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1 June 2014 A Review of the Occurrence of Bats (Chiroptera) on Islands in the North East Atlantic and on North Sea Installations
Aevar Petersen, Jens-Kjeld Jensen, Paulina Jenkins, Dorete Bloch, Finnur Ingimarsson
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Abstract

The bats recorded from Iceland, the Faroe Islands, the Shetland Islands, the Orkney Islands, and North Sea installations are reviewed to the end of 2012. In total 12 species have been positively identified, while a considerable proportion of all records are sightings of unidentified bats. Eight of the species are European in origin and four originate from the New World. The largest number of species (8) has been recorded in Iceland, but the greatest number of individuals (180) has been found in Orkney. The bat invasion on the Faroe Islands in 2010 is without precedence, when 70 observations of a minimum of 45 individuals were noted. Most bat observations in the study area occurred in the autumn, with fewer in the spring. Most observations were of single animals, but there were also sightings of up to 12 individuals. There has been a marked increase in bat records in the past three decades. We discuss whether this is a real increase, or due to improved communications, increased public awareness, increased shipping, changes in weather patterns and/or the effects of climate change. All factors appear to be involved.

© Museum and Institute of Zoology PAS
Aevar Petersen, Jens-Kjeld Jensen, Paulina Jenkins, Dorete Bloch, and Finnur Ingimarsson "A Review of the Occurrence of Bats (Chiroptera) on Islands in the North East Atlantic and on North Sea Installations," Acta Chiropterologica 16(1), 169-195, (1 June 2014). https://doi.org/10.3161/150811014X683381
Received: 14 January 2014; Accepted: 1 June 2014; Published: 1 June 2014
KEYWORDS
climate change
Faroes
Iceland
identification problems
invasion
North Sea
Orkneys
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