Internationaal

Authors: Jan Haelters, Francis Kerckhof & Sophie Brasseur

Contents / Inhoud

Editorial / Redactioneel

Abstract: Hibernation site selection by bats depends on various environmental and physiological factors, microclimatic conditions, and species-specific requirements. For successful overwinter survival, efficient use of stored fat reserves is crucial.

The winter of 2021 was a special anniversary for bat counts in hibernacula in the Netherlands.

Abstract: Twenty six different marl quarries in Flanders are checked annually for hibernating bats, 18 in the Meuse basin and eight in the Scheldt basin.

Abstract: Fort Steendorp (east of Temse, East Flanders, Belgium) is a large former military brick fortification, which is nowadays one of the most important bat hibernation sites in Flanders.

Abstract: Bats have been studied in their underground winter quarters in the Netherlands (and Flanders) since the 1930s. Over time, the focus has shifted from ecological and physiological research to monitoring.

Abstract: Common pipistrelles (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) congregate in mass-hibernacula, sometimes with hundreds to thousands of individuals. In the urban environment, these hibernacula are often situated in crevices and other spaces in buildings with poor insulation.

Abstract: The numbers of hibernating bats in the Voorberg-Jezuïetenberg marl quarry complex, southwest of Maastricht, were monitored between 1987 and 2020 by means of annual counts at the turn of the year.

Fort Steendorp (ten oosten van Temse, Oost-Vlaanderen, België) is een groot voormalig militair bakstenen fort, dat tegenwoordig een van de belangrijkste overwinteringsplaatsen voor vleermuizen is in Vlaanderen, België.

In Vlaanderen worden 26 verschillende mergelgroeven jaarlijks gecontroleerd op overwinterende vleermuizen, 18 in het Maasbekken en acht in het Scheldebekken.

In Nederland (en Vlaanderen) worden sinds de jaren 1930 overwinterende vleermuizen onderzocht in veelal ondergrondse winterverblijven. In de loop van de tijd is de focus verschoven van ecologisch en fysiologisch onderzoek naar monitoring.

De winter van 2021 markeerde een bijzondere periode van vleermuistellingen in winterverblijven.