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Timofieieva O, Vlaschenko A, Laskowski R. Could a city-dwelling bat (Pipistrellus kuhlii) serve as a bioindicator species for trace metals pollution? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 857:159556. [PMID: 36270360 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Bats are an endangered group of mammals that are very sensitive to environmental stresses. One of such stress factor is trace metals pollution which threatens populations of insectivorous bats due to their top position in the food webs and exceptionally long life span. In our research Pipistrellus kuhlii was tested as a promising indicator species (urban-dwelling, sedentary, with limited daily home-range) for trace metal exposure of bats. We measured concentrations of Pb, Cu, Zn and Cd in internal and external tissues of bats from the industrial city Mariupol and the village Karlovka, Ukraine, to answer the following questions: (1) Do metal concentrations in soil samples differ between urban and rural areas, and between populations of P. kuhlii from those areas? (2) Does metal contamination differ between individuals of different sexes and ages? (3) Whether fur and/or wing membrane, the two tissues that can be collected from live bats, can be used as proxies of metal contamination in internal tissues (liver, kidney, lung, forearm bones) of P. kuhlii? Metal concentrations in soil samples were significantly higher in the city. Bats from the city accumulated significantly more Cd, Pb and Zn in external tissues than those from the rural area. Females accumulated more Cd than males, and this-year-born did not differ significantly from adult individuals. We did not find, however, significant positive correlations between metal concentrations in external and internal tissues, indicating that external tissues cannot serve as an indicator of the metal contamination of internal tissues in P. kuhlii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olha Timofieieva
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Anton Vlaschenko
- Bat Rehabilitation Center of Feldman Ecopark, 62340 Lisne, Kharkiv Region, Ukraine; Institute of Natural Sciences, H.S. Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University, Valentynivska st., 2, Kharkiv 61168, Ukraine
| | - Ryszard Laskowski
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
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Abdel-Hamid F, Alqahtani AR. Morphological characters and feeding habits of insectivorous Kuhl’s pipistrelle bat Pipistrellus kuhlii Cretzschmar, 1830, in different riverine habitats. Saudi J Biol Sci 2022; 29:103490. [PMID: 36389207 PMCID: PMC9649388 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2022.103490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
This study revises the morphological characters of both sexes of Kuhl’s pipistrelle, including external, cranial and dental characters. This study also establishes a baseline for the diet of this insectivorous bat species across a variety of habitats in the Nile Valley, where diets have never before been investigated. Our findings of the stomach contentswere not significantly affected despite the different habitats from which the samples were collected. The three most common insect taxa recovered were Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. The percentage volume of insect orders in the diet of Kuhl’s bat (63 stomachs) consisted of 29% of Hymenoptera, 9% of Coleoptera, 27% of Lepidoptera, 32% unknown materials and unexpected thing of these insectivorous bats was the presences of 3% fruits. A single order did not dominate the diet of this specie because Hymenoptera was the most fed insect orders by frequency of occurrence 87.3%, Lepidoptera by 74.6%, Coleoptera 36.5% and fruits in 4.8% of samples. Also, they may also be fed by other insect orders, as unknown materials were found in all samples.
