Recovery of a colony of Miniopterus schreibersii from a cave, Cueva de Ágreda, in Soria

Published source details Alcalde J.T, Artácoz A. & Meijide F. (2012) Recuperación de la colonia de Miniopterus schreibersii de la cueva de Cueva de Ágreda (Soria). Barbastella, 5, 32-35.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Install and maintain cave gates to restrict public access Action Link

Install and maintain cave gates to restrict public access

A before-and-after study in 1998–2009 and 2010 in one cave in Castile and León, Spain (Alcalde et al 2012) found fewer bent-wing bats Miniopterus schreibersii using a cave after the installation of a cave gate with a narrow entrance. Between six and nine years after the installation of a cave gate with a narrow entrance, fewer bent-wing bats were counted using the cave than before the installation of the gate (before: 600–700 bats; after: 200–280 bats), but statistical tests were not carried out. However, >450 bent-wing bats were counted seven months after the gated opening was enlarged. In 2001, a cave gate covering 75% of the cave entrance was fitted to a small cave. In March 2010, the cave gate opening was enlarged from 3.5 x 1 m to 7 x 2 m. Bats were counted approximately once/month in 2010 using infrared lights. Data were compared to previously published bat counts at the cave from 1998–2009.

(Summarised by: Ricardo Rocha)