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Common pipistrelle

The common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) is a small insectivorous bat species belonging to the family Vespertilionidae, recognized as one of Europe's most widespread and abundant bats.^[1] It measures 3.5–8 grams in weight, with a forearm length of 27.7–33.4 mm and a wingspan of 18–25 cm, featuring dark brown fur, a hairless tail membrane, and short, rounded tragus typical of pipistrelles.^[1]^[2] The species is distinguished by its agile, erratic flight pattern and high-frequency echolocation calls around 45 kHz, which it uses to navigate and hunt in low-light conditions.^[2] Native to a broad range spanning most of Europe from the Atlantic to the Urals, as well as parts of North Africa and the Middle East, the common pipistrelle thrives in diverse habitats including woodlands, urban areas, farmlands, shrublands, and even semi-desert regions from sea level to high elevations.^[1]^[3] It roosts in crevices of buildings, tree holes, bat boxes, and roof spaces, often forming colonies of dozens to a few hundred individuals, with females gathering in larger maternity groups during summer for pup-rearing.^[4] Ecologically, it is highly adaptable, foraging primarily at dusk over water bodies, gardens, and open spaces for small flying insects such as moths, midges, flies, and mosquitoes, consuming up to 3,000 prey items per night.^[5] Its diet plays a key role in natural pest control, benefiting agricultural and urban ecosystems.^[5] Reproduction occurs seasonally, with mating in autumn; females store sperm through winter hibernation, ovulating in spring to give birth to 1–2 young in June or July after a gestation of about 40 days.^[5] Females reach sexual maturity in their first year, while males typically in their second, and pups are born hairless and blind, dependent on maternal care in nursery colonies.^[5] Although populations are stable or increasing overall, the species faces localized threats from habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change, yet it is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List due to its wide distribution and resilience.^[1] Conservation efforts emphasize protecting roosting sites and reducing chemical impacts to sustain its ecological contributions.^[1]

Taxonomy and classification

Etymology and history

The genus name Pipistrellus originates from the Italian pipistrello, meaning "bat," a variant of Old Italian vipistrello, which derives from the Latin vespertilio, denoting an evening flyer or twilight creature.^[6]^[7] The specific epithet pipistrellus reflects this linguistic root, emphasizing the bat's crepuscular activity.^[8] The common pipistrelle was first scientifically described in 1774 by German naturalist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber, who named it Vespertilio pipistrellus in his work Die Säugethiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur.^[9] Initially placed in the genus Vespertilio, the species underwent reclassifications within the Vespertilionidae family during the 19th and 20th centuries, including a shift to Vesperugo pipistrellus by Keyserling and Blasius in 1839, before being established in the modern genus Pipistrellus based on morphological and systematic revisions.^[9] These changes reflected evolving understandings of bat taxonomy, driven by improved anatomical studies and phylogenetic analyses.^[10] A major taxonomic revision occurred in 1999, when the soprano pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus) was separated from the common pipistrelle based on distinct echolocation call frequencies—45 kHz for P. pipistrellus versus 55 kHz for P. pygmaeus—and supported by genetic evidence from DNA studies confirming their status as separate species.^[11] Prior to this split, both were treated as a single taxon under P. pipistrellus.^[11] Despite this distinction, rare cases of interspecific hybridization have been documented, particularly in central Europe, with genetic analyses indicating overall rates ranging from 1.7% to 13.3% depending on detection thresholds, and higher incidences at swarming sites.^[11]^[12]^[13]

Phylogenetic relationships

The common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) is classified within the family Vespertilionidae, specifically in the subfamily Vespertilioninae and tribe Pipistrellini, as supported by molecular and morphological analyses of vespertilionid bats.^[14] This species shares a close evolutionary relationship with other members of the genus Pipistrellus, particularly the soprano pipistrelle (P. pygmaeus), from which it diverged approximately 3–4 million years ago based on mitochondrial DNA sequence data and molecular clock estimates.^[11] Within the broader phylogenetic tree of Vespertilionidae, P. pipistrellus forms part of a monophyletic clade of European Pipistrellus species, as evidenced by 2000s molecular studies utilizing mitochondrial and nuclear markers that resolved tribal relationships and affirmed the group's unity.^[14] European Pipistrellus species, including the common pipistrelle, are positioned as a sister group to certain Asian pipistrelles and related genera such as Nyctalus and Glischropus, highlighting a Palearctic biogeographic pattern in the diversification of the tribe Pipistrellini.^[14] Currently, no subspecies of P. pipistrellus are formally recognized, though molecular and acoustic studies have identified regional genetic lineages and subtle variations in echolocation call peak frequencies across its range, such as differences between eastern and western populations.^[15]

