Myotis daubentonii and M. capaccinii recorded on the Krk island, Croatia

Krk Island is located in the northern Adriatic Sea and is fairly close to the Croatian mainland with which it is connected since 1980 by a 1, 430 metre long bridge. During past research 11 bat species were recorded on the island of Krk: Miniopterus schreibersii, Myotis blythii, M. capaccinii, M. emarginatus, Nyctalus noctula, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, P. kuhlii, Rhinolophus blasii, R. euryale, R. ferrumequinum and R. hipposideros. In July 2012 a bat inventory of the Njivice lake area was conducted using mist netting, echolocation recording and roost search. The only mist netted species was a juvenile female Myotis daubentonii which has been recorded in the vicinity in the nearby area of the town of Rijeka on the Croatian mainland (dana older than 50 years). Myotis capaccinii was recorded on the island of Krk for the first time in the autumn migration during 2007 in the area of the Vrbničko polje tunnels, and we also confirmed the species in July 2012. Lake Njivice is exceptionally rich in biodiversity. It is one of the 2 major water reservoirs on the island and is surrounded by a highly structured mosaic of habitats: dense stands of shrubs, woodland, wet and dry grassland and pastures. Various types of woodland habitat (oak, old willow forests, hornbeam) may support roosting demands of M. daubentonii whereas M. capaccinii depends on underground roosts. Two large freshwater bodies (Lake Njivice and Ponikve) approximately 10 km apart, support the hunting habitat of both species. The findings of M. daubentonii and M. capaccinii are around 10 km apart and there is still more research needed to confirm species overlap on the island. The island of Krk is the only island in Croatia with confirmed recording of M. daubentonii.