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Woodland bat assemblages are usually structured in a space according to the distance from the ground, water, and obstacles, features that often define chiropteran hunting tactics. Consequently, the bat species composition differs strongly among various habitats, even within the same forest patch. However, when conducting local bat surveys in Wolin National Park (WPN), we revealed an unexpected uniformity in the qualitative and quantitative structure of bat assemblages, based on mist netting and ultrasound recording. In total, 10 vespertilionid species were detected. Across all methods and sampled habitats, a single species, Pipistrellus pygmaeus, predominated, while no Barbastella barbastellus, an old forest specialist, were detected, despite the abundance of their preferred daily roosts. We also reviewed the literature for mist-netted bat samples in four different habitats in lowland Polish forests. The samples usually clustered based on habitats, and the same habitat classes often clustered very closely despite representing geographically distant forests. The exception was WPN, where all four habitat classes formed a tightly packed cluster. We hypothesize that P. pygmaeus might act as a hyperabundant native species, a successful generalist that reduces the contribution of more specialized taxa in the assemblage. It probably benefits from both forest renaturation and anthropogenic cross-boundary subsidy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the use of anthropogenic resources by wildlife in degraded habitats has been frequently documented, the use of such alternative resources in natural and semi‐natural habitats is not yet well understood. We explored the use of artificial water sources by bats in a semi‐natural habitat by conducting acoustic monitoring surveys at swimming pools on Amakhala Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape of South Africa from 2018 to 2020. We identified 7 of 23 local species in 24,909 recorded activities associated with resource use at the swimming pools, including 1,374 feeding buzzes and 9,286 drinking buzzes. This study confirmed that bats were using swimming pools in the game reserve as a foraging and drinking resource and indicates that such anthropogenic features could be of value to bats and potentially other wildlife in natural and semi‐natural habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit bats serve as crucial bioindicators, seed dispersers, pollinators, and contributors to food security within ecosystems. However, their population and distribution were threatened by climate change and anthropogenic pressures. Understanding the impacts of these pressures through mapping distribution and habitat suitability is crucial for identifying high‐priority areas and implementing effective conservation and management plans. We predicted the distribution and extent of habitat suitability for Rousettus aegyptiacus and Epomophorus labiatus under climate change scenarios using average predictions from four different algorithms to produce an ensemble model. Seasonal precipitation, population index, land‐use land cover, vegetation, and the mean temperature of the driest quarter majorly contributed to the predicted habitat suitability for both species. The current predicted sizes of suitable habitats for R. aegyptiacus and E. labiatus were varied, on average 60,271.4 and 85,176.1 km2, respectively. The change in species range size for R. aegyptiacus showed gains in suitable areas of 24.4% and 22.8% in 2050 and 2070, respectively. However, for E. labiatus, suitable areas decreased by 0.95% and 2% in 2050 and 2070, respectively. The range size change of suitable areas between 2050 and 2070 for R. aegyptiacus and E. labiatus shows losses of 1.5% and 1.2%, respectively. The predicted maps indicate that the midlands and highlands of southern and eastern Ethiopia harbor highly suitable areas for both species. In contrast, the areas in the northern and central highlands are fragmented. The current model findings show that climate change and anthropogenic pressures have notable impacts on the geographic ranges of two species. Moreover, the predicted suitable habitats for both species are found both within and outside of their historical ranges, which has important implications for conservation efforts. Our ensemble predictions are vital for identifying high‐priority areas for fruit bat species conservation efforts and management to mitigate climate change and anthropogenic pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conversion of natural areas for the advancement of economic activities such as agriculture, mining, livestock, and energy production are the main challenges for biodiversity conservation in Brazil. The establishment and expansion of protected areas (PA) are the cheapest way to ensure biodiversity protection and the maintenance of ecosystem services provided by it. Chiroptera is one of the most diverse group of mammals, responsible for several ecological functions such as seed dispersal, insect population control and pollination. The aim of our study was to estimate the degree of protection that PAs in Brazil guarantee for bats. Species distribution models were built to estimate the distribution of 173 bat species in the Brazilian territory. Then, we performed a gap analysis to assess the effectiveness of PAs in ensure protection for bats, regarding the administrative level and the type of PA. In general, federal PAs were more efficient in ensuring bat protection than state PAs. Strictly PAs alone are insufficient to protect 67.6% bats, including all endangered bats at national level. Sustainable use areas have a complementary role to achieve the established conservation goals, besides this is not its main purpose. However, more efforts are needed to ensure an effective representation of bat diversity in PAs. Our study shows the need for a more integrated systematic conservation planning that incorporates the federal and local levels. In addition, the inclusion of other types of areas such as indigenous lands and private areas could be effective strategies to ensure that protection goals are met. