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While Bulgaria has a rich bat fauna, with large colonies found in caves, mines and other underground roosts, only a small proportion of bat nursery colony roosts have been documented in buildings. During recent field research in the Madzharovo region, however, we discovered the world's largest nursery colony of lesser horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus hipposideros) and Geoffroy's bats (Myotis emarginatus). About 15 000 to 18 500 individuals of eight species use the complex of anthropogenic structures (an abandoned water reservoir and two buildings) as a summer roost, representing around half of all the bat species registered in the region. We strongly suggest that regular monitoring programmes and Species Action Plans are established in Bulgaria, which will ensure the conservation of nursery colonies, not only in Madzharovo, but also in the entire Eastern Rhodope mountains and help prevent future bat population declines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Southeast Asian countries, flooding is common and occurs a few weeks after tropical storms. In Thailand, the government’s approach to dealing with flooding is focused on the construction of anthropogenic megastructures. The loss of life, property, and ecosystem from flooding still occurs and will likely become increasingly more severe soon due to global climate variation. Here, in this brief report, we show a case study analyzing the cause of unusual flooding that occurred from September to November 2021 during the tropical depression “Dianmu” and the tropical cyclone “Kompasu” that hit the Khorat Plateau, northeastern Thailand. These two tropical storms left behind vast flooded urban and agricultural areas in the upstream part of the Chi River on this, the largest plateau in mainland Southeast Asia. The flood water stagnated for a month and unusually drained downslope in the upstream zone. In this work, a series of free online access satellite images taken by the Sentinel-1 C band GRD and Sentinel-2 available in the Google Earth engine platform was analyzed. As a result, we confirmed that the normal nature of water flow was problematic due to the presence of anthropogenic structures, especially roads. The installation of different design and dimensions of culverts are urgently recommended, particularly in the floodplain zone. The quick responsible idea provided in this paper highlights and simplifies the resilience to future extreme weather events of the rural community and ecosystem.

The Gippsland Basin is the location of Australia’s oldest offshore oil and gas (O&G) structures, with hydrocarbon production beginning in the 1960s. The Bass Strait flows over this area with fisheries providing seafood for the major population centers of Melbourne, Sydney and beyond. Since Australia’s maritime legislation restricts activities to outside of 500 meters from O&G structures as a security exclusion zone, these O&G structures may serve as de facto marine protected areas that may have spillover effects to local fisheries. Therefore, it is critical to understand the habitat value of O&G infrastructure to marine life in the Bass Strait and whether decommissioning of these structures affect local marine ecosystems and fisheries. We analyzed industry-collected remotely operated vehicle (ROV) imagery from 2008-2018 and compared this data with reported catch data from fishing vessels operating in this region collected by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) from 2008-2018. We assessed species richness and relative abundance on two platforms and two pipelines and compared the species composition with retained catch reported by commercial fishers operating in Commonwealth fisheries. We found diverse communities of fishes and invertebrates around O&G structures, with a different subset of species inhabiting pipelines than platforms. We found little overlap between the species that were targeted by commercial fishers and those found around O&G structures (10% overlap), however, species composition data from fisheries often groups species making the data coarse and under-representative of true species diversity. Fishery-independent data from ROV imagery or other methods greatly augments our understanding of deepwater marine communities, including those around O&G structures. Combining data sources provides a holistic look at these novel ecosystems and provides better insight into future decommissioning scenarios.

