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More than 600 marine species are recorded within the borders of the offshore Minquiers reef 20km south of Jersey – but now it's emerged that four different species of bats are also among the regular visitors.
Extensive research has previously been undertaken into the seal and bird populations in addition to other marine life in the area, but, until now, no research had ever focused on bat populations.
That has now changed, thanks to the efforts of the Société Jersiaise Zoology Section, Jersey Bat Group and Jersey Marine Conservation, who were the first to investigate bat activity at Les Minquiers.
The conservation groups used passive acoustic monitoring technology to detect bat activity on the reefs.
The findings revealed that both migratory and sedentary bat species were found at Les Minquiers, including Nathusius's pipistrelle, Leisler's bat, common pipistrelle, and Serotine bat.
Pictured: The Minquiers is a Ramsar-designated wetland that supports over 600 marine species. (Peter Mourant)
Amy Louise Hall, Chair of Société's Zoology Section, said: "The initial findings are fascinating."
"To see that bats seem to be regularly using the reefs, with numbers seeming to increase on nights with low tides at the locality is of great interest," she continued.
"It was initially envisaged that the project would provide details on mainly migratory bats, but to see other species foraging at the site and such frequent use is fascinating."
Pictured: A tiny Pipistrelle in the hand of Dr Hall.
The study will continue for at least 12 months, with additional monitoring planned at the nearby Écréhous Reef.
"Not enough is known about the bat use of our shoreline, marine environment or reefs, and we hope this research will help to fill that gap," Dr Hall said.
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