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roads have variable impacts on wildlife, including bats. Bat habitat preferences along roads are dependent on spatial/temporal scale and species. This creates the need for habitat studies incorporating multiple scales and years. The objectives of this study were to determine habitat factors impacting bat activity and species richness along road transects at local and landscape scales and to identify areas of highest bat activity. Bat activity and richness was compared to local-scale field data and landscape-scale data measured in ArcGIS and FRAGSTATS. Hotspot analysis was conducted in ArcGIS to determine areas of highest bat activity. At the local scale, bat activity and/or species richness were positively associated with canopy height, clutter (percent obstruction by vegetation or other objects) at 0–3 m, humidity, natural habitat, canopy cover, months water present, and temperature, and were negatively associated with clutter at 3–6.5 m. At the landscape scale, activity and/or richness had positive associations with habitat heterogeneity, roads, open natural habitats, ponds, upland prairie, and overall forest cover, and had negative associations with conifers and cropland. High activity areas were consistent between years and clustered near protected areas. Low activity areas were typically located near agriculture. When managing bat habitat along roads, it would be advantageous to decrease mid-level clutter, vary habitat types, increase savanna cover, avoid excessive conifer or cropland cover, plant tall trees, and provide water sources. This study shows that combining acoustic road surveys with habitat analyses at multiple scales can be used to examine habitat factors influencing bat activity and species richness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding patterns of species distribution and diversity plays a vital role in biodiversity conservation. Such documentation is frequently lacking for bats, which are relatively little studied and often threatened. The Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot in peninsular India is a bat hotspot with 63 species. We conducted a comprehensive bat survey across the southern Western Ghats and used maximum entropy modeling (MaxEnt) to model the potential distribution of 37 bat species for which sufficient data were available. We generated binary maps of each species using species-specific thresholds to estimate suitable habitat areas and overlaid binary maps of species to produce bat hotspots (we use the term "bat hotspot" for regions that were suitable for more than 25 bat species). We also estimated species richness across protected area networks in the southern Western Ghats to assess the level of protection. The highest levels of species richness were found mainly along the southmost Periyar–Agastyamalai landscape. The study also identified a 1,683 km2 area of potential bat hotspot and 726 km2 (43%) of the total bat hotspots are currently within the protected area network. However, more than 50% of suitable habitats for each of the 37 species remain unprotected. Therefore, conservation decisions are needed to take into account both bat hotspots and species with restricted distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Human-modified landscapes are globally ubiquitous. It is critical to understand how habitat loss and fragmentation impact biodiversity from both a local habitat context and landscape-scale perspective to inform land management and conservation strategies. Objectives: We used an experimentally fragmented landscape in the Brazilian Amazon to investigate variation in aerial insectivorous bat diversity in response to local habitat and wider landscape characteristics, applying a multiscale approach. Methods: We conducted bat acoustic surveys at 33 sites, comprising old secondary forests and fragments of primary forest. Taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity facets were calculated within a Hill numbers framework. We analysed responses to fragment size, interior-edge-matrix gradients, as well as local vegetation structure, continuous forest cover, edge density and patch density across five spatial scales (0.5−3 km) surrounding detector locations. Results: Compared with continuous forest, secondary forest matrix around the smallest fragments harboured lower diversity. The overall negative effect of the matrix became less pronounced with increasing fragment size. In contrast, forest edges generally contained higher taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity. We found subtle scale-sensitive associations for functional diversity, responding positively to forest cover (at the 1 km scale) and negatively to edge (1 km scale) and patch density (2.5 km scale). Conclusions: Despite a low-contrast matrix of tall secondary forest surrounding fragments after ~ 30 years of forest recovery, aerial insectivorous bat diversity is not comparable to continuous primary forest. Assemblage functional diversity responds to compositional and configurational landscape characteristics at scales deserving further evaluation at guild and species level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bat species inhabit subterranean environments (e.g., caves and mines) in small areas with specific microclimatic conditions, during various periods of their life cycle. Bats can be negatively influenced by microclimatic changes within their roosts if optimal habitat patches become unavailable. Therefore, proper management solutions must be applied for the conservation of vulnerable bat populations, especially in show caves. We have pursued an ensemble species distribution modelling approach in subterranean environments to identify sensible patches for bats. Using multi-annual temperature monitoring and bat distribution surveys performed within ten caves and mines, including show caves, we modelled relevant habitat patches for five bat species. The temperature-based variables generated from this approach proved to be effective when processed via species distribution models, which generated optimal validation results, even for bats that were heavily clustered in colonies. Management measures are proposed for each show cave to help in long-time conservation