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Guo Q, Wang J, Yang Y, Zhang G, Liu W, Niu H, Bu Y. Roost selection and ecology of Hipposideros pomona in China. ANIM BIOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1163/15707563-bja10081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Hipposideros pomona is a typical cave-dwelling bat (IUCN endangered), and its roost selection mechanism has not been studied. From January 2018 to December 2020, 135 potential roosts were investigated in mainland China. To understand the impact of cave microclimate, structure, surrounding and human disturbance on roost selection of H. pomona, 16 variables related to microclimate and roost characteristics were measured. The differences in environmental conditions in the roost of this species in different seasons were studied. The roost preferences of H. pomona were evaluated using independent-samples t-tests and chi-squared tests. The major environmental factors affecting the selection of roosts were determined by principal components analysis (PCA). The results were as follows: (1) H. pomona preferred free-hanging with a cluster spatial arrangement in small rooms deep in the caves. (2) H. pomona and other species of bats all tended to live in natural caves. However, compared to other bats, H. pomona preferred to roost in caves with relatively lower cave ceilings, more entrances, and farther from residential areas. Roosts of H. pomona were warmer and wetter with significantly lower levels of disturbance than those without H. pomona. (3) H. pomona preferred to hibernate in natural caves with little human disturbance and higher temperature and relative humidity. (4) Compared with nonbreeding roosts, breeding roosts of H. pomona had more areas covered by water and had a higher temperature and relative humidity. (5) The PCA analysis showed that microclimate factors, structure factors, and geographical factors were significant environmental factors for H. pomona roost selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- QiuLin Guo
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - JinHe Wang
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - YaPing Yang
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - GuoJun Zhang
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Wei Liu
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - HongXing Niu
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - YanZhen Bu
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
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Lewanzik D, Straka TM, Lorenz J, Marggraf L, Voigt-Heucke S, Schumann A, Brandt M, Voigt CC. Evaluating the potential of urban areas for bat conservation with citizen science data. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 297:118785. [PMID: 34979170 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Global change, including urbanisation, threatens many of the >1400 bat species. Nevertheless, certain areas within highly urbanised cities may be suitable to harbour bat populations. Thus, managing urban habitats could contribute to bat conservation. Here, we wanted to establish evidence-based recommendations on how to improve urban spaces for the protection of bats. In a team effort with >200 citizen scientists, we recorded bat vocalisations up to six times over the course of 2 years at each of 600 predefined sites in the Berlin metropolitan area. For each species we identified the preferred and non-preferred landscape features. Our results show that artificial light at night (ALAN) had a negative impact on all species. For soprano pipistrelles and mouse-eared bats ALAN had the largest effect sizes among all environmental predictors. Canopy cover and open water were especially important for bat species that forage along vegetation edges and for trawling bats, respectively. Occurrence probability of species foraging in open space decreased with increasing distance to water bodies. On a larger scale, impervious surfaces tended to have positive effects on some species that are specialised on foraging along edge structures. Our study constitutes an important contribution to the growing body of literature showing that despite the many negative impacts of urbanisation on wildlife, urban environments can harbour bat populations if certain conditions are met, such as access to vegetation and water bodies and low levels of ALAN. Our findings are of high relevance for urban planners and conservationists, as they allow inferences on how to manage urban spaces in a bat-friendly way. We recommend limiting ALAN to the minimum necessary and maintaining and creating uninterrupted vegetated corridors between areas with high levels of canopy cover and water bodies, in which ALAN should be entirely avoided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Lewanzik
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Tanja M Straka
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia Lorenz
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lara Marggraf
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Silke Voigt-Heucke
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anke Schumann
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Miriam Brandt
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian C Voigt
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
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Ferreira DF, Gibb R, López-Baucells A, Nunes NJ, Jones KE, Rocha R. Species-specific responses to land-use change in island insectivorous bats. J Nat Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2022.126177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Dissimilar use of an external heat source for thermoregulation by shrews from different geographic regions. J Therm Biol 2022; 104:103193. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2022.103193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Salinas-Ramos VB, Ancillotto L, Cistrone L, Nastasi C, Bosso L, Smeraldo S, Sánchez Cordero V, Russo D. Artificial illumination influences niche segregation in bats. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 284:117187. [PMID: 33906034 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a pervasive form of pollution largely affecting wildlife, from individual behaviour to community structure and dynamics. As nocturnal mammals, bats are often adversely affected by ALAN, yet some "light-opportunistic" species exploit it by hunting insects swarming near lights. Here we used two potentially competing pipistrelle species as models, Kuhl's (Pipistrellus kuhlii) and common (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) pipistrelles, both known to forage in artificially illuminated areas. We set our study in a mountainous area of central Italy, where only recently did the two species become syntopic. We applied spatial modelling and radiotracking to contrast potential vs. actual environmental preferences by the two pipistrelles. Species distribution models and niche analysis showed a large interspecific niche overlap, including a preference for illuminated areas, presenting a potential competition scenario. Pipistrellus pipistrellus association with ALAN, however, was weakened by adding P. kuhlii as a biotic variable to the model. Radiotracking showed that the two species segregated habitats at a small spatial scale and that P. kuhlii used artificially illuminated sites much more frequently than P. pipistrellus, despite both species potentially being streetlamp foragers. We demonstrate that ALAN influences niche segregation between two potentially competing species, confirming its pervasive effects on species and community dynamics, and provide an example of how light pollution and species' habitat preferences may weave a tapestry of complex ecological interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria B Salinas-Ramos
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Portici, NA, Italy
| | - Leonardo Ancillotto
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Portici, NA, Italy
| | - Luca Cistrone
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Portici, NA, Italy
| | - Chiara Nastasi
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Luciano Bosso
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Portici, NA, Italy
| | - Sonia Smeraldo
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Portici, NA, Italy
| | - Víctor Sánchez Cordero
- Laboratorio de Sistemas de Información Geográfica, Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad, 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Danilo Russo
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Portici, NA, Italy.