Physical description

Morphology

The common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) is one of Europe's smallest bat species, characterized by compact dimensions that contribute to its agile flight profile. Adults typically measure 3.5–5.2 cm in head-body length, with a forearm length ranging from 27.7–33.4 mm, a tail length of 2.4–4.3 cm, and a wingspan of 18–25 cm; their mass varies between 3.5–8.5 g, often increasing seasonally with fat accumulation for hibernation.^[5]^[16] These measurements reflect a lightweight build optimized for rapid, cluttered-space navigation, though individuals from different populations may show minor variations.^[17] The pelage consists of short, woolly fur that is brown on the dorsal surface—ranging from dark chestnut to richer tones—and paler greyish-brown on the ventral side, providing subtle camouflage against tree bark and urban surfaces.^[18] The ears are short and triangular with rounded tips, featuring a distinctive tragus that is broad at the base, rounded at the apex, and up to four times longer than wide, a key trait for distinguishing it from similar species like the soprano pipistrelle.^[18] Wing membranes are opaque and dark, attached to slender legs and a short calcar that extends about one-third the length of the tail membrane, complete with a small post-calcarial lobe.^[18] Internally, the dentition follows the vespertilionid pattern with a formula of 2.1.2.3/3.1.2.3 (total 34 teeth), featuring sharp, multicusped molars adapted for crushing small insect prey. The wings exhibit a narrow, pointed shape with a low aspect ratio, enhancing maneuverability in dense vegetation or near structures during foraging.^[5] Sexual dimorphism is evident in size, with females averaging slightly larger than males across metrics like forearm length and mass, a pattern linked to reproductive demands such as lactation.

Sensory adaptations

The common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) primarily relies on echolocation for navigation and prey detection, producing frequency-modulated (FM) sweeps that typically range from 76 kHz to 45 kHz, with peak energy concentrated at 47 kHz. These calls have an average duration of 5.6 ms and are emitted at rates of 10-15 pulses per second during flight, enabling the bat to detect small insects at distances of several meters in cluttered environments.^[19] This echolocation profile differs notably from that of the closely related soprano pipistrelle (P. pygmaeus), which exhibits a higher peak frequency of around 55 kHz. The lower frequency peak in the common pipistrelle facilitates habitat partitioning, allowing coexistence by reducing acoustic interference; the soprano species tends to forage over open riparian and water areas, while the common uses broader habitats including woodland edges and urban spaces.^[20]^[21] In addition to echolocation, the common pipistrelle utilizes other sensory modalities. Vision plays a supplementary role, particularly in low-light conditions, with eyes adapted for enhanced sensitivity to dim twilight environments, aiding in obstacle avoidance and mate location during crepuscular activity.^[22] Olfactory cues are important for roost selection and social recognition, as bats discriminate between colony scents to identify suitable and familiar sites, preferring odors from their own group.^[23] Auditory processing extends beyond echolocation to social calls, which are analyzed for communication in foraging and mating contexts, helping maintain group cohesion without overlapping with hunting signals. Urban environments present acoustic challenges, but the common pipistrelle demonstrates adaptability by adjusting echolocation call frequencies and durations to mitigate interference from anthropogenic noise, such as traffic or machinery. In noisier settings, bats may lower peak frequencies slightly or shorten pulses to improve echo clarity, enhancing foraging success in human-modified habitats.^[24]

Life history and behavior

Reproduction and development

The mating season for the common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) occurs from mid-July to late October, peaking in September, during which males establish courtship territories averaging approximately 200 m in diameter near potential winter roosts.^[25] These territories are defended through aerial patrols and advertisement songflights, consisting of complex social calls that attract females, often resembling a lek-like system in urban areas where territories are densely packed.^[26]^[25] Females mate with multiple males but store sperm until spring, delaying fertilization until after hibernation.^[5] Gestation lasts 44–50 days following fertilization in April or May, with parturition typically occurring in June or early July.^[27]^[28] Females usually give birth to a single pup, though twins are more common in favorable conditions with abundant food resources.^[29] Newborn pups are altricial, weighing 1–2 g, hairless, and blind, with eyes opening after 3–5 days.^[30] Pups remain dependent on maternal milk for the first 3–4 weeks, during which they cluster in maternity colonies that consist of 75–several hundred females, exhibiting a female-biased sex ratio due to the exclusion of most males.^[26]^[29] Young begin flying at 3–4 weeks of age and are weaned by late July or August, after which maternity colonies disband and juveniles disperse, with females often maturing sexually in their first year and males in their second.^[5]^[27]