of hibernation and maternity colonies. These measures include creating suitable microclimatic patches within the caves by ecological reconstruction measures, tourist management practices in relation to bats, and show cave fitting recommendations. This approach has never been performed at this scale due to the complex geostatistical challenges involving subterranean environment mapping and can be further used as best practice guidelines for future conservation projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bat fauna from the extreme north of Chile is poorly known, principally due to a lack of dedicated surveys. To better assess the diversity of bats there, we conducted acoustic surveys at Arica city and three coastal valleys (Azapa, Lluta and Camarones) in the Arica and Parinacota region, Chile. We obtained 82 acoustic records of the Peale's free-tailed bat (Nyctinomops aurispinosus) in nine sites within the region. This species had not been previously documented in Chile but was known from adjacent Tacna province, Peru. Echolocation calls of N. aurispinosus can be distinguished from other molossid bat species occurring in the area by its lower frequency range. Our data suggest a wide distribution of N. aurispinosus across the coastal valleys of the Arica and Parinacota region, where they were active in both natural and anthropized habitats. This southernmost record of N. aurispinosus for the Pacific coast, extends its known range ca. 150 km southward, and increases up to 15 the number of bat species in Chile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Highlights: Seasonal variation in environmental conditions coinciding with reproductive and energetic demands might result in seasonal differences in species-specific habitat use. We studied a winter assemblage of insectivorous bats and found that species acted as habitat generalists during winter compared to expectations based on the summer active season. Background and Objectives: In temperate regions, seasonal fluctuations in resource availability might restructure local bat assemblages. Initially perceived to only hibernate or migrate to avoid adverse winter conditions, temperate insectivorous bats appear to also employ intermediate overwintering strategies, as a growing body of literature suggests that winter activity is quite prevalent and even common in some lower latitude areas. However, to date, most studies have exclusively assessed habitat associations during summer. Because habitat use during summer is strongly influenced by reproduction, we hypothesized that habitat associations might differ during the non-reproductive winter period. We used acoustic monitoring to assess the habitat associations of bats across a managed pine landscape in the southeastern United States. Materials and Methods: During the winters of 2018 and 2019, we deployed acoustic detectors at 72 unique locations to monitor bat activity and characterized vegetation conditions at two scales (microhabitat and landscape). We used linear mixed models to characterize species-specific activity patterns associated with different vegetation conditions. Results: We found little evidence of different activity patterns during winter. The activity of three species (hoary bat: Lasiurus cinereus; southeastern myotis: Myotis austroriparius; and tricolored bat: Perimyotis subflavus) was not related to vegetation variables and only modest relationships were evident for four other species/groups (big brown bat: Eptesicus fuscus; eastern red bat: L. borealis; Seminole bat: L. seminolus; evening bat: Nycticeius humeralis; and Brazilian free-tailed bat: Tadarida brasiliensis). Conclusions: During winter, the bats in our study were active across the landscape in various cover types, suggesting that they do not exhibit the same habitat associations as in summer. Therefore, seasonal differences in distributions and habitat associations of bat populations need to be considered so that effective management strategies can be devised that help conserve bats year round. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bats provide important ecosystem services but face severe threats due to land and climate changes. Although bats are an important component of mammal diversity in Iran, the ecology of many species remains virtually unstudied in the country. Here we applied the maximum entropy approach to model habitat suitability of bat species in Iran, identify the most important variables for their distribution, predict high priority areas for field monitoring and conservation, and estimate the coverage of the bat species' suitable habitats by the existing protected areas. We created a richness map for the twelve species to identify high priority areas for field monitoring and conservation. The results of species distribution modeling showed that Pipistrellus kuhlii (828,977.2 km2) and Miniopterus pallidus (646,581.9 km2) had the largest distribution ranges and Rhinopoma microphyllum (211,202.7 km2) and Rousettus aegyptiacus (218,278.6 km2) had the smallest distribution ranges in Iran. By averaging the importance of each ecological variable across the 12 species, we found that distance to forests (with a negative association) is the most important ecological driver of bat distribution in Iran. The Zagros Mountains were identified as a hotspot of bats based on the distribution of the 12 species. Our findings showed that small proportions of each species suitable habitats were covered by protected areas and protected suitable habitats varied from 3.2%for Pipistrellus kuhlii to15.9% for Tadarida teniotis. This study highlights the importance of forests for bat conservation showing that forest conservation is a high priority in the country. Areas which have the highest richness should be prioritized for field monitoring and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydropower infrastructure represents a major driver of habitat loss and insular fragmentation worldwide, mostly across the tropics and sub‐tropics. Despite growing evidence of dam‐induced impacts on biodiversity, the effects of insular habitat fragmentation on species assemblages remain poorly understood, particularly for East Asian vertebrates. Here, we assess how insectivorous