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Pellón JJ, Mendoza JL, Quispe-Hure O, Condo F, Williams M. Exotic Cultivated Plants in the Diet of the Nectar-Feeding Bat Glossophaga soricina (Phyllostomidae: Glossophaginae) in the City of Lima, Peru. ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA 2021. [DOI: 10.3161/15081109acc2021.23.1.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Juan J. Pellón
- Departamento de Mastozoología, Museo de Historia Natural de la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Av. Arenales 1256, 15072, Lima, Peru
| | - Jorge L. Mendoza
- Laboratorio de Diversidad Vegetal, Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal, Jr. Río Chepén 290, El Agustino, 15007, Lima, Peru
| | - Oscar Quispe-Hure
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Animal y Biorremediación, Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Av. La Molina s/n, La Molina, 15024, Lima, Peru
| | - Florangel Condo
- Laboratorio de Diversidad Vegetal, Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal, Jr. Río Chepén 290, El Agustino, 15007, Lima, Peru
| | - Marta Williams
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Animal y Biorremediación, Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Av. La Molina s/n, La Molina, 15024, Lima, Peru
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Urban forest preserves local bat species diversity, but not forest dweller specialists—renewed study 65 years later (Kharkiv city, Ukraine). MAMMAL RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-021-00580-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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10
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Egert-Berg K, Handel M, Goldshtein A, Eitan O, Borissov I, Yovel Y. Fruit bats adjust their foraging strategies to urban environments to diversify their diet. BMC Biol 2021; 19:123. [PMID: 34134697 PMCID: PMC8210355 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01060-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Urbanization is one of the most influential processes on our globe, putting a great number of species under threat. Some species learn to cope with urbanization, and a few even benefit from it, but we are only starting to understand how they do so. In this study, we GPS tracked Egyptian fruit bats from urban and rural populations to compare their movement and foraging in urban and rural environments. Because fruit trees are distributed differently in these two environments, with a higher diversity in urban environments, we hypothesized that foraging strategies will differ too. Results When foraging in urban environments, bats were much more exploratory than when foraging in rural environments, visiting more sites per hour and switching foraging sites more often on consecutive nights. By doing so, bats foraging in settlements diversified their diet in comparison to rural bats, as was also evident from their choice to often switch fruit species. Interestingly, the location of the roost did not dictate the foraging grounds, and we found that many bats choose to roost in the countryside but nightly commute to and forage in urban environments. Conclusions Bats are unique among small mammals in their ability to move far rapidly. Our study is an excellent example of how animals adjust to environmental changes, and it shows how such mobile mammals might exploit the new urban fragmented environment that is taking over our landscape. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-021-01060-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katya Egert-Berg
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Michal Handel
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Aya Goldshtein
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ofri Eitan
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ivailo Borissov
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Yossi Yovel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel. .,School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel. .,Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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Timofieieva O, Świergosz-Kowalewska R, Laskowski R, Vlaschenko A. Wing membrane and Fur as indicators of metal exposure and contamination of internal tissues in bats. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 276:116703. [PMID: 33618113 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
All European bats are protected by the EU and Associated Members legal regulations. Being insectivorous and top predators, they can be particularly exposed to persistent organic and inorganic pollutants. It is surprising how little is known about the impact of environmental pollutants on bats from physiological to populational levels. In this study we focused on contamination with trace metals of first-year bats from Kharkiv city, NE Ukraine. Tissues from the carcasses of two species, Nyctalus noctula (n = 20) and Eptesicus serotinus (n = 20), were used for metal analysis. The samples of external (wing membrane, fur) and internal (liver, lung, kidney, bones) tissues were analysed for contents of Pb, Cu, Zn, and Cd to see whether fur or wing membrane can be used as proxies for metal contamination of the vital internal tissues. In E. serotinus, significant positive correlations in Pb concentrations were found between all external and internal tissues. For Cd only, correlation between the fur and lung was found, for Cu between the fur and liver, and for Zn between the fur and kidney. In contrast, for N. noctula, only one such correlation was found - between Zn concentrations in the fur and kidney. The tissues differed significantly in concentrations of all studied metals, with no difference between the species. The results showed that the fur and wing membrane can be used as good proxies for Pb concentrations in internal organs of E. serotinus, but not necessarily for other metals or for N. noctula. The results for Pb are, however, encouraging enough to conclude that the topic is worth further studies, covering more species, a wider age range and more diverse environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olha Timofieieva
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Kraków, Poland; Bat Rehabilitation Center of Feldman Ecopark, 62340, Lisne, Kharkiv Region, Ukraine.
