Quinze anys d'estudis quiropterològics a les illes Balears (1993-2007)

catalaLes ratapinyades son mamifers placentaris adaptats al vol que han tingut gran exit evolutiu i han colonitzat la major part del planeta excepte les zones polars. Malgrat la seva importancia ecologica, la distribucio, l’ecologia i la dinamica de les poblacions de ratapinyades solen ser poc estudiades. El present treball dona a coneixer i analitza la informacio quiropterologica obtinguda des de 1993, any en que el nostre equip inicia els estudis a les Illes Balears. S’han prospectat cavitats subterranies, s’han capturat ratapinyades amb xarxes i s’han efectuat enregistraments i analisis dels senyals ultrasonics emesos pels quiropters per tal d’ampliar la informacio sobre la distribucio de les ratapinyades a les Illes Balears. S’ha analitzat l’ocupacio estacional de Miniopterus schreibersii, Myotis capaccinii, Myotis myotis i Rhinolophus ferrumequinum a 8 refugis situats a Mallorca i a Menorca i s’han estudiat desplacaments estacionals de les anteriors especies. S’han prospectat unes 470 localitats diferents i s’han observat 16 especies de ratapinyades a les Illes Balears, de les quals algunes d’elles han estat citades per primera vegada. Aquest es el cas de N. leisleri a Menorca i Eivissa; P. pygmaeus a Menorca i P. pipistrellus, P. kuhlii, N. leisleri, M. capaccinii, B. barbastellus i T. teniotis a Sa Dragonera. P. pipistrellus, P. kuhlii i T. teniotis son les especies de ratapinyades mes abundants a les Illes Balears. Els resultats obtinguts fins ara, tot i que encara son parcials, indiquen que existeixen diferencies en la composicio de les comunitats de ratapinyades de cada illa, ja sigui en les especies presents com en la frequencia de cadascuna d’elles. Mallorca es l’illa amb major diversitat d’especies de quiropters. L’analisi de l’ocupacio estacional ha mostrat la importancia quiropterologica de les cavitats estudiades i ha permes estimar el nombre de ratapinyades que s’hi refugien. La metodologia del captura - marcatge - recaptura ha possibilitat verificar diversos desplacaments entre cavitats. R. ferrumequinum i M. myotis realitzen desplacaments de curta distancia, mentre que M. schreibersii i M. capaccinii recorren distancies mes llargues (tot i ser menors que les observades al continent). S’ha pogut comprovar, per primera vegada, desplacaments de M. schreibersii i M. capaccinii entre colonies de Mallorca i Menorca. EnglishBats are placental mammals adapted to flight and evolutionarily very successful, which has led them to colonize most of the planet except for polar areas. Despite their ecological importance, the distribution, ecology, and dynamics of bat populations are usually little studied. The present work reveals and analyses chiropterological information gathered since 1993, when our team began studying bats from the Balearic Islands. In order to further extend the information about Chiroptera distribution in the Balearic Islands underground cavities have been explored, bats have been captured with nets, and recordings and analyses of ultrasonic signals sent out by bats have been performed. Seasonal roosting of Miniopterus schreibersii, Myotis capaccinii, Myotis myotis, and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum has been analysed in eight roosts and seasonal movements of the same species have been studied in Mallorca and Menorca. About 470 different localities have been explored and 16 bat species have been observed in the Balearic Islands, some of which being reported for the first time, such as N. leisleri in Menorca and Eivissa; P. pygmaeus in Menorca and P. pipistrellus, P. kuhlii, N. leisleri, M. capaccinii, B. barbastellus, and T. teniotis in Sa Dragonera. P. pipistrellus, P. kuhlii i T. teniotis are bat species more abundant in Balearic Islands. The results obtained to date, although still partial, show differences in the composition of bat communities in each island, either in the species present or in their frequency. Mallorca is the island where Chiroptera species are more diverse. The analysis of seasonal roosting has revealed the chiropterological importance of the studied cavities and has allowed us to estimate the number of bats that roost in them. The methodology of capture – banding - recapture has allowed us to verify several movements between cavities. R. ferrumequinum and M. myotis make short distance displacements, whereas M. schreibersii and M. capaccinii travel longer distances (although shorter than those observed on the continent). Movements of M. schreibersii and M. capaccinii between colonies of Mallorca and Menorca have been proved for the first time.