bats respond to forest fragmentation in Thousand Island Lake, a mega‐hydroelectric dam in East China. Bat assemblages were surveyed across 36 land‐bridge islands of different sizes and degrees of isolation, using AudioMoth recorders. Echolocation calls were classified into sonotypes, each corresponding to either single or multiple species, which were further classified according to their habitat affinities into forest or open‐space foragers. Based on 22 875 five‐min recordings from 108 detector‐nights, we recorded 15 bat sonotypes, eight of which we classified as forest sonotypes (2329 bat passes) and seven as open‐space sonotypes (52 277 bat passes). Overall, sonotype richness increased with island area, but only above a certain threshold (34 ha). Habitat affinity played an important role in ensemble‐level responses to fragmentation; forest sonotype richness increased with island area, whereas open‐space sonotype activity was higher in more isolated islands. Our results highlight the relevance of particularly large fragments (>1000 ha) to maintain area‐sensitive forest bat species. However, islands below 34 ha in size and those more isolated from the mainland are also of conservation value as they, correspondingly, harbour a variable (but substantial) number of species and concentrate higher activity of open‐space foragers. These findings further demonstrate that acoustic sampling methods, as the one presented here, are able to provide key information for evidence‐based policies aimed at halting the ongoing wave of dam‐induced biodiversity loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bats spend more than half of their life in roosts, where key life events transpire. Therefore the availability and selection of roosts are important to bats everywhere, and may limit their ability to exploit every habitat, including agricultural landscapes such as paddy fields, orchards and tea plantations. This study aimed to investigate the day roosts used by insectivorous bat species in tea plantations of Sri Lanka. We surveyed 18 tea plantations where we recorded a total of 44 roosts involving five families and nine species of bats (Hipposideros galeritus, Hipposideros lankadiva, Hipposideros speoris, Rhinolophus beddomei, Rhinolophus rouxii, Megaderma spasma, Pipistrellus ceylonicus, Pipistrellus coromandra and Miniopterus cf. fuliginosus). Most (26) of the recorded roosts were geomorphic, (11) were anthropogenic, and (7) were in vegetation. H. lankadiva and M. cf. fuliginosus are the only species known to roost exclusively in geomorphic roosts; all others were opportunistic. Although protecting bat roosts is crucial for their conservation, it is challenging in view of existing tea management practices. Therefore, natural roosts should be maintained and protected. The introduction of artificial roosts might increase the number of bats able to forage over tea plantations and maximize their consumption of agricultural pests, thereby increasing tea production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous processes operating at landscape scales threaten bats (e.g., habitat loss, disease). Temperate bat species are rarely examined at commensurate scales because of logistical and modeling constraints. Recent modeling approaches now allow for presence‐only datasets, like those often available for bats, to assist with the development of predictive distribution models. We describe the use of presence‐only data and rigorous predictive distribution models to examine habitat selection by bats across Colorado, USA. We applied hierarchical Bayesian models to bat locations from 1906–2018 to examine relationships of 13 species with landscape covariates. We considered differences in type of activity (foraging, roosting, hibernation), seasonality (summer vs. winter), and scale (1, 5, 10, and 15‐km buffers). These findings generated statewide probability of use models to guide management of bat species in response to threats (e.g., white‐nose syndrome [WNS]). Analysis of buffers suggest selection of land cover and environmental covariates occurs at different scales depending on the species and activity. Pinyon (Pinus spp.)‐juniper (Juniperus spp.) appeared as a positive association in the highest number of models, followed by montane woodland, supporting the importance of these forest types to bats in Colorado. Other covariates commonly associated with bats in Colorado include westerly longitudes, and negative associations with montane shrubland. Mechanical treatments within pinyon‐juniper and montane woodlands should be conducted with caution to avoid harming bat communities. We developed hibernation models for only 2 species, making apparent the lack of winter records for bat species in the state. We also provide a composite predictive surface of small‐bodied bats in Colorado that delineates where these species, vulnerable to WNS, converge. This tool provides managers with focal points to apply surveillance and response strategies for the impending arrival of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a lack of studies designed to detect the most important areas for bat conservation. In this context, areas of high bat activity have been rarely considered in the delimitation of protected areas for bats, which are generally focused on the protection of roosting sites. This has been due to the difficulties of sampling the distribution of these nocturnal animals when moving at night. This methodological constraint has been overcome by the development of bioacoustic sampling, which allows mapping the occurrence of active bats over large areas. In this study, we use bat detectors to sample the distribution of bat activity in central Spain. This region is under the environmental effects of a mountain range (Guadarrama Mountains) and the urban encroachment of the city of Madrid. The occurrences provided by the detectors were used to produce species distribution models of which the resulting layers were arranged to detect the most suitable areas for bat richness and rarity indices. We performed a gap analysis to explore whether the areas most commonly used by active bats are covered by the current network of protected areas. The results showed that the best areas