| | | | - Ryszard Laskowski
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Kraków, Poland
| | - Anton Vlaschenko
- Bat Rehabilitation Center of Feldman Ecopark, 62340, Lisne, Kharkiv Region, Ukraine; Institute of Natural Sciences, H.S. Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University, Valentynivska st., 2, Kharkiv, 61168, Ukraine
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Moir M, Richards LR, Rambau RV, Wannenburgh A, Cherry MI. Fragmentation does not affect gene flow in forest populations of the dusky pipistrelle bat on the eastern seaboard of South Africa. J Mammal 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyaa125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The Eastern Cape Province harbors almost half of the indigenous forest in South Africa, but these forests are threatened by large-scale agricultural and urban development planned for the coming decade. Additional anthropogenic development is likely to cause further fragmentation and degradation of forests inhabited by the dusky pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus hesperidus). We used eight microsatellite markers to study the genetic diversity, population structure, and migration, of P. hesperidus (n = 120) across 14 sites in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa. We examined the effect of contemporary land cover types on genetic differentiation to assess whether current levels of urbanization and agricultural development affect gene flow. High gene flow and low population structure were evident across sampled sites, apart from genetic discontinuities at the northern (Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve) and southern (Alexandria Forest) ends of the seaboard. Genetic discontinuity at Oribi Gorge may relate to anthropogenic modification of two rivers surrounding the forest, while the Alexandria-linked barrier is a climatic break known as the Bedford gap. Migration rates generally were low between sites except for one Scarp forest, Manubi State Forest, from which individuals dispersed to other sites. The Amatole Mistbelt forests supported high genetic diversity, and likely served as a refugium for P. hesperidus during the Last Glacial Maximum. The composition of land cover classes between sites was a poor predictor of genetic differentiation, although it seems likely that P. hesperidus uses riparian habitats and wetlands for dispersal. Lastly, urban and agricultural development did not have a significant effect on genetic differentiation, which may reflect the wide niche breadth and intermediate distribution range of the species. This study provides insights into genetic diversity and gene flow of P. hesperidus across the study region prior to agricultural intensification and large-scale urbanization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Moir
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | | | - Ramugondo V Rambau
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Andrew Wannenburgh
- Natural Resource Management, Department of Environmental Affairs, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Michael I Cherry
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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Roost selection by Mauritian tomb bats (Taphozus mauritianus) in Lilongwe city, Malawi - importance of woodland for sustainable urban planning. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240434. [PMID: 33151973 PMCID: PMC7644015 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing urbanisation has led to a greater use of artificial structures by bats as alternative roost sites. Despite the widespread presence of bats, roost availability may restrict their distribution and abundance in urban environments. There is limited quantitative information on the drivers of bat roost selection and roosting preferences, particularly in African bats. We explore the factors influencing roost selection in the Mauritian tomb bat (Taphozous mauritianus), within an urban landscape in Lilongwe city, Malawi. Eight building and five landscape features of roosts were compared with both adjacent and random control buildings throughout the city. Bat occupied buildings were situated closer to woodland (mean 709m) compared to random buildings (mean 1847m) but did not differ in any other landscape features explored. Roosts were situated on buildings with larger areas and taller walls, suggesting bats select features for predator-avoidance and acoustic perception when leaving the roost. Bats preferred buildings with exposed roof beams which may provide refuge from disturbance. Whilst roosts are situated more often on brick walls, this feature was also associated with landscape features, therefore its importance in roost selection is less clear. These results are indicative that T. mauritianus selects roosts at both the building and landscape level. The selectivity of T. mauritianus in relation to its roost sites implies that preferred roosts are a limited resource, and as such, conservation actions should focus on protecting roost sites and the woodland bats rely on.