Data from nine GPS-tracked bears from the poorly studied East Balkan population were used as a case study to assess brown bear risk-taking on approaching anthropogenic structures after being captured. We tested the hypothesis that, after capture and handling, the bears avoid places posing a risk of recapture. Two major effects were analysed: 1. Capture site effect, testing if bears tend to remember the capture location and avoid it as a threat for recapture, and 2. Feeding station effect, testing if the bears are avoiding the supplementary feeding stations as a potential threat for recapture. The avoidance of capture sites, as locations posing immediate risk of recapture due to animal's previous experience, was the highest (70% of all cases), followed by avoidance of feeding stations (60%). Thus, our study confirmed that the capture event had a significant impact on the animal behaviour and could be efficient tool (at least in short term) for managing unwanted bear behaviour. However, the results also showed that despite the capture event, bears did not entirely avoid the capture sites or the feeding stations. The males in our study were heterogeneous group in their avoidance behaviour, while females were showing strong avoidance of the two disturbance factors. Bears had very diverse response to the capture effect in respect of the distance they kept from the capture sites and feeding stations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article gives a comprehensive overview on potentially harmful algae occurring in the built environment. Man-made structures provide diverse habitats where algae can grow, mainly aerophytic in nature. Literature reveals that algae that is potentially harmful to humans do occur in the anthropogenic environment in the air, on surfaces or in water bodies. Algae may negatively affect humans in different ways: they may be toxic, allergenic and pathogenic to humans or attack human structures. Toxin-producing alga are represented in the built environment mainly by blue green algae (Cyanoprokaryota). In special occasions, other toxic algae may also be involved. Green algae (Chlorophyta) found airborne or growing on manmade surfaces may be allergenic whereas Cyanoprokaryota and other forms may not only be toxic but also allergenic. Pathogenicity is found only in a special group of algae, especially in the genus Prototheca. In addition, rare cases with infections due to algae with green chloroplasts are reported. Algal action may be involved in the biodeterioration of buildings and works of art, which is still discussed controversially. Whereas in many cases the disfigurement of surfaces and even the corrosion of materials is encountered, in other cases a protective effect on the materials is reported. A comprehensive list of 79 taxa of potentially harmful, airborne algae supplemented with their counterparts occurring in the built environment, is given. Due to global climate change, it is not unlikely that the built environment will suffer from more and higher amounts of harmful algal species in the future. Therefore, intensified research in composition, ecophysiology and development of algal growth in the built environment is indicated.

Predicted increases in the human population, in a context of climatic change and limiting freshwater resources, have raised awareness of the need to preserve aquatic ecosystems, their functions, and the biodiversity they harbor. The ecological reconciliation approach proposes the long-term co-existence of biodiversity preservation and the development of human activities. We investigated the ecological and evolutionary contributions of irrigation and hydroelectric canals in the highly fragmented and regulated Durance River (Rhône basin, Southern France), to the genetic diversity patterns of two interbreeding cyprinid species, the native Parachondrostoma toxostoma, and the introduced Chondrostoma nasus species. We observed a high degree of genetic homogeneity along the length of the river. The maintenance of gene flow despite the presence of dams, and the detection of admixed populations and hybridization events in canals suggest that these canals may act as ecological corridors and hybrid zones with the potential to influence genetic resources for the native and introduced species. These anthropogenic structures vary considerably in terms of their spatial organization, size, and overall management, increasing habitat diversity in the urbanized section of river. Together with the restoration of natural habitats, canals can be considered as important structures for biodiversity dynamic in such urban conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roosts used by Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus) are not well documented among coastal habitats. Using radio telemetry, we obtained empirical evidence of roosting activity for Little Brown Myotis on the north coast of British Columbia. One non-reproductive adult female and 2 adult male Little Brown Myotis were found to use 4 unique roosting locations in the Prince Rupert area. Three of 4 confirmed roost sites were located in anthropogenic structures, including an industrial warehouse and two 2-story houses. The 4th roost was located in a cedar hedge on a residential property. Roosts were located within 890 to 1140 m of capture sites, which were sited in suitable bat foraging habitat. One male bat re-used the same daytime roost for the duration of the study period, whereas a 2nd male selected 2 different roost locations during the study. Despite the potential limitation of the small sample size of this telemetry study, our findings contribute to the understanding of roosts used by Little Brown Myotis on the north coast of British Columbia, and provide a basis for future directed studies and conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Anthropogenic structures are mainly known to have negative impacts on wildlife populations but they can be beneficial. Power lines are a main driver of bird mortality through collision or electrocution, but electricity pylons are also commonly used for nest building by some species. Birds and nests cause power outages that need to be tackled by electricity companies. However, the use of pylons by threatened species provides an opportunity for conservation purposes. In this study, we describe an empirical modelling approach to predict the circumstances under which nesting birds use electricity pylons. We focused on white storks Ciconia ciconia, a species that has been