of high bat activity are located at the piedmont of the mountains and that most of these areas overlap with the existing network of protected areas. The best areas for bats excluded the most urbanized areas and within a similar urban gradient, protected areas tended to be located within the best sites for conservation. These results suggest that bats currently benefit from a network of protected areas initially aimed to protect birds and habitats (Natura 2000). In addition, monitoring areas of high bat activity could complement roosting site protection in the conservation of bat assemblages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the altitudinal and temporal patterns of species abundance and reproductive status for 18 Neotropical bat species during 17 continuous months in four ranges (low 50, mid–low 500, mid–high 1000, and high 2000 m a.s.l.) in an altitudinal gradient in Costa Rica. We found an effect of elevation on the abundance on ten species. We also found a combined effect of altitude and precipitation in two species; for example, Carollia castanea was more abundant at the low altitudinal range and during the high precipitation period, while Sturnira hondurensis was more abundant at the high altitudinal range and during the low precipitation period. We also found an effect of altitude and precipitation on the reproductive status of five bat species. Carollia sowellii and C. castanea showed higher number of reproductive males in the low range and reproductive females in the low altitudinal range during the high precipitation period. We also found a larger number of reproductive males of Sturnira mordax in the mid–high range, while pregnant females were more abundant during the low precipitation period. Our results show altitudinal and temporal patterns of abundance and reproductive phenology that highlight the need for long-term studies of species assemblages along altitudinal gradients. This information is crucial to implement conservation strategies that are species-orientated, promoting habitat protection for a large number of species in altitudinal ranges involved at the specific periods when bat abundance or reproduction is higher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Animal movement determines home range patterns, which in turn affect individual fitness, population dynamics and ecosystem functioning. Using temperate bats, a group of particular conservation concern, we investigated how morphological traits, habitat specialization and environmental variables affect home range sizes and daily foraging movements, using a compilation of 30 years of published bat telemetry data. Location: Northern America and Europe. Time period: 1988–2016. Major taxa studied: Bats. Methods: We compiled data on home range size and mean daily distance between roosts and foraging areas at both colony and individual levels from 166 studies of 3,129 radiotracked individuals of 49 bat species. We calculated multi‐scale habitat composition and configuration in the surrounding landscapes of the 165 studied roosts. Using mixed models, we examined the effects of habitat availability and spatial arrangement on bat movements, while accounting for body mass, aspect ratio, wing loading and habitat specialization. Results: We found a significant effect of landscape composition on home range size and mean daily distance at both colony and individual levels. On average, home ranges were up to 42% smaller in the most habitat‐diversified landscapes while mean daily distances were up to 30% shorter in the most forested landscapes. Bat home range size significantly increased with body mass, wing aspect ratio and wing loading, and decreased with habitat specialization. Main conclusions: Promoting bat movements through the landscape surrounding roosts at large spatial scales is crucial for bat conservation. Forest loss and overall landscape homogenization lead temperate bats to fly further to meet their ecological requirements, by increasing home range sizes and daily foraging distances. Both processes might be more detrimental for smaller, habitat‐specialized bats, less able to travel increasingly longer distances to meet their diverse needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tricolored bats (Perimyotis subflavus) that roost in subterranean hibernacula have experienced precipitous declines from white-nose syndrome (WNS); however, understudied populations also use during winter non-subterranean roosts such as tree cavities, bridges, and foliage. Our objectives were to determine winter roost use by tricolored bats in an area devoid of subterranean roosts, determine roost microclimates to relate them to growth requirements of the fungal causal agent of WNS, and determine habitat factors influencing winter tree selection. From November to March 2017–2019, we used radiotelemetry to track 15 bats to their day roosts in the upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina and recorded microclimates in accessible tree cavities and bridges. We also characterized habitat and tree characteristics of 24 used trees and 153 random, available trees and used discrete choice models to determine selection. Roost structures included I-beam bridges, cavities in live trees, and foliage. Bridges were warmer and less humid than cavities. Roost temperatures often were amenable to fungal growth (< 19.5°C) but fluctuated widely depending on ambient temperatures. Bats used bridges on colder days (8.7°C ± 5.0 SD) and trees on warmer days (11.3°C ± 5.4). Bats selected low-decay trees closer to streams in areas with high canopy closure and cavity abundance. Bats also appeared to favor hardwood forests and avoid pine forests. Our results suggest that access to multiple roost microclimates might be important for tricolored bats during winter, and forest management practices that retain live trees near streams and foster cavity formation in hardwood forests likely will benefit this species. Our results also suggest tricolored bats using bridge and tree roosts might be less susceptible to WNS than bats using subterranean hibernaculum roosts. Thus, forests in areas without subterranean hibernacula in the southeastern United States that support bats during winter might represent