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Ancillotto L, Bosso L, Conti P, Russo D. Resilient responses by bats to a severe wildfire: conservation implications. Anim Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L. Ancillotto
- Wildlife Research Unit Dipartimento di Agraria Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II Portici Italy
| | - L. Bosso
- Wildlife Research Unit Dipartimento di Agraria Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II Portici Italy
| | - P. Conti
- Ente Parco Nazionale del Vesuvio Ottaviano Italy
| | - D. Russo
- Wildlife Research Unit Dipartimento di Agraria Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II Portici Italy
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Cohen Y, Bar-David S, Nielsen M, Bohmann K, Korine C. An appetite for pests: Synanthropic insectivorous bats exploit cotton pest irruptions and consume various deleterious arthropods. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:1185-1198. [PMID: 32153071 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Conservation biological control (CBC) seeks to minimize the deleterious effects of agricultural pests by enhancing the efficiency of natural enemies. Despite the documented potential of insectivorous bats to consume pests, many synanthropic bat species are still underappreciated as beneficial species. We investigated the diet of Kuhl's pipistrelle (Pipistrellus kuhlii), a common synanthropic insectivorous bat that forages in urban and agricultural areas, to determine whether it may function as a natural enemy in CBC. Faecal samples of P. kuhlii were collected throughout the cotton-growing season from five roost sites near cotton fields located in a Mediterranean agroecosystem, Israel, and analyzed using DNA metabarcoding. Additionally, data on estimated abundance of major cotton pests were collected. We found that the diet of P. kuhlii significantly varied according to sites and dates and comprised 27 species of agricultural pests that were found in 77.2% of the samples, including pests of key economic concern. The dominant prey was the widespread cotton pest, the pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella, found in 31% of the samples and in all the roosts. Pink bollworm abundance was positively correlated with its occurrence in the bat diet. Furthermore, the bats' dietary breadth narrowed, while temporal dietary overlap increased, in relation to increasing frequencies of pink bollworms in the diet. This suggests that P. kuhlii exploits pink bollworm irruptions by opportunistic feeding. We suggest that synanthropic bats provide important pest suppression services, may function as CBC agents of cotton pests and potentially contribute to suppress additional deleterious arthropods found in their diet in high frequencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuval Cohen
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
| | - Shirli Bar-David
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
| | - Martin Nielsen
- Section for Evolutionary Genomics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kristine Bohmann
- Section for Evolutionary Genomics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Carmi Korine
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
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Patriquin KJ, Guy C, Hinds J, Ratcliffe JM. Male and female bats differ in their use of a large urban park. JOURNAL OF URBAN ECOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/jue/juz015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Understanding how wildlife respond to ever-encroaching urbanization is of great concern. Bats are the second-most speciose mammalian order and while many appear to be urban adapted, we currently have a limited understanding of their demography and habitat use within urban environments. Using a combination of captures to obtain demographic data, radio-telemetry to examine foraging and roosting behaviour, and data on diet and prey availability, we examined how big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus), a synurbic species, use an urban green space (High Park) in Canada’s largest city centre, Toronto. We found that adult males outnumbered adult females more than two to one and that males were found throughout the park, while females were concentrated in an area with greater access to water, but lower prey availability. We also found that bats of both sexes were in poorer body condition than reported for other non-urban areas, including a site within southern Ontario. Our data suggest that High Park may not provide adequate resources for reproductive females as they were never found roosting in the park and beetles, their preferred prey, were limited. Although previous studies suggest urban green spaces may offer refuge to bats, most have not considered sex-specific responses to urbanization as they have largely been based on acoustic surveys. Our study therefore highlights the importance of considering demographic differences in response to urbanization to better inform urban management plans and green space development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krista J Patriquin
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, William G Davis Building, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Cylita Guy
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, William G Davis Building, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Joshua Hinds
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, William G Davis Building, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - John M Ratcliffe
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, William G Davis Building, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6, Canada
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Russo D, Cosentino F, Festa F, De Benedetta F, Pejic B, Cerretti P, Ancillotto L. Artificial illumination near rivers may alter bat-insect trophic interactions. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 252:1671-1677. [PMID: 31284209 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.06.105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Artificial illumination at night represents an increasingly concerning threat to ecosystems worldwide, altering persistence, behaviour, physiology and fitness of many organisms and their mutual interactions, in the long-term affecting ecosystem functioning. Bats are very sensitive to artificial light at night because they are obligate nocturnal and feed on insects which are often also responsive to lights. Here we tested the effects of LED lighting on prey-predator interactions at riverine ecosystems, using bats and their insect prey as models, and compared bat and insect reactions in terms of bat activity and prey insect abundance and diversity, respectively, on artificially lit vs. unlit nights. Artificial light influenced both insect and bat assemblages in taxon-specific directions: insect abundances increased at lit sites, particularly due to an increase in small dipterans near the light source. Composition of insect assemblages also differed significantly between lit and unlit sites. Total bat activity declined at lit sites, but this change was mainly due to the response of the most abundant species, Myotis daubentonii, while opportunistic species showed no reaction or even an opposite pattern (Pipistrellus kuhlii). We show that artificial lighting along rivers may affect trophic interactions between bats and insects, resulting in a profound alteration of community structure and dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danilo Russo
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, via Università, 100, 80055, Portici, Italy; School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK.
