbaijan Armenia
Italy
Bulgaria
Albania Macedonia
Spain
Greece
Mediterranean Sea
Figure 24: Distribution and migration of Nathusius’ pipistrelle.
Threats to migration pathways The main threat to Nathusius’ pipistrelles is the loss of habitat due to forest practices that do not take account of bat needs. The felling of trees with cavities, especially in riverine woodlands, and the drainage of wetlands can affect both breeding and wintering populations. The availability of suitable roosts along their migration paths is also vital for the species. Nathusius’ pipistrelle is increasingly faced with a new threat: wind turbines. Bats are known to be particularly sensitive to wind turbines. They can be fatally injured if they enter the pressure zone around the spinning blades of the turbine, suffering from a collapse of the lungs and internal organs known as “barotrauma”. The increasing development of wind farms along migration routes in coastal areas, in mating areas, and in wetlands where the pipistrelle hibernates, has revealed that mortality as a result of collision with wind turbines or barotrauma is high. The bats
appear to be attracted to wind turbines operating at low wind speeds, possibly because of insects collecting above the turbine which the bats feed on. During the last few decades many onshore and offshore wind farms have been built along these routes but the extent of the impact on Nathusius’ pipistrelle populations is still unknown. Opportunities for ecological networks To protect Nathusius’ pipistrelle, the conservation and enhance- ment of wetlands and riverine forests with old trees is essential to allow bats to forage and mate along migration routes. The con- struction of wind turbines should be prohibited in these habitats or their use curtailed at night or during the migration period. Using higher cut-in speeds, i.e., the minimum wind speed at which the wind turbine will generate usable power, should also be considered in areas where threatened bats are present.
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