important refugia from WNS for multiple species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We Review How Different Bat Guilds Respond To Artificial Light At Night (Alan) And Assess How The Impacts Can Vary According To Ecological Context. All Studied European Species Respond Negatively To Alan Close To Roosts And Drinking Sites, And The Impacts Occur Across A Wide Range Of Light Colors And Intensities. Most Bat Species Are Sensitive To Alan When Commuting And Foraging. Although Narrow-Space-Foraging Bat Species Consistently Avoid Alan When Foraging, Open And Edge-Space-Foraging Species May Exploit Insects Lured By Alan. Therefore, Alan Acts As An Environmental Filter On Bat Assemblages. Considering The Detrimental Effect Of Alan On Insects, We Conclude That Alan Probably Has Negative Impacts On All Bat Species, Even On Those Foraging At Streetlights. The Sprawl Of Alan May Be A Key Factor Driving The Decline Of Bat Diversity Globally, And The Current Trajectory Of Increasing Alan Is Therefore Of Considerable Concern For Bat Conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity is facing an extinction crisis due to human activities, including loss of seed dispersal function due to frugivores' extinction or rarefaction. Among these frugivores, flying foxes emerge as major seed disseminators of native plants thereby contributing in maintaining forest structure and biodiversity. However, they are often persecuted because of the inclusion of commercial fruits into their diet, and such a human-wildlife conflict (HWC) may reach extreme levels as exemplified on Mauritius where the species has been subjected to repeated mass culling campaigns. It therefore matters to investigate how bat damages to commercial fruits may be mitigated, including through improving native foraging habitat quality. We investigated both the influence of different severity of alien plant invasion and the influence of invasive alien plants (IAP) control on flying fox foraging habitat quality. This was measured through quantification of foraging bat density (using quadcopter-mounted thermal camera) and through the assessment of feeding intensity using ejecta sampling. We assessed native tree density from different habitat grades and also compared flying foxes' daily roosting colony size with foraging bats' density. In forests invaded by alien plants, flying foxes' density was three times higher in better preserved zones (>50% native canopy cover) compared to more degraded ones (<50% native canopy cover). Within native forest of similar relatively high quality (>70% native canopy cover), flying foxes' density was about three times higher in weeded areas compared to non-weeded ones. Density of bat ejecta sampled on the forest floor follow similar patterns. Foraging bats' density was strongly positively correlated with nearby bats' roosting colony size. Better preserved non-weeded forests provide better foraging habitat quality for flying foxes which are able to detect and use fruit, and possibly floral and other resources there. Ecological restoration through IAP removal improves the foraging habitat quality of bats which also tend to roost closer to their foraging grounds presumably to foster optimal foraging. Our work can help earmark valuable native forests for fruit bats during conservation planning, such as in prioritizing areas for IAP removal. This would improve the bats' foraging habitat through natural increase of food resources and likely reduce their reliance on commercial fruits. Efforts to naturally increase bats' roosting colony size through the protection of roosts located closer to native forests could also encourage flying foxes to stay in and feed more often within their native habitat, potentially alleviating the HWC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite mounting evidence on the ecological impacts of damming for biodiversity, little is known regarding its consequences in the hyper-diverse Southeast Asian tropical forests. Here we assess the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on the diversity and activity of insectivorous bats within the hydroelectric Kenyir Lake in peninsular Malaysia. We surveyed bat assemblages on 26 islands and two mainland continuous forest sites using passive acoustic monitoring. Echolocation calls were classified into sonotypes, each corresponding to either one or multiple species, and grouped into foraging guilds. We then examined bat overall assemblage (sonotype richness, activity, and composition), guild- and sonotype-specific activity. From 9360 h of recordings, we identified 16 bat sonotypes, including 10 forest (2854 bat passes), three edge (13703) and three open-space foragers (3651). Sonotype richness increased towards denser canopy structures, as indicated by higher Normalized Difference Vegetation Index values (NDVI). Sonotype composition varied across the gradient of forest area. Forest foragers were positively affected by NDVI and negatively affected by distance to the closest neighbour, whereas edge foragers' activity increased in smaller islands. Of the six sonotypes analysed, the activity of one forest sonotype increased with forest area, while that of one edge sonotype decreased. Ensuring habitat quality within insular forest remnants, in addition to their functional connectivity, maximises bat diversity, including the persistence of forest foraging species. Future hydropower development should therefore avoid the creation of a myriad of small, isolated, and habitat-degraded islands further characterised by altered levels of bat diversity and guild-level activity. • We assessed the diversity of insectivorous bats in dam-induced islands in Malaysia. • Species persistence was modulated by island size and habitat quality. • Forest foragers activity decreased with island isolation and degradation. • Edge foragers benefited from fragmentation, increasing in activity on smaller islands. • By creating multiple small, isolated, degraded islands, damming erodes bat diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Local forest structure, drawn from remote sensing, explained bat presences well. • Bats in forests respond to habitat variables at multiple spatial scales. • Retention forestry