Foraging strategies

The common pipistrelle primarily feeds on small flying insects, with small Diptera such as psychodids (Psychodidae), fungus gnats (Anisopodidae), and muscids (Muscidae) comprising a dominant portion of the diet, alongside moths (Lepidoptera), caddisflies (Trichoptera), and lacewings (Neuroptera).^[31]^[32] This aerial-hawking strategy involves capturing prey in flight, typically at speeds of 20-30 km/h (approximately 5.6-8.3 m/s), while foraging along linear features such as woodland edges, water bodies, and artificial light sources like streetlights that attract insects.^[33]^[34] Echolocation plays a key role in prey detection during these pursuits, enabling precise targeting of evasive insects.^[35] Foraging activity commences shortly after dusk, with bats emerging from roosts 20-30 minutes after sunset, depending on ambient temperature and light levels.^[18]^[36] Individuals conduct multiple short bouts of 1-2 hours each, interspersed with returns to roosts, covering a total nightly distance of 10-15 km while hunting within a home range typically spanning 1-3 km from the roost.^[37]^[38] These patterns allow efficient exploitation of insect swarms near vegetated edges and water margins, where prey density is highest.^[39] To meet high energetic demands, common pipistrelles consume 30-50% of their body weight in insects each night, equivalent to thousands of small prey items, particularly during lactation when needs peak.^[26] In poor weather conditions with low insect availability, bats employ torpor to reduce metabolic rates and conserve energy, minimizing foraging risks and expenditure.^[40] This adaptive use of torpor outside hibernation periods supports survival during suboptimal foraging opportunities.^[41] The common pipistrelle exhibits seasonal variation in its social organization, forming large mixed-sex swarms at hibernacula during winter, where colonies can number up to 5,000 individuals.^[42] These aggregations provide thermal benefits and opportunities for pre-hibernation interactions, contrasting with the more solitary or small-group hibernation patterns observed in some individuals.^[26] In summer, adult males typically form bachelor groups, often roosting separately from females during the nursing period to avoid competition for resources.^[43] These male groups help maintain social bonds and may facilitate energy conservation through shared thermoregulation.^[44] Summer colonies of females, including maternity groups, operate under fission-fusion dynamics, where individuals frequently switch roosts, leading to variable group sizes and compositions over time.^[45] This flexibility allows adaptation to changing environmental conditions, such as temperature fluctuations, while preserving overall colony cohesion through repeated associations among familiar individuals.^[46] Communication plays a key role in these dynamics, with social calls used primarily for territory defense and maintaining group structure; these calls typically range in frequency from 20 to 40 kHz and include multiharmonic, frequency-modulated syllables.^[47] Aggressive interactions, such as chases and vocal disputes, are common at roosts to resolve conflicts over space.^[48] Common pipistrelles demonstrate high roost fidelity, with many individuals showing strong site loyalty and returning to natal or familiar areas across seasons, contributing to localized population stability.^[49] Gene flow within populations is supported by occasional long-distance dispersal, with males traveling up to 100 km to establish new territories or join swarms, promoting genetic diversity despite the species' generally sedentary nature.^[2] Interactions with other species include competition for roosting sites with the soprano pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus), where both species may share hibernacula but vie for optimal crevices. Additionally, they face occasional predation from owls, such as tawny owls (Strix aluco), which target emerging bats at roosts, influencing group vigilance behaviors.^[50]

Distribution and ecology

Geographic range

The common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) has a broad native range spanning the Palearctic and parts of the Oriental regions. In Europe, it occurs from the British Isles, including Ireland and England, across western and central continent to southern Scandinavia and southern Finland up to approximately 60°N, while in Eastern Europe, it is primarily restricted to southern regions including the Caucasus, with historical records further east to the Urals and Volga likely attributable to the closely related Pipistrellus pygmaeus following recent taxonomic revisions.^[2]^[5]^[51] Its distribution extends into North Africa, primarily in the northwest from Morocco through Algeria and Tunisia.^[2] In Asia, the species is found from Turkey and the Middle East (including Iran and Afghanistan) eastward to central and eastern Asia, reaching western China, Kazakhstan, Russia, India, and Myanmar, as well as Taiwan; however, some eastern records may pertain to distinct genetic lineages or cryptic species within the complex.^[52]^[5]^[53] Recent phylogeographic studies (as of 2024) have identified multiple genetic lineages in P. pipistrellus, potentially representing separate species, which impacts distribution interpretations, particularly in eastern Europe and Asia.^[54]^[53] Vagrant or introduced records are rare outside this core range. Isolated sightings have been reported in Iceland, typically associated with ship-assisted dispersal from Europe.^[55] In Scandinavia, populations appear to be expanding northward, potentially linked to climate warming, though the species remains absent from the northernmost parts of the peninsula.^[52] The altitudinal distribution ranges from sea level to elevations of up to 2,000 m, with highest population densities in temperate lowland areas across its European range.^[52]^[3] Historically, the species colonized much of Europe following the last glacial maximum, with post-glacial northward expansion from Mediterranean refugia occurring around 10,000 years ago during the Holocene. In arid zones of North Africa and western Asia, its distribution remains stable but fragmented, limited by suitable habitats.^[57]

