This study was carried out to investigate the bat (Chiroptera) fauna in Jeju Island. Bat distribution has been monitored for last eleven years (since July 2006 to April 2016). We visited and survey the bat distribution in fifteen natural lava tubes, three sea caves, nineteen artificial cave encampments constructed during 20th century, five natural forest regions nearby Hallasan (eco-corridors) and one sea-shore area. Bat specimens were also confirmed at two local museums in Jeju Island. From the present study, we found 9 species of 6 genera belong to 3 families, which was quitely different from the records had previously described in Jeju Island since 1928. Five species (Rhinolophus ferrumequium, Myotis bombinus, Myotis rufoniger, Myotis macrodactylus and Miniopterus schreibersi) were commonly found to live in lava tubes and cave enforcements. But only Rhinolophus ferrumequium was found in a sea cave and five species including Murina leucogaster and Pipistrellus abramus were found in eco-corridors. Myotis aurascens were only observed in the cave enforcements. We have also confirmed the existence of specimens, including Tadarida insignis, stored at the local museums. From the results of this study, we actually could not found the remaining seven species (Hypsugo savii, Miniopterus fuscus, Myotis mystacinus, Myotis ikonnikovi, Myotis branditii, Myotis petax and Pipistrellus endoi). From the investigation of bat species, Myotis rufoniger which is known as one of endangered species were detected in four different locations including two lava tubes, one forest region, and one cave enforcement. This is the first time of finding for Myotis rufoniger in the artificial architecture. In addition, one of rare finding species Myotis bombinus in Korean Peninsula, which were found in several lava tubes and cave enforcements, in some cases they were observed in the large population over one-hundred individuals. The Tube-nosed bat (Murina leucogaster) was discovered for the first time through this study in 2009, which was found in the mountainous forest regions nearby Hallasan in summer season. Interestingly, Myotis aurascens were also discovered firstly in spring season of 2015. Myotis aurascens were discovered three locations of cave enforcements but the localities were restricted only in the western region of Jeju Island. Using the bat specimens fo Myotis aurascens collected from three different locations, we tried to examine the morphometric and phylogenetic relationship among the records in the East Asia. The bat population of Jeju Island had smaller levels of HBL and Hfcu, but greater levels of TL, EL, FAL, and Tra than those of the Korean Peninsula population. Jeju bats had wide range in the lengths of FAL and Hfcu comparing to those of European bats. From the bimonthly monitoring to each finding site, we have actually failed to observe those again, estimating that they use those CEs as the daily-roosting place in activating seasons. The sequences of CYTB and COI genes showed identical sequences among Jeju Myotis aurascens bats tested, indicating that they are maternally related. The results from molecular phylogeny showed that the sequences of these bats located on the same branch with those for Myotis aurascens in the phylogenetic trees. Besides, the nucleotide sequences of the Jeju Myotis aurascens bats showed the closest relation with those of Korean Peninsula. Consequently, these findings indicate that the bats of Myotis aurascens, verified the natural distribution in Jeju Island, have originated from a single maternal origin and differences in morphological and genetic backgrounds form those of Korean Peninsula and the other countries, and had probably immigrated via Korean Peninsula from the northwest. The results of this study showed that it should be carried out to reconstruct the bat fauna and to reveal the natural habitation status of each species in this island in the future. In addition, these findings will contribute as basic information for understanding the migration history and biogeographic relationship of bats in East Asia, and for planning the conservation and management programs of the wildlife in Jeju Island.
Between July and October 2011, radio-tracking was used to analyze the characteristics of home ranges and day roosts of Myotis aurascens by using 3 individuals (male: 2, female: 1). Bat capturing was conducted at a bridge and a nearby forest in Ulju-gun, Ulsan-si. We attached radio transmitters (0.32 g) to the bats and monitored them by using a radio receiver with a Yagi antenna. Home-range analysis of M. aurascens by using 100% minimum convex polygon (MCP) and 95% MCP showed an average of 106.5 ha and 89.3 ha, respectively, and 50% kernel home range (KHR) showed an average of 8.4 ha. Home range overlap of the 3 bats was observed at the bridge and at nearby water bodies as the core areas, and the size of the home range overlap was 7.3 ha by 100% MCP, 5.9 ha by 95% MCP, and 1.6 ha by 50% KHR. The home range for each bat consisted of the main foraging sites, and the types of foraging sites were similar. M. aurascens-01(M-01) used the bridge and nearby water bodies as the nightly main core areas, M. aurascens-02(M-02) used rice fields and water bodies adjacent to the forest as core areas, and M. aurascens-03(M-03) used water bodies and resident areas as core areas. Although rice fields and resident sites represented the core areas of the home ranges of M-02 and M-03, habitat use was the highest near water bodies as the core area for all the 3 bats. The types of day roosts in this study were a wooden house, canopies of a broad-leaved woodland, and banks of rice fields. The roosts in the wooden house and canopies of the broad-leaved woodland were located within the forest, and the roost in the banks of rice fields was also adjacent to the forest. Our results revealed that the main home range and foraging sites of M. aurascens were located near water bodies as the core area, and forests and places adjacent to the forests were used as day roosts.