enhanced both key structures and overall habitat suitability. • Remote sensing data allows evaluating structural restoration measures in forests. Retention forestry, which retains small set-asides within forests managed for timber production and other services, is an important conservation instrument for enhancing structural complexity and biodiversity in multifunctional forests. However, in contrast to local scale effects, its large-scale effectiveness is largely unknown, as this requires area-wide and sufficiently precise information on key structural elements and associated species' habitats. Bats are particularly sensitive to forest structural characteristics and are target organisms of most retention programs. To assess their response to existing retention efforts, we here compared key habitat structures and overall habitat suitability for bats across forest areas with and without retention, using forest type and structure variables derived from remote sensing along with topographic, climatic and land-cover variables in a multi-scale modelling approach. Based on acoustic data from 135 1-hectare plots across the Black Forest, Germany, we calibrated region-wide species distribution models for 9 bat species or bat species groups thereby identifying the best-performing scale (50 – 1000 m radius) for each predictor and species(-group). Among predictors and species(-groups), forest cover and structural variables explained most (44.0 % and 38.3 %) of bat habitat selection, with forest height heterogeneity (16.4 %) and the percentage area with standing dead trees (11.7 %) performing best, mostly at small scales (50–100 m). Forests with retention showed higher values of these key structural variables, resulting in higher predicted habitat suitability for all species(-groups), highlighting positive effects of retention on structural complexity in forests and on species that benefit thereof. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We detected similar bat species at our study sites in summer and winter. • We found species-specific trends in occupancy that varied by season. • Several species had low predicted probability of occupancy near riparian areas. • Bats were more active in forest types with edge and open forest structures. In the southeastern United States, where forests are the primary land cover type, understanding how forest stand characteristics and forest management practices influence bat distributions is critical for bat conservation and management. We deployed passive acoustic monitors to record bat calls at sites representing six forest types at the Kisatchie National Forest in central Louisiana during two winter (January–February 2020 and December 2020–February 2021) and two summer (June–August 2020 and 2021) periods. We also collected environmental data at the landscape and local scales to help explain patterns in bat species occurrence. We detected big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus), eastern red/Seminole bats (Lasiurus borealis / L. seminolus), Myotis species, tricolored bats (Perimyotis subflavus), Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis), and hoary bats (Aeorestes cinereus) during both periods, and additionally detected evening bats (Nycticeius humeralis) during the summer. We observed seasonal differences in habitat use, and found that three bat species were more active during the summer in pine forests with group selection harvest, pine forests managed for red-cockaded woodpeckers (Leuconotopicus borealis), and pine forests that were clearcut within five years of our study when compared to unmanaged pine forests, thinned pine forests, and bottomland hardwood forests. Contrary to other studies, we found that the predicted probability of occupancy decreased with increasing proximity to riparian areas for four bat species, which could reflect the complex understory vegetation conditions that we observed along the riparian corridors in our study area. Our research identified forest characteristics and management practices that promote bat species diversity and activity in central Louisiana and demonstrated that pine forests with open understories and small openings in the canopy provide important foraging habitat for bats that occur in our study area and possibly other regions in the southeast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bat populations are threatened in many regions of the world, partly due to the loss of foraging and commuting habitats in farmland and declines in insect prey populations caused by agricultural intensification. Given that bats play an important role as bioindicators and in suppressing crop pests, it is crucial to mitigate negative impacts that arise from these threats. In this study we evaluated the richness, quantified at family level, and abundance of bat prey insects in organic vineyards surrounded by three types of adjacent habitat: urban/semi-urban areas, exotic tree plantations, and remnants of native vegetation. The relationship between the abundance of prey and the foraging activity of bats in the vineyards was also examined. Insects were sampled using ultraviolet light traps, located both inside and at the edge of the vineyards. Bat activity was monitored at each site using acoustic recorders. The insect richness was unaffected by the type of adjacent habitat and did not differ between the edge and the interior of the vineyards. In contrast, insect abundance was significantly influenced by the type of adjacent habitat. Vineyards adjacent to native vegetation and exotic tree plantations showed the highest abundances for most insect orders present in the bat diet compared to urban areas. Bat activity was significantly correlated with the abundance of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera, with mixed effects between bat species (negative for Tadarida brasiliensis , positive for Lasiurus varius , Lasiurus villosissimus and Myotis chiloensis). Crop edges adjacent to native vegetation provides important foraging habitat for bats and should therefore be considered in agricultural management. Locating vineyards close to these habitats may promote bat conservation via increased prey insects and may also benefit winegrowers through the ecosystem