Habitat use

The common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) primarily roosts in crevices and cavities within human-made structures, including buildings, bridges, and trees, which provide sheltered and stable microclimates. Summer maternity colonies are typically established in attics, cavity walls, spaces between roof slates and wooden linings, and stone wall crevices of inhabited buildings, often with slate roofs, allowing females to form groups of up to several hundred individuals for nursing young. These roosts are selected for their proximity to tall trees (>10 m) and greater tree cover (mean 29% within 50 m), facilitating early emergence and energy savings of approximately 10% daily. In winter, hibernation occurs in cooler, more humid sites such as underground caves, poorly insulated urban buildings (e.g., apartment blocks, hospitals, and high-rises with thick brick or concrete walls), and occasionally bat boxes, where temperatures range from 3°C to 15°C to minimize energy expenditure during torpor. Foraging habitats favor open or edge environments rich in insects, including woodland edges, riparian zones along rivers and lakes, and urban parks, where the species exploits semi-open areas rather than dense interiors. Activity is highest near smooth water bodies with bank-side trees, recording up to 43 passes per kilometer in such sites, as these support abundant aquatic and terrestrial insect prey. The species avoids dense forests and coniferous stands, showing lowest activity in cluttered woodland habitats, and instead prefers tree lines, meadows, and arable land edges for efficient aerial hawking. Microhabitat requirements emphasize access to water sources, with roosts and foraging areas often within 0.5 km of major rivers or ponds to support drinking and prey availability, though overall home ranges extend up to 2 km from roosts. In urban settings, the common pipistrelle adapts well by foraging under street lights, where artificial illumination attracts insects—boosting activity 1.87 times compared to unlit areas—despite generally lower overall use of brightly lit open spaces without tree cover. Seasonal habitat shifts reflect reproductive and survival needs, with summer roosts in warm building crevices (maintaining 10–12°C above ambient) transitioning to cooler hibernation sites in autumn, often involving facultative migration distances up to 300 km in some European populations to reach suitable humid, stable-temperature refugia.^[58]^[59]^[60]^[61]^[62]^[63]^[64]^[65]

Conservation status

Population trends

The common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, with a global population trend assessed as stable. This status reflects its wide distribution across Eurasia and North Africa, where it remains one of the most abundant bat species despite historical pressures. Recent surveys in the 2020s continue to support stability, with no evidence of widespread decline.^[2] In Europe, the population is estimated in the millions, exemplified by approximately 2 million individuals in the pre-breeding UK population as of 1995 and 1.9–4.2 million in the Republic of Ireland based on roost and activity data.^[18]^[66] Regional trends show variation, with recoveries in some areas offsetting earlier losses. In the UK, populations declined significantly during the 20th century due to habitat changes, but long-term monitoring from 1999 to 2023 indicates an 86.8% increase in Great Britain based on field surveys across an average of 170 sites annually.^[67] Short-term trends from 2018 to 2023 reveal a modest 1.2% rise, and the latest National Bat Monitoring Programme report (up to summer 2024, published May 2025) confirms ongoing long-term increases while highlighting emerging localized concerns, though overall stability persists.^[67]^[68]^[69] In contrast, urban populations in Central Europe exhibit stability or slight increases, attributed to the species' adaptability to built environments and artificial light sources that attract prey.^[52] Population monitoring relies on standardized methods including acoustic surveys to detect echolocation calls, roost counts during maternity seasons, and transect-based field observations. These approaches, coordinated through programs like the UK's National Bat Monitoring Programme (NBMP) since 1996, provide robust indices of abundance and distribution.^[67] Data aggregated under the Eurobats agreement demonstrate the common pipistrelle's resilience in fragmented landscapes, with consistent presence in both rural and urban matrices across Europe.^[2] Recent studies underscore demographic health. A 2017 analysis from the Irish Bat Monitoring Programme correlated habitat features—such as water proximity and woodland cover—with encounter rates, revealing stable activity levels tied to landscape heterogeneity.^[70] Genetic surveys, including a 2017 assessment of mitochondrial haplotypes in Central European hibernacula, indicate high diversity and no detectable inbreeding depression, supporting viable gene flow despite habitat fragmentation.^[71]

Threats and challenges

The common pipistrelle faces significant threats from habitat loss, primarily driven by agricultural intensification that reduces foraging areas such as field edges and hedgerows, leading to fragmentation of suitable landscapes.^[29] In the United Kingdom, populations declined by approximately 55% from the 1960s to the late 1990s, with much of this attributed to the loss of insect-rich foraging habitats through land conversion and intensification. Urban development exacerbates this by sealing potential roosts in buildings and trees during renovations, further limiting access to shelter.^[29] Insecticide use poses another major risk by diminishing prey availability, as pesticides like organophosphates reduce insect populations that constitute the bat's primary food source.^[72] These chemicals can also bioaccumulate in bats through contaminated prey, leading to physiological effects such as impaired immune function, reduced locomotion, and disrupted spatial navigation even at low exposure levels.^[73] Lipophilic pesticides, in particular, accumulate in the bats' fat reserves, potentially causing long-term health issues during hibernation or reproduction.^[74] Climate change introduces challenges through shifts in insect phenology, creating mismatches between peak bat foraging periods and prey availability, which can reduce energy intake and reproductive success.^[75] Warmer winters may shorten hibernation durations or prompt premature arousals, depleting fat reserves and increasing mortality risks during energy-scarce periods.^[76] Projections indicate potential range shifts for the species, with northward expansions estimated at velocities of up to 76 km per decade under high-emission scenarios by mid-century, though this could involve losses in southern refugia due to drought and heat stress.^[77] Additional threats include light pollution, which disorients foraging behavior and reduces activity in illuminated areas, negatively impacting distribution on landscape scales.^[78] Wind turbines pose collision risks, with common pipistrelles particularly attracted to turbine structures, contributing to elevated fatality rates in operational wind farms.^[79] Diseases such as white-nose syndrome, caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, have limited impact in Europe due to greater resistance in native bat populations, including the common pipistrelle, compared to North American species.^[80] Human interactions present both benefits and conflicts; the bats provide natural insect control, reducing pest populations in agricultural and urban settings without chemical intervention. However, conflicts arise when colonies roost in buildings, leading to exclusions that disrupt maternity sites and increase stress on local populations.^[81]

