High-Resolution MaxEnt Modelling of Habitat Suitability for Maternity Colonies of the Barbastelle Bat Barbastella barbastellus (Schreber, 1774) in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

摘要: The barbastelle bat Barbastella barbastellus (Schreber, 1774), probably one of the rarest western European species, has suffered from substantial population declines over last several decades. In fact, it was believed to be extinct within federal state Rhineland-Palatinate (western Germany) until discovery a maternity colony in 2004. More reproduction sites have since been found, which demonstrates knowledge gap about actual distribution and abundance species Rhineland-Palatinate. Suitable habitats for colonies are crucial survival their location is critical conservation. We modelled suitability use by based on high-resolution data forest structure roosting colonies, using presence-only machine learning approach MaxEnt. addition statistical tests model performance, we analysed general occurrence surveys few years evidence conducted an in-situ survey identified as highly suitable model, but no records exist. On this site, discovered new colony. Analysis third-party resulted two recently shows barbastelle's range not restricted area south Moselle River. results our study along with scattered pattern potentially locations region challenge previous assumptions geographic This potential habitat modelling conservation ecology may provide basis future preservation strategies region.