Irina G. Baeva, Dmitriy G. Smirnov, Sergey V. Titov, Aliya U. Gabdullina

Bats of the Katon-Karagay National Natural Park (Kazakhstan Altai) and the first data of their altitudinal distribution and diet

Introduction

Bats of the katon-karagay national natural park (kazakhstan altai) and the first data of their altitudinal distribution and diet. Explore bat fauna in Katon-Karagay National Park, Kazakhstan Altai. Discover 7 species, including a rare Murina record, altitudinal distribution, and detailed diet analysis.

Abstract

Bat fauna surveys were conducted in the Katon-Karagay District of East Kazakhstan. The presence of six species was confirmed within Katon-Karagay National Park: Myotis petax, Myotis sibiricus, Myotis ikonnikovi, Eptesicus (Cnephaeus) nilssonii, Vespertilio murinus, and Plecotus ognevi. We also recorded Murina hilgendorfi, which had previously been reported in Kazakhstan only once in the Western Altai. In addition, the article reports the discovery of a notable specimen of the genus Murina found 28 km from the Chinese border. For three species (Plecotus ognevi, Murina hilgendorfi, and Myotis petax), evidence of reproduction was recorded in the study area. The most common species, found in almost all surveyed biotopes and observed at higher elevations above sea level, was Plecotus ognevi. Dietary analysis revealed that the overall trophic spectrum of the seven bat species studied encompassed members of the order Araneae (class Arachnida) and eight orders of the class Insecta (Ephemeroptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera, Neuroptera, Trichoptera, and Hemiptera). In most bats, representatives of the Lepidoptera order served as the main prey, whilst representatives of the order Diptera, even if they had a predominant abundance in the biotope, composed a minor proportion of the bat diet.

Review

This manuscript presents a valuable contribution to chiropteran ecology and biogeography in a poorly documented region of Central Asia. The study focuses on the Katon-Karagay National Natural Park, an area critical for biodiversity but historically under-surveyed for bats. The authors confirm the presence of six known species within the park and provide significant new records, notably the confirmation of *Murina hilgendorfi*, previously reported only once in Kazakhstan, and the discovery of a notable *Murina* specimen near the Chinese border. Furthermore, the paper offers crucial evidence of reproduction for three species, underscoring the park's importance as a breeding habitat for bats. The research delivers essential baseline data, especially regarding altitudinal distribution and dietary analysis, which are key ecological parameters for understanding bat communities. The finding that *Plecotus ognevi* is the most common species across various biotopes and at higher elevations provides a novel insight into the adaptability of this species. The dietary analysis is a particular strength, revealing a broad trophic spectrum spanning spiders and eight insect orders. The observation that Lepidoptera constitute the primary prey for most bats, even when Diptera are abundant, offers valuable insights into prey selection and resource partitioning within the bat community, highlighting an interesting ecological pattern that warrants further investigation. While the abstract clearly outlines the study's significant findings, the full paper would benefit from a more detailed discussion of the methodologies employed for dietary analysis and their implications for interpreting trophic patterns. Future research could expand on these foundational data by investigating specific habitat associations across altitudinal gradients or exploring the finer details of inter-species resource partitioning. Overall, this study provides critical ecological information that will be instrumental for bat conservation in the Kazakhstan Altai and serves as a strong impetus for further biodiversity research in this fascinating and underexplored part of the world.

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