Protection measures

The common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) is protected under the EU Habitats Directive as a species of European importance listed in Annex IV, which requires strict protection across member states, including safeguards for its roosts and habitats.^[82]^[4] In the United Kingdom, it was identified as a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan from the 1990s until the 2010s, guiding targeted conservation actions before its status shifted due to population stabilization. Internationally, it is afforded protection under Appendix III of the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, promoting cooperation to maintain viable populations.^[83]^[84] Conservation initiatives include widespread bat box installations across Europe to provide artificial roosts, compensating for habitat loss in urban and rural settings; in the UK, organizations like the Bat Conservation Trust have supported thousands of such installations to enhance roosting opportunities for the species.^[85]^[86] The Agreement on the Conservation of Populations of European Bats (EUROBATS), signed in 1991 under the Bonn Convention, facilitates standardized monitoring protocols and data sharing to track population trends and inform policy for species like the common pipistrelle.^[87] Research and recovery efforts emphasize habitat restoration through the creation of green corridors, such as wooded streets and private gardens, which improve connectivity and foraging access in fragmented landscapes.^[88]^[89] Citizen science programs, including acoustic tracking via apps like iBats and the National Bat Monitoring Programme, engage volunteers in recording echolocation calls to map distributions and detect early declines.^[90] Recent 2020s studies explore climate adaptation, revealing how rising temperatures interact with urban light pollution to alter foraging behavior, guiding adaptive management strategies.^[91] Successes include population rebounds in urban areas through roost mitigation during building renovations, where integrated bat boxes and retained crevices have sustained or increased maternity colonies in over 80% of monitored UK sites.^[86]^[92]

