Nakkaş Highway Bat Surveys Final Report

Nakkaş Highway Bat Surveys Final Report Prepared by: Kerem Ali Boyla, KAB Ecology [email protected] +90 545 3775191 Surveyors: Kerem Ali Boyla Ömer Salman Bat Recording Analysis: Maha Salameh, PhD Student at Boğaziçi University Supervisor: Dr. Raşit Bilgin Date: 30 Sept 2021 Prepared for: Işıl Gültekin [email protected] ACE Danışmanlık Bat Surveys at Sazlıdere Bridge of Nakkaş Highway, Istanbul, Turkey October 2021 2 | 11 KAB Ecology 1 INTRODUCTION Background Rönesans is planning to build a highway in İstanbul, extending from north of Büyükçekmece Lake to Başakşehir. The project includes a suspension bridge near Sazlıdere reservoir dam, on Sazlıdere which is located within Küçükçekmece Havzası KBA (Key Biodiversity Area) and close to Yarımburgaz caves in the south. There are concerns about the project's impact on bat populations that might regularly fly between the caves in the south and the Sazlıdere reservoir as a feeding area. Four bat surveys have been planned for between July and October 2021. Site Description The Sazlıdere Bridge of Nakkaş Highway is located between km 51 and 52 of the project just south of the dam of the Sazlıdere Reservoir (Figure 1). Figure 1. Location of Nakkaş Road Project and the Suspension Bridge, the subject of the bat surveys Scoping In this study we focused only on the bat populations in the section of at Sazlıdere Bridge, which is the only site seen as a potentially important habitat for bats, due to the presence of caves and wetland habitats as feeding grounds. We scoped out the other site. Despite this we acknowledge that bat populations likely exist in the rural parts, and colonies should occur on the roofs of houses along the project site. There is no old-growth mature deciduous forest that can provide a good habitat for some important species. So in general, we scoped out bat populations in villages, houses etc. Bat Surveys at Sazlıdere Bridge of Nakkaş Highway, Istanbul, Turkey October 2021 3 | 11 KAB Ecology Review of Existing Data A list of expected bat species for the project area was generated based on the previous acoustic surveys in the close vicinity of the project area, the distribution maps of IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and EUROBATS Guidelines (Rodrigues et al. 2014). The list includes 21 species (out of the total 37 species in Turkey) (Table 1). Table 1. Bat species expected and recorded at the project site (IUCN 2020). Collision risk levels Rodrigues et al (2014). “Expected” column shows which species are likely to occur based on the review of available information. IUCN column shows Red List evaluation globally except when marked with Med: Mediterranean, or Eu: Europe. Common Name Scientific Name Status Red List Collision Risk Expected Western Barbastelle Barbastella barbastellus Declining VU (Eu) Medium X Botta's Serotine Eptesicus bottae Unknown LC Medium Serotine Eptesicus serotinus Stable LC Medium X Savi's Pipistrelle Hypsugo savii Stable LC High Schreiber's Bent-winged Bat Miniopterus schreibersii Declining VU High X Steppe Whiskered Bat Myotis aurascens Stable LC Low X Bechstein's Myotis Myotis bechsteinii Declining VU (Eu) Low X Lesser Mouse-eared Myotis Myotis blythii Declining NT (Eu, Med) Low X Brandt's Myotis Myotis brandtii Stable LC Low Long-fingered Bat Myotis capaccinii Declining VU Low X Daubenton's Myotis Myotis daubentonii Stable LC Low X Geoffroy's Bat Myotis emarginatus Stable LC Low X Greater Mouse-eared Bat Myotis myotis Stable LC Low X Whiskered Myotis Myotis mystacinus Unknown LC Low X Natterer's Bat Myotis nattereri Stable LC Low Schaub's Myotis Myotis schaubi Unknown DD Low Giant Noctule Nyctalus lasiopterus Declining VU High Lesser Noctule Nyctalus leisleri Unknown LC High Noctule Nyctalus noctula Unknown LC High X Desert Long-eared Bat Otonycteris hemprichii Unknown LC Unknown Kuhl's Pipistrelle Pipistrellus kuhlii Unknown LC High X Nathusius' Pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii Unknown LC High X Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus Stable LC High X Soprano Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus Unknown LC High Brown Long-eared Bat Plecotus auritus Stable LC Low X Grey Long-eared Bat Plecotus austriacus Declining NT Low X Mediterranean Long-eared Bat Plecotus kolombatovici Declining NT (Eu) Low Mountain Long-eared Bat Plecotus macrobullaris Declining NT (Eu, Med) Low Blasius's Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus blasii Declining VU (Eu) Low Mediterranean Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus euryale Declining VU (Eu, Med) Low X Greater Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum Declining NT (Eu, Med) Low X Lesser Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus hipposideros Declining NT (Eu, Med) Low X Mehely's Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus mehelyi Declining VU Low X Egyptian Fruit Bat Rousettus aegyptiacus Stable NT (Med) Low European Free-tailed Bat Tadarida teniotis Unknown LC High Naked-rumped Tomb Bat Taphozous nudiventris Stable LC Unknown Particoloured Bat Vespertilio murinus Stable LC High Yarımburgaz Cave has lost most of its natural properties. The only report summarises the presence of. The only available survey of the cave was done in march and May 1999 and a maximum of 3 individuals of bats were observed, belonging to R. ferrumequinum, R. hipposideros and Miniopterus schreibersii. The bat comunity is deserted the caves due to continuous disturbance by people (Ozgul and Bilgin 2000). Bat Surveys at Sazlıdere Bridge of Nakkaş Highway, Istanbul, Turkey October 2021 4 | 11 KAB Ecology 2 METHODOLOGY Survey Timing For each visit, two nights of acoustic surveys were conducted at each selected sampling point. Survey dates and field conditions are summarized in Table 2. Surveys started 30 minutes before sunset and ended 30 minutes after sunrise. Table 2. Field survey conditions. Visit Date SPs Temp Time Wind Cloud Prec. July 28/07 SP2, SP3 and mobile 26-23 20:15 - 06:15 NE 1 m/s 0% 0 mm 30/07 28-19 NE 1 m/s 0% 0 mm August 18/08 SP1 25-23 20:15 - 06:15 NE 1 m/s 20% 0 mm 20/08 23-18 NE 3 m/s 10% 0 mm September 13/09 SP1 and mobile 21-17 19:00 - 07:00 NE 1 m/s 80% 0 mm 15/09 23-19 NE 2 m/s 30% 0 mm October 06/10 SP1 and mobile 17-08 19:00 - 07:00 NE 3 m/s 10% 0 mm 07/10 17-15 NE 2 m/s 0% 0 mm Two full spectrum bat detectors (Batlogger M, Elekon) with omni-directional microphones (FG Black, Elekon) were used. The detectors were triggered by bat calls using the advance crest (CrestAdv) methodology. Recordings were made at 312500 Hz sample rate and each of them logged time and temperature. The microphones were located at around 1.5 m above the ground. In transect surveys, surveyors slowly travelled along a route in the project site and used a mobile device which geo-tagged the recordings using the built-in GPS of the detectors. Transect surveys were carried out after sundown on the same nights as the static surveys. Sampling Points Access to good sampling points has been troublesome in the project site. The military post was available in July, but in August the military staff did not allow the placement of the detectors. Likewise, the detector within ISKI campus was not accessible on the first night onward. The only accessible site was the lighting post within the camp site. It was about 15 meters high and gave a good coverage of high lighting bats that are likely to fly at bridge height. During acoustic surveys the lights were switched off not to attract additional bats by the lamps. In July we sampled along the shores of Table 3. Coordinates of the Sampling Points. UTM WGS84 Sampling Point Longitude Latitude Location Jul Aug Sep Oct SP1 28.71943 41.10354 Light post at the Campsite x x X SP2 (temp.) 28.71356 41.10712 NW of the dam wall on the lake shores X SP3 (temp.) 28.72173 41.10634 10 m E of the reservoir dam X Transect 28.71 41.10 Along the canal 2-4 km south of the site X X Transect M2 (temp) 28.73 41.08 Southern shores of Sazlıdere dam lake X Bat Surveys at Sazlıdere Bridge of Nakkaş Highway, Istanbul, Turkey October 2021 5 | 11 KAB Ecology Photo 1. From SP1 the 15 m high light post at the construction campsite. Photo 2. Sampling Point SP2 by the army post (left) and SP3 in ISKI area (right). Sound Analysis Bat recordings obtained from the surveys were analysed using BatExplorer v2.1.4 and species identifications were done by following the methodology described in Barataud (2021), including the parameters in Dietz and Kiefer (2014). As the call parameters of some species overlap, in such cases definitive species identification is difficult and their identifications were reported as “possible.” Feeding buzzes and social calls were also noted. Bat Surveys at Sazlıdere Bridge of Nakkaş Highway, Istanbul, Turkey October 2021 6 | 11 KAB Ecology Transect Surveys In July the transect surveys were planned to be along the shore of the Sazlıdere lake. Most bats were recorded near Şamlar village, on the small dam between two parts of the dam lake. The Noctules (Nyctalus) were recorded on the eastern part of the section. With the cancellation of the survey permit we had to abandon the survey by midnight. Figure 2. The transect route followed in July 2021. (Mobile 2) Figure 3. The open landscape on the lake shore provides good habitat for feeding bats. Bat Surveys at Sazlıdere Bridge of Nakkaş Highway, Istanbul, Turkey October 2021 7 | 11 KAB Ecology In September and October we surveyed along the canal in the south. The canal was partially accessible at most of the site due to construction and security issues. A bridge was constructed and large areas were used as landfill and storage sites. The land police did