| | - Francesca Cosentino
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Charles Darwin", Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy
| | - Francesca Festa
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Charles Darwin", Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy
| | - Flavia De Benedetta
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, via Università, 100, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | - Branka Pejic
- Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Biological Research "S. Stanković", University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Pierfilippo Cerretti
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Charles Darwin", Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy
| | - Leonardo Ancillotto
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, via Università, 100, 80055, Portici, Italy
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Presence of humans and domestic cats affects bat behaviour in an urban nursery of greater horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum). Behav Processes 2019; 164:4-9. [PMID: 30951813 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2019.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2019] [Revised: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Proximity to humans is a primary stressor for wildlife, especially in urban habitats where frequent disturbance may occur. Several bat species often roost in buildings but while the effects of disturbance inside the roost are well documented, little is known about those occurring in the proximity of roosts. We tested the effects of anthropogenic stressors on bats by monitoring reactions to disturbance in a colony of greater horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum). We assessed disturbance by recording and quantifying the presence of people, domestic cats and noise sources near the roost. Disturbance outside the roost caused the disruption of roosting clusters; when cats entered the roost, bats decreased indoor flight activity. Emergence timing was delayed when people were close to the roost exit, and the delay increased along with the number of people. The occurrence of a cat increased the degree of group clustering during emergence. Cats entered the roost especially when young bats were present, and bat remains occurred in 30% of the cat scats we examined. We show that the occurence of human activities near roosts and free-ranging domestic cats are important albeit overlooked sources of disturbance.
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Roost selection and ecology of Stoliczka’s trident bat, Aselliscus stoliczkanus (Hipposideridae, Chiroptera) in China. Mamm Biol 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2018.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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21
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Thomas JP, Jung TS. Life in a northern town: rural villages in the boreal forest are islands of habitat for an endangered bat. Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Julie P. Thomas
- Department of Environment Government of Yukon 419 Range Road, Whitehorse Whitehorse Yukon Y1A 3V1 Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Calgary 2500 University Drive NW Calgary Alberta T2N 1N4 Canada
| | - Thomas S. Jung
- Department of Environment Government of Yukon 419 Range Road, Whitehorse Whitehorse Yukon Y1A 3V1 Canada
- Department of Renewable Resources University of Alberta 116 St. & 85 Ave., Edmonton Edmonton Alberta T6G 2R3 Canada
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Russo D, Ancillotto L, Cistrone L, Libralato N, Domer A, Cohen S, Korine C. Effects of artificial illumination on drinking bats: a field test in forest and desert habitats. Anim Conserv 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- D. Russo
- Wildlife Research Unit Dipartimento di Agraria Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II Portici Italy
- School of Biological Sciences University of Bristol Bristol UK
| | - L. Ancillotto
- Wildlife Research Unit Dipartimento di Agraria Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II Portici Italy
| | | | - N. Libralato
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie “Charles Darwin” Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza” Roma Italy
| | - A. Domer
- Department of Life Sciences Ben‐Gurion University of the Negev Beer‐Sheva Israel
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research Ben‐Gurion University of the Negev Midreshet Ben‐Gurion Israel
| | - S. Cohen
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research Ben‐Gurion University of the Negev Midreshet Ben‐Gurion Israel
| | - C. Korine