References

[1]
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
The provided URL (https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/85333513/196581936) contains information about the Common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus). Below is a concise summary based on the available data:
[2]
Pipistrellus pipistrellus | UNEP/Eurobats
The Common pipistrelle is a small, dark brown bat with no fur on its tail membrane and a wingspan of 180-240mm. It has an agile and erratic flight and uses ...
[3]
Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Schreber, 1774) - GBIF
Great variety of habitats including woodlands, forest edges, urban and rural areas, shrublands, semi-desert areas, farmland, and pastures from sea level up to ...
[4]
Common pipistrelle | The Wildlife Trusts
They roost in tree holes, bat boxes and even the roof spaces of houses, often in small colonies. During the summer, females form maternity colonies and have ...Missing: ecology | Show results with:ecology
[5]
Pipistrellus pipistrellus (common pipistrelle) - Animal Diversity Web
Conservation Status. The Common Pipistrelle is endangered in Austria and Germany, even though it is very common in other areas of Europe. It is important to ...
[6]
Pipistrelle Definition & Meaning - YourDictionary
Origin of Pipistrelle. French from Italian pipistrello bat alteration of Old Italian vipistrello from Latin vespertiliō vespertilionid.Missing: etymology | Show results with:etymology
[7]
pipistrelle - Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Etymology. From French pipistrelle, from Italian pipistrello (“bat”), variant of vipistrello, from Latin vespertilio. Pronunciation. IPA: /pɪpɪˈstɹɛl ...
[8]
PIPISTRELLE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of PIPISTRELLE is any of a genus (Pipistrellus of the family Vespertilionidae) of bats typically appearing in early evening and exhibiting ...
[9]
Handbook of the Mammals of Europe: Common Pipistrelle ...
Serotine Eptesicus serotinus (Schreber, 1774) ... This comprehensive species-specific chapter covers all aspects of mammalian biology, including paleontology, ...
[10]
Generic Status of the American Pipistrelles (Vespertilionidae) with ...
The most important survey of vespertilionid taxonomy appearing by the end of the 20th century was that of Hill and Harrison (1987), who examined bacular ...Missing: reclassifications | Show results with:reclassifications
[11]
Population genetics study of common (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) and ...
Sep 19, 2012 · Until 1999, both taxa were treated as a single species—the common pipistrelle (P. pipistrellus) (Jones and Barratt 1999). Nevertheless, since ...
[12]
Population genetics study of common (Pipistrellus ... - ResearchGate
Population genetics study of common (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) and soprano (Pipistrellus pygmaeus) pipistrelle bats from central Europe suggests interspecific ...
[13]
Hybridization Hotspots at Bat Swarming Sites | PLOS One
Dec 28, 2012 · The overall hybridization rate varied from 3.2 to 7.2%. At the species level, depending on the method used, these values ranged from 2.1–4.6% in ...
[14]
[PDF] A revision of pipistrelle‐like bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera
Figure 2 depicts phylogenetic relationships among, and branch length ranges within, three genera of Pipistrellini. (Pipistrellus, Scotoecus, Vansonia) and six ...
[15]
Phylogeographic Insights into Pipistrellus Species from Türkiye - MDPI
Intraspecific divergences were significantly shallower, dating to the Pliocene and Pleistocene eras. The Mediterranean group of P. pipistrellus diverged from ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[16]
[PDF] A national assessment of bat-habitat relationships in the UK ...
... 3.5-8.5g. (Schober and Grimmberger 1997). It is a ... The occurrence of hibernating Pipistrellus pipistrellus ... species: Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Pipistrellus ...
[17]
Morphological Differentiation in Some Pipistrellus sp. (Chiroptera ...
Feb 26, 2019 · ceylonicus. Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Schreber, 1774). Only two male ... The mean body mass, head and body length and forearm length of the R.
[18]
Common Pipistrelle Bat - School of Biological Sciences
The echolocation call of the common pipistrelle is frequency modulated with a final continuous frequency component.
[19]
https://www.mammal.org.uk/british-mammals/common-pipistrelle-bat
[20]
Soprano pipistrelle - UK Bats - Bat Conservation Trust
The two species look very similar and often the easiest way to tell them apart is from the frequency of their echolocation calls. Soprano pipistrelle habitat.
[21]
Common Pipistrelle and Soprano Pipistrelle - Bat Conservation Ireland
The two are called common and soprano because the latter echolocates at a higher frequency peaking at 55kHz, compared with the former which echolocates at a ...
[22]
Switch off the lights for bats - Phys.org
Mar 16, 2015 · ... common bat, the common pipistrelle ... Despite frequently being depicted as blind, bats have good eyesight that is adapted for low light ...
[23]
The role of odour in the discrimination of conspecifics by pipistrelle ...
Ten bats (five from each of two colonies) chose odours of females from their own colony in preference to those of females from a second colony on the first ...Missing: selection | Show results with:selection
[24]
(PDF) Bats adjust echolocation and social call design as a response ...
Jul 15, 2022 · Our results provide evidence for the ability of P. pipistrellus to modulate temporal and spectral features of echolocation and social calls, as ...
[25]
Songflight behaviour and mating system of the pipistrelle bat ...
Aug 6, 2025 · Territorial flightsong is produced throughout summer while courtship flightsong appears restricted to the mating season in the fall. ... ... A ...
[26]
Common pipistrelle - UK Bats - Bat Conservation Trust
The two commonest pipistrelle species found in the UK, the common and soprano pipistrelle, were only identified as separate species in the 1990s. The two ...
[27]
Bat (Pipistrelle) - Breeding - Better Planet Education
Gestation is normally 44 - 50 days and usually only one baby is born in June. The baby bats are very tiny, hairless and blind for about a week.
[28]
The Common Pipistrelle Bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) - iBats.org.uk
After a gestation period of 44 – 50 days, they give birth to a single pup in June or July. Pups feed solely on their mother's milk for the first 3 – 4 weeks.