not allow to survey northern parts of the canal. The photo was taken from the most northerly point accessed during surveys. The area has also security issues. Photo 3. From mobile transect survey looking south from the most northern point. Figure 4. Locations of stationary sampling points and transect. (Mobile 1) Bat Surveys at Sazlıdere Bridge of Nakkaş Highway, Istanbul, Turkey October 2021 8 | 11 KAB Ecology 3 RESULTS Static Acoustic Surveys Most of the bats were Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus). Other common species were identified as Kuhl's or Nathusius' Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus kuhli/nathusii), possible the former due to the slight Mediterranean vegetation and climate of the site. Nathusius's Pipistrelle is a migratory species and has been recorded during migration in wind farms in European Turkey. The Globally Threatened Giant Noctule (Nyctalus lasiopterus) was recorded along the shores of the damlake as well as along the canal south of the project site. Giant Noctule is known to occur at wetlands in autumn and spring migration. Table 4. Complete breakdown of bat recordings. Month Group Species Scientific IUCN 1 2 3 M M2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 7 Nyctaloid group Giant Noctule Nyctalus lasiopterus VU 1 3 6 Noctule Nyctalus noctula LC 2 Pipistrelloid group Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus LC 263 418 162 183 410 Soprano Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus LC 3 1 1 Pipistrellus spec. Pipistrellus spec. NA 4 2 6 5 34 8 Nyctaloid group Giant Noctule Nyctalus lasiopterus VU 1 Lesser Noctule Nyctalus leisleri LC 2 1 Noctule Nyctalus noctula LC 1 Pipistrelloid group Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus LC 106 87 Savi's Pipistrelle Hypsugo savii LC 1 Soprano Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus LC 1 2 Pipistrellus spec. Pipistrellus spec. NA 16 13 9 Nyctaloid group Giant Noctule Nyctalus lasiopterus VU 1 Lesser Noctule Nyctalus leisleri LC 3 4 Noctule Nyctalus noctula LC 1 Particoloured Bat Vespertilio murinus LC 5 5 Pipistrelloid group Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus LC 138 83 307 Soprano Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus LC 4 1 26 Pipistrellus spec. Pipistrellus spec. NA 109 99 94 Plecotus group Brown Long-eared Bat Plecotus auritus LC 2 10 Pipistrelloid group Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus LC 557 640 187 Soprano Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus LC 2 4 Pipistrellus spec. Pipistrellus spec. NA 9 17 36 Station 2 was canceled. And station 3 was repalced by station 1. Bat Surveys at Sazlıdere Bridge of Nakkaş Highway, Istanbul, Turkey October 2021 9 | 11 KAB Ecology This graph shows the maximum number of recordings during two night periods for each month. Data from station SP3 (July) and SP1 (Aug, Sep and Oct) was used. Table 5. Bat Recordings from Stationaly Sampling Points. Group Species Scientific IUCN Jul Aug Sep Oct Nyctaloid group Giant Noctule Nyctalus lasiopterus VU - 1 - - Lesser Noctule Nyctalus leisleri LC - 2 4 - Common Noctule Nyctalus noctula LC - 1 1 - Particoloured Bat Vespertilio murinus LC - - 5 - Pipistrelloid group Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus LC 183 106 138 640 Savi's Pipistrelle Hypsugo savii LC - 1 - - Soprano Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus LC 1 2 4 2 Pipistrellus spec. Pipistrellus spec. NA 6 16 109 17 Plecotus group Brown Long-eared Bat Plecotus auritus - - 2 - Total 190 129 263 659 Recordings from Mobile stations. Note that in July M2 along the shore of Sazlıdere Dam (north of the project site) was used, and in September and October Sazlıdere stream (south of the project site). Table 6. Bat Recordings from Mobile Stations Group Species Scientific IUCN Jul Sep Oct Nyctaloid group Giant Noctule Nyctalus lasiopterus VU 6 1 - Common Noctule Nyctalus noctula LC 2 - - Pipistrelloid group Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus LC 410 307 187 Soprano Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus LC - 26 4 Pipistrellus spec. Pipistrellus spec. NA 34 94 36 Grand Total 452 428 227 Important Note on the Results The lesser noctule (Nyctalus leisleri) was recorded during August and September at SP1 with a peak of 4 passes. Common noctule (Nyctalus noctula) was reported in July (south west shore), and in August (SP1, camp site) and September (SP1, camp site), single passes on all nights. Soprano pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus) was recorded in July (south west shore), and from Julye until October at SP1 (peak 26 passes). Common noctule was reported once in July (south west shore). A Plecotus species and Particoloured Bat were reported at SP1 in September (peak 2 and 5 passes respectively). Savi's Pipistrelle (at SP1) was reported once in August.