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research Ben‐Gurion University of the Negev Midreshet Ben‐Gurion Israel
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Jung K, Threlfall CG. Trait-dependent tolerance of bats to urbanization: a global meta-analysis. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:20181222. [PMID: 30135163 PMCID: PMC6125892 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.1222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Urbanization is a severe threat to global biodiversity, often leading to taxonomic and functional homogenization. However, current urban ecology research has focused mostly on urban birds and plants, limiting our ability to make generalizations about the drivers of urban biodiversity globally. To address this gap, we conducted a global meta-analysis of 87 studies, including 180 bat species (Chiroptera) from urban areas in Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America. We aimed to (i) understand the importance of functional traits and phylogeny in driving changes in urban bat assemblages, and (ii) assess the capacity of traits for predicting which types of species are most sensitive to urbanization. Our results indicate that species-specific functional traits explain differences in the intensity of urban habitat use. Urban tolerance mainly occurred within the open and edge space foraging and trawling species as well as in bats with flexible roosting strategies. In addition, across bioregions and independent of phylogeny, urban tolerance correlated with higher aspect ratio, a trait enabling fast flight but less agile manoeuvres during aerial food acquisition. Predictive success varied between bioregions, between 43 and 83%. Our analysis demonstrates that the local extinction of bat species in urban areas is non-random, trait-based and predictable, allowing urban landscape managers to tailor local conservation actions to particular types of species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten Jung
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Caragh Grace Threlfall
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
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Seasonal activity pattern and habitat use by the Kuhl’s pipistrelle (Pipistrellus kuhlii) in an arid environment. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-018-1193-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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What is driving range expansion in a common bat? Hints from thermoregulation and habitat selection. Behav Processes 2018; 157:540-546. [PMID: 29870799 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2018.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Human-induced alterations of ecosystems and environmental conditions often lead to changes in the geographical range of plants and animals. While modelling exercises may contribute to understanding such dynamics at large spatial scales, they rarely offer insights into the mechanisms that prompt the process at a local scale. Savi's pipistrelle (Hypsugo savii) is a vespertilionid bat widespread throughout the Mediterranean region. The species' recent range expansion towards northeastern Europe is thought to be induced by urbanization, yet no study actually tested this hypothesis, and climate change is a potential alternative driver. In this radio-telemetry study, set in the Vesuvius National Park (Campania region, Southern Italy) we provide insights into the species' thermal physiology and foraging ecology and investigate their relationships with potential large-scale responses to climate, and land use changes. Specifically, we test whether H. savii i) exploits urbanisation by selecting urban areas for roosting and foraging, and ii) tolerates heatwaves (a proxy for thermophily) through a plastic use of thermoregulation. Tolerance to heatwaves would be consistent with the observation that the species' geographic range is not shifting but expanding northwards. Tracked bats roosted mainly in buildings but avoided urban habitats while foraging, actively selecting non-intensive farmland and natural wooded areas. Hypsugo H. savii showed tolerance to heat, reaching the highest body temperature ever recorded for a free-ranging bat (46.5 °C), and performing long periods of overheating. We conclude that H. savii is not a strictly synurbic species because it exploits urban areas mainly for roosting, and avoids them for foraging: this questions the role of synurbization as a range expansion driver. On the other hand, the species' extreme heat tolerance and plastic thermoregulatory behaviour represent winning traits to cope with heatwaves typical of climate change-related weather fluctuations.