[29]
Common Pipistrelle - Facts, Diet, Habitat & Pictures on Animalia.bio
In order to locate their prey pipistrelles use echolocation; the frequencies used for echolocation ... 5.6 ms. With the start of the cold, around mid-October ...
[30]
Bats - Breeding Biology | Wildlife Online
In this species, mating occurs from August to late November and hereafter sperm is stored in the uterus until April, when ovulation and subsequent fertilization ...
[31]
The diets of two phonic types of the bat Pipistrellus pipistrellus in ...
Mar 24, 2009 · The main prey groups in the diet of bats of the 45 kHz phonic type were the families Psychodidae, Anisopodidae and Muscidae, whereas the main ...
[32]
The diets of British bats (Chiroptera) - VAUGHAN - 1997
Jun 28, 1997 · Sixty-one studies of the diets of 15 species of bats found in the British Isles are reviewed. Fourteen studies describe the diets of more than one species.
[33]
Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) - Woodland Trust
During the breeding season, males establish 'courtship territories'. They will patrol this area while emitting high-pitched calls – a sort of singing – to ...
[34]
The role of complex vegetation structures in determining hawking ...
Sep 15, 2019 · Pipistrellus pipistrellus was the most detected edge-habitat forager ... edge-space aerial-foraging bats in harvested forests. For. Ecol ...
[35]
Bat guilds, a concept to classify the highly diverse foraging and ...
Jul 3, 2013 · Bats foraging in edge space in the aerial mode perceive a pulse-echo pair that is followed by clutter echoes from the background (in white).
[36]
Activity patterns of Pipistrelle bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) in north ...
Pipistrellus pipistrellus emerge from their nursery roosts in north-east Scotland about 35 minutes after sunset, at light intensities of between 15 and 35 lux.
[37]
[PDF] Differences in foraging behaviour between Pipistrellus pipistrellus ...
Barlow (1997) has already described differences in the diets of the two cryptic pipistrelle species. If resource partitioning exists between the cryptic ...
[38]
Landscape and scale-dependent spatial niches of bats foraging ...
Jul 25, 2017 · For instance, Pipistrellus pipistrellus became more active with ... To our knowledge, seasonal changes in the importance of landscape elements ...
[39]
[PDF] The use of edge habitats by commuting and foraging bats
cluttered environments tend to emit higher frequency calls (Fig. 1.3: Pipistrellus pipistrellus). When emitting FM-QCF pulses, the QCF components are of ...
[40]
Thermal energetics and torpor in the common pipistrelle bat ...
Pipistrelle bats have a normothermic temp of 35.4°C, a thermoneutral zone above 33°C, and a basal metabolism of 7.6 mL O2/h. Torpor is common, with metabolism ...
[41]
Thermal energetics and torpor in the common pipistrelle bat ...
Aug 6, 2025 · P. pipistrellus hibernates, and uses torpor, even outside the hibernation period. ...
[42]
Population dynamics of the pipistrelle bat: effects of sex, age and ...
Apr 1, 2003 · At hibernacula, however, sexes are mixed and thus can be studied comparatively. Survival processes are usually not directly observable in ...
[43]
Social Organization in the Bat Pipistrellus pipistrellus - jstor
pipistrellus and. P. nathusii. In the summer, however, the adult males establish " bachelor" groups during the nursing period (Gerell unpublished data). They ...
[44]
Positive consequences of group living among male bats during ...
Summary: Male bats living in a group benefit by being able to reduce energy expenditure for body heating, but do not need to lower their metabolism very.
[45]
Weather as a proximate explanation for fission–fusion dynamics in ...
Fission–fusion dynamics appear common among temperate bats where females form roost groups that change in size and composition, as females switch roosts ...
[46]
[PDF] Should I Stay or Should I Go? Fission–Fusion Dynamics in Bats
Abstract Animal species with fission–fusion dynamics are characterized by vari- able group size and composition, as individuals move freely among a social ...
[47]
High frequency social calls indicate food source defense in foraging ...
Apr 1, 2020 · In search flight, P. pipistrellus emitted echolocation signals with durations of up to 10 ms and pulse intervals around 95 ms (Median 95.4 ms, ...
[48]
Social organization in the bat Pipistrellus pipistrellus - ADS
The males set up territories around a roosting site in the beginning of the summer at the same time as the females formed nursing colonies. After breeding, the ...Missing: reproduction | Show results with:reproduction
[49]
Co-roosting relationships are consistent across years in a bat ...
16 Jan 2024 · In a pipistrelle bat colony (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), it was shown that among 17 roost sites, each bat had two to three roosts that it used ...
[50]
Continuous low-intensity predation by owls (Strix aluco) on bats ...
Aug 16, 2023 · Nevertheless, any type of anti-predator behaviour requires that the bats assess the predation risk either by directly observing predators or via ...Missing: soprano | Show results with:soprano
[51]
Common pipistrelle bat Pipistrellus pipistrellus Vespertilionidae
The common pipistrelle is a small bat with a body length of 35-52mm, found in Europe, northern Africa, and parts of Asia. It is considered Least Concern.Missing: conservation | Show results with:conservation
[52]
https://www.batmonitoring.org/en/species/pipistrellus-pipistrellus/
[53]
Distribution of Pipistrellus pipistrellus s.l. in Africa. The closed...
... northern limit at 56°N in southern Scandinavia. It also ranges into North Africa, Asia Minor and through the Middle East up to Afghanistan (Horáček et al.
[54]
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.org/doi/10.1111/mam.12341
[55]
[PDF] Protection of overground roosts
The main roost types identified were churches, castles/fortifications, houses/block of flats, barns/stables, bridges and trees. Respondents also added bat/bird ...
[56]
https://doi.org/10.3161/1733-5329(2005)7%5B189:HOTPPG%5D2.0.CO;2
[57]
[PDF] A method for actively surveying mass hibernation sites of the ...
We conclude that the best period for demonstrating the presence or absence of this swarming behaviour is from the start of August till mid-September, when adult ...Missing: mixed | Show results with:mixed
[58]
https://doi.org/10.1006/anbe.1998.0858
[59]
Barriers and benefits: implications of artificial night-lighting for ... - NIH