services provided by insectivorous bats in this crop. • We evaluated the richness and abundance of nocturnal flying insects in vineyards with varying adjacent habitat types. • The relationship between the abundance of prey and the foraging activity of bats in vineyards was also examined. • Vineyards adjacent to native vegetation and exotic tree plantations showed the highest abundances for most insect orders. • Bat activity was significantly correlated with the abundance of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. • Locating vineyards close to these habitats may promote bat conservation via increased prey insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Foraging habitat is as essential as roosts for maternity colonies. • Myotis sodalis forages over twice the spatial area than M. septentrionalis. • Both species took advantage of small regeneration openings and ponds. • Within species, individuals exhibit differing habitat preferences. • Maintaining heterogeneous forests supports multiple bat species. Bat populations face numerous threats, including the loss of forests in which they roost and forage. Present-day forests are commonly managed for timber harvesting, recreation, and wildlife. Understanding bat responses to forest management is crucial for balancing the conservation of endangered bats and forest restoration. We used radio telemetry to study nocturnal movements and habitat selection patterns of female and juvenile bats of two forest-dependent, federally listed bat species in an oak-dominated managed forest. We estimated foraging space use and assessed habitat selection for 33 northern long-eared bats (Myotis septentrionalis) and 25 Indiana bats (Myotis sodalis) from May to August 2014–2017 in south-central Indiana, USA. Myotis septentrionalis space use averaged 176 ha and bats selected water, historic thinning, and patch cuts (≤4 ha) over other habitats, with all but one bat avoiding larger openings (≥4-ha clearcuts). Myotis sodalis space use averaged 343 ha and bats selected 4-ha patch cuts, historic openings, and historic thinning over other habitats. In contrast to M. septentrionalis , one-third of the M. sodalis foraged over larger clearcuts, while two-thirds foraged over smaller openings and thinnings. We showed that bats were attracted to small regeneration harvests of varying structural ages. Forests maintained for a mix of mature stands, thinned stands, shelterwoods, small regenerative cuts (<7 ha), and small water sources should provide suitable foraging habitat for these endangered Myotis species, while also promoting forest regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prescribed fires are a forest management tool used to improve natural areas for a variety of benefits including increased plant diversity, reduced competition for desired species, decreased fuel loads, and improved wildlife habitat. The post-fire results in landscapes have shown positive benefits for bat populations. However, prescribed fires set in the winter may cause direct mortality of eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis) populations that use leaf litter for roosting during periods of colder (<10 °C) temperatures. Therefore, we used controlled laboratory techniques to explore if eastern red bats arouse from torpor when exposed to cues associated with fire (i.e., smoke and the sound of fire). Through subsequent field trials, we confirmed latencies of first response (i.e., movement or increased respiration), arousal, and flight behaviors to the stimuli of fire. We provide evidence of smoke influencing eastern red bat first response and arousal through laboratory and field trial results. Latencies of all behaviors were negatively correlated with temperatures and wind speeds prior to and during field trials. We recommend prescribing winter fires on days when temperatures are >10 °C to provide eastern red bats with a better chance to passively rewarm and react to an approaching fire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bats selected forest patches for foraging more often than agricultural habitats. • Overall insect prey diversity did not vary between forests and plantations. • A katydid prey species of the bat was found in greater abundance in forest patches than plantations. • Remnant forest fragments in human-modified landscapes are key to bat conservation. Biodiversity conservation outside protected areas reduces the impacts of anthropogenic activity and improves the benefits of ecosystem services. However, conservation also requires identification and preservation of habitats used by organisms in human-modified landscapes. Since such landscapes are heterogeneous, with fragmented habitats, space use decisions of species are expected to be non-random and dependent on resource distribution. We examined habitat selection by an insectivorous bat, Megaderma spasma in a human-modified landscape, and tested whether insect resources in the habitat drive its selection. Using high-resolution satellite imagery, we classified a 36 km2 area of a biodiversity hotspot in Western Ghats, India, into three major habitat categories: forest, plantation, and open habitat. We then tracked 18 bats across an average of 7.33 ± 3 days using radio telemetry and sampled insect resources in forests and plantations. Compositional analysis suggested that Megaderma spasma showed selection for forest habitats. Mixed-effects conditional logistic regression showed that the odds of bats using forest habitats was on average 5.87 times higher than open habitats. Apportionment analysis of insects trapped in forests and plantations showed that habitat type contributed only 0.4% of the difference in diversity at the insect order level, suggesting that insect resources did not differ between the two habitats. However, the relative abundance of one of the bat's prey (katydids of the genus Mecopoda) was significantly higher in forest habitats than in plantations, suggesting that prey abundance in forests may drive the bat's habitat selection. Remnant forest habitats are important resources for insectivorous bats and need to be preserved for maintaining ecosystem functions in human-modified landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]