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Razgour O, Persey M, Shamir U, Korine C. The role of climate, water and biotic interactions in shaping biodiversity patterns in arid environments across spatial scales. DIVERS DISTRIB 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Orly Razgour
- Biological Sciences; University of Southampton; Southampton UK
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Bristol; Bristol UK
| | - Mike Persey
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Bristol; Bristol UK
| | - Uzi Shamir
- Department of Geography and Human Environment; Tel Aviv University; Tel Aviv Israel
| | - Carmi Korine
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Midreshet Ben-Gurion Israel
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Hernández-Brito D, Carrete M, Ibáñez C, Juste J, Tella JL. Nest-site competition and killing by invasive parakeets cause the decline of a threatened bat population. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2018; 5:172477. [PMID: 29892437 PMCID: PMC5990744 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.172477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The identification of effects of invasive species is challenging owing to their multifaceted impacts on native biota. Negative impacts are most often reflected in individual fitness rather than in population dynamics of native species and are less expected in low-biodiversity habitats, such as urban environments. We report the long-term effects of invasive rose-ringed parakeets on the largest known population of a threatened bat species, the greater noctule, located in an urban park. Both species share preferences for the same tree cavities for breeding. While the number of parakeet nests increased by a factor of 20 in 14 years, the number of trees occupied by noctules declined by 81%. Parakeets occupied most cavities previously used by noctules, and spatial analyses showed that noctules tried to avoid cavities close to parakeets. Parakeets were highly aggressive towards noctules, trying to occupy their cavities, often resulting in noctule death. This led to a dramatic population decline, but also an unusual aggregation of the occupied trees, probably disrupting the complex social behaviour of this bat species. These results indicate a strong impact through site displacement and killing of competitors, and highlight the need for long-term research to identify unexpected impacts that would otherwise be overlooked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dailos Hernández-Brito
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Avda. Américo Vespucio, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Martina Carrete
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Avda. Américo Vespucio, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
- Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural Systems, University Pablo de Olavide, Ctra. de Utrera, km. 1, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Carlos Ibáñez
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Avda. Américo Vespucio, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Javier Juste
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Avda. Américo Vespucio, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
- CIBER of Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - José L. Tella
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Avda. Américo Vespucio, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
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Rydell J, Eklöf J, Sánchez-Navarro S. Age of enlightenment: long-term effects of outdoor aesthetic lights on bats in churches. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2017; 4:161077. [PMID: 28878962 PMCID: PMC5579077 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.161077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We surveyed 110 country churches in south-western Sweden for presence of brown long-eared bats Plecotus auritus in summer 2016 by visual inspection and/or evening emergence counts. Each church was also classified according to the presence and amount of aesthetic directional lights (flood-lights) aimed on its walls and tower from the outside. Sixty-one of the churches had previously been surveyed by one of us (J.R.) between 1980 and 1990, before lights were installed on Swedish churches, using the same methods. Churches with bat colonies had decreased significantly in frequency from 61% in 1980s to 38% by 2016. All abandoned churches had been fitted with flood-lights in the period between the two surveys. The loss of bat colonies from lit churches was highly significant and most obvious when lights were applied from all directions, leaving no dark corridor for the bats to leave and return to the roost. In contrast, in churches that were not lit, all of 13 bat colonies remained after 25+ years between the surveys. Lighting of churches and other historical buildings is a serious threat to the long-term survival and reproduction of light-averse bats such as Plecotus spp. and other slow-flying species. Bat roosts are strictly protected according to the EU Habitats Directive and the EUROBATS agreement. Lighting of buildings for aesthetic purposes is becoming a serious environmental issue, because important bat roosts are destroyed in large numbers, and the problem should be handled accordingly. As a start, installation of flood-lights on historical buildings should at least require an environmental impact assessment (EIA).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Rydell
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Russo D, Cistrone L, Libralato N, Korine C, Jones G, Ancillotto L. Adverse effects of artificial illumination on bat drinking activity. Anim Conserv 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- D. Russo
- Wildlife Research Unit; Laboratorio di Ecologia Applicata; Sezione di Biologia e Protezione dei Sistemi Agrari e Forestali; Dipartimento di Agraria; Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II; Portici (Napoli) Italy
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Bristol; Bristol UK
| | - L. Cistrone
- Forestry and Conservation; Cassino (Frosinone) Italy
| | - N. Libralato
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie “Charles Darwin”; Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza; Roma Italy
| | - C. Korine
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology; Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Midreshet Ben-Gurion Israel
| | - G. Jones
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Bristol; Bristol UK
| | - L. Ancillotto
- Wildlife Research Unit; Laboratorio di Ecologia Applicata; Sezione di Biologia e Protezione dei Sistemi Agrari e Forestali; Dipartimento di Agraria; Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II; Portici (Napoli) Italy
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Uhrin M, Benda P, Kaňuch P. Different responses of attic-dwelling bat species to landscape naturalness. Mamm Biol 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2016.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Maxinová E, Kipson M, Naďo L, Hradická P, Uhrin M. Foraging Strategy of Kuhl's Pipistrelle at the Northern Edge of the Species Distribution. ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA 2016. [DOI: 10.3161/15081109acc2016.18.1.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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