This paper reviews the impacts of lighting on bats and their prey, exploring the direct and indirect consequences of lighting intensity and spectral ...2. Material And Methods · (a). Transect Surveys · (b). Transect SurveysMissing: shifts | Show results with:shifts
[60]
Linking activity of common pipistrelles, Pipistrellus ... - ResearchGate
Feb 14, 2022 · We conclude that common pipistrelles observed at this mass hibernacula site are facultative migrants, which may undertake long-distance seasonal ...
[61]
[PDF] EUROBATS
summer maternity roost sites and winter hibernation sites in underground habitats. Surveys occur twice in the hibernation pe- riod (December-February) and ...
[62]
[PDF] Population estimates, trends and background information for six Irish ...
This analysis suggests that there is a common pipistrelle population of approximately 1.9-4.2 million in the. Republic of Ireland. An additional figure of ...
[63]
Population trends for bat species in the UK - JNCC
May 29, 2025 · This page hosts the Official Statistics 'Population trends for bat species in the UK' published on 29 May 2025, including data up to 2024.Official Statistics description · Summary of results · Background and Methods
[64]
New data shows 'emerging declines' in Britain's bat species
Jun 2, 2025 · In its latest report, the NBMP has provided data on the population trends for 11 of Britain's 17 breeding bat species up to summer 2024.
[65]
[PDF] Irish Bat Monitoring Programme 2015-2017
Figure 4 Survey squares colour coded according to mean Common Pipistrelle encounter rates (per hour) from 2012-2014 (left) and from 2015-2017 (right). The ...
[66]
Haplotype diversity in common pipistrelle's mass hibernacula from ...
This study aimed to determine the genetic diversity of individuals that aggregate in two such caves in Slovakia and Romania with the help of a common and ...Missing: mixed | Show results with:mixed
[67]
Bats at risk? Bat activity and insecticide residue analysis of food ...
Apr 13, 2012 · Although bats are reported as being threatened by pesticides, they are currently not considered in European Union pesticide risk assessments ...
[68]
Common insecticide affects spatial navigation in bats at ... - bioRxiv
Sep 17, 2022 · Common pesticides like organophosphates are neurotoxic for vertebrates and even low doses can impair essential processes such as locomotion and ...
[69]
Estimation of effects of pesticides on bats – residue analysis, 2009
Lipophilic pesticides are considered to have a detrimental effect on bats by accumulating in the bat`s stored fat due to the consumption of pesticide laden ...Missing: impact | Show results with:impact
[70]
[PDF] CLIMATE CHANGE: BATS AND THEIR CONSERVATION - COST
Nov 15, 2017 · Pipistrellus nathusii gains range overall, but is predicted to experience losses in Spain, Italy and the Balkans, particularly in the extreme ...Missing: Scandinavia warming
[71]
Thinner bats to face hibernation as response to climate warming
Jan 24, 2024 · One of the principal consequences of climate warming on hibernating mammals could be the loss of optimal conditions for hibernation.
[72]
Limited refugia and high velocity range-shifts predicted for bat ...
Climate change leads to lower bat richness in drought-risk areas. Refugia were limited, occurring in montane, high latitude and some coastal areas.
[73]
Barriers and benefits: implications of artificial night-lighting for the ...
May 5, 2015 · Leisler's bat (Nyctalus leisleri) may be an exception, being more frequent in lit than dark transects. For common pipistrelle bats (Pipistrellus ...
[74]
Common pipistrelle bats attracted to wind turbines - ScienceDaily
Feb 12, 2021 · "Either way it means the risk of fatality at wind turbines is increased, and probably explains the high fatalities of common pipistrelle bats ...
[75]
White-Nose Syndrome - Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation
European bats already have become highly resistant, likely having rebuilt after an earlier attack. In America, in just a decade WNS has decimated highly ...
[76]
Managing Conflict between Bats and Humans: The Response of ...
Conflict can arise when bats roost in human dwellings and householders are affected adversely by their presence. In the United Kingdom, the exclusion of ...Missing: interactions benefits
[77]
Common pipistrelle - Pipistrellus pipistrellus - (Schreber, 1774)
Protected by, EU Habitats Directive and 4 other international agreements. Most preferred habitats. urban; woodland and forest. May also occur in. agricultural ...
[78]
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rstb.2014.0124
[79]
[PDF] ALL-IRELAND SPECIES ACTION PLAN BATS
The Convention places bat species in Appendix II, which recognises that they would benefit from international co-operation regarding their conservation. The ...
[80]
[PDF] agreement on the conservation of bats in europe - EUROBATS
The VWT extended its Bat Box project to Ireland in 1999 when 162. Schwegler bat boxes were erected in three woods in Co. Galway. The aim of this project is ...
[81]
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0131825
[82]
Agreement on the Conservation of Populations of European Bats ...
May 2, 2019 · The Agreement aims to address threats to all 45 species of bats identified in Europe arising from habitat degradation, disturbance of roosting sites and ...
[83]
Contribution of private gardens to habitat availability, connectivity ...
This paper aims at evaluating the importance of private gardens for habitat availability and connectivity in Paris, France, using the common pipistrelle.
[84]
Wooded streets, but not streetlight dimming, favour bat activity in a ...
Jun 27, 2023 · The results suggest that wooded streets were being used as green corridors, with common pipistrelles possibly following them to conceal ...Missing: restoration | Show results with:restoration
[85]
iBats: Emerging tools for acoustic surveys and species identification
22 ene 2016 · iBats offers a free app that records, geo-locates, and uploads bat vocalizations to its web portal for use by scientists and others interested ...
[86]
Temperature amplifies the effect of anthropogenic light on foraging ...
A strong interaction between light treatment and ambient temperature on the amount and timing of foraging activity of common pipistrelle bats is found,
[87]
The implementation and effectiveness of bat roost mitigation and ...
Effectiveness: 14% of sites did not retain roosting bats at all, 86% of sites had some bats post-development but only 13% maintained or increased numbers of all ...