increasingly using electricity pylons for nesting across Europe. In a country‐level census in Portugal, we found a total of 1,348 white stork nests in 668 of the 8,680 very high‐tension power line pylons occurring in the distribution range of this colonial species, with spatial clustering in pylon occupation up to a distance of 30 km. The number of nests in each used pylon ranged from 1 to 21 (M ± SD = 2.2 ± 2.06). The main drivers of pylon use by nesting storks were distance to major feeding areas (rice fields, landfills and large wetlands), with more intensive use closer to these features, followed by land cover type surrounding each pylon. Pylon type and age, and stork population density in the region, had comparatively less importance. Synthesis and applications. We developed an approach to predict the use of anthropogenic structures by nesting birds that can be used both for species conservation and minimising damage to infrastructures. For power lines, applications include: (1) planning power line routes to take account of the probability of pylon use; (2) applying nesting deterrent devices (to reduce bird mortality and power outage risk) and providing nesting platforms (to promote bird use) on suitable pylons and (3) selecting adequate pylon types to promote or inhibit nesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Bats roosting in buildings are a challenge for wildlife managers because of their conservation needs, capacity to transmit disease, and potential to damage structures. An understanding of roost selection by bats in buildings is important for effective management but was lacking in the southeastern United States. During 2015 and 2016, we surveyed 140 buildings in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina, USA for bats, identifying 48 roost sites and detecting 5 species. We compared the microclimate conditions, building features, and habitat patch characteristics of buildings used and unused by bats using an information‐theoretic approach. Averaged parameter estimates from logistic regression models developed with survey data indicated bat presence was more likely in old buildings with dark conditions surrounded by low road density. Of all roost buildings surveyed, 65.9% were accessed regularly by tourists and 68.2% were managed as historical structures. We present alternative management strategies that may be implemented to ensure human health and safety and preserve historical sites while protecting bats during the reproductive period. © 2017 The Wildlife Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of anthropogenic marine structures can have unintended consequences for ecological communities. We describe differences in biofouling assemblages between two primary anthropogenic habitats—pontoons and pilings—in a marina in British Columbia, Canada, using multiple measures of diversity (i.e., richness, evenness, and Shannon indices) and multiple metrics of variability in taxonomic composition (i.e., Jaccard and modified Gower methods) using two complementary surveys. First, a video-transect survey revealed abundances of crawling benthic predators to be 19 times greater on pilings than on pontoons. Second, a photo-quadrat survey of sessile invertebrates revealed moderate differences in diversity but differences of 86% in taxonomic composition and 88% in non-indigenous species (NIS), owing largely to the dominance of mussels (Mytilus species complex) on pontoons and their absence on pilings. We discuss several environmental factors associated with the design of anthropogenic infrastructure and propose that contact with the seafloor is the key driver of observed differences between the biofouling assemblages at this site. Contact with the seafloor permits access to crawling predators and thereby drives the abundances of ecosystem-engineering taxa. Patterns of taxonomic composition and assemblage dispersion indicate that biofouling organisms are affected by these phenomena according to their roles either as prey or as competitors with mussels and not whether they are native or NIS. Finally, we consider how the growing body of ecological studies on biofouling communities such as ours can inform the implementation of infrastructure for the purposes of enhancing biotic diversity and resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The development of anthropogenic structures, especially those related to energy resources, in sagebrush ecosystems is an important concern among developers, conservationists, and land managers in relation to greater sage-grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter, sage-grouse) populations. Sage-grouse are dependent on sagebrush ecosystems to meet their seasonal life-phase requirements, and research indicates that anthropogenic structures can adversely affect sage-grouse populations. Land management agencies have attempted to reduce the negative effects of anthropogenic development by assigning surface use (SU) designations, such as no surface occupancy, to areas around leks (breeding grounds). However, rationale for the size of these areas is often challenged. To help inform this issue, we used a spatial analysis of sage-grouse utilization distributions (UDs) to quantify seasonal (spring, summer and fall, winter) sage-grouse space use in relation to leks. We sampled UDs from 193 sage-grouse (11,878 telemetry locations) across 4 subpopulations within the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment (DPS, bordering California and Nevada) during 2003-2009. We quantified the volume of each UD (vUD) within a range of areas that varied in size and were centered on leks, up to a distance of 30 km from leks. We also quantified the percentage of nests within those areas. We then estimated the diminishing gains of vUD as area increased and produced continuous response curves that allow for flexibility in land management decisions. We found nearly 90% of the total vUD (all seasons combined) was contained within 5 km of leks, and we identified variation in vUD for a given distance related to season and migratory status. Five kilometers also represented the 95th percentile of the distribution of nesting distances. Because diminishing gains of vUD was not substantial until distances exceeded 8 km, managers should consider the theoretical optimal distances for SU designation between 5.0 km and 7.5 km, depending on migratory status. Although these results represent space use for sage-grouse within the Bi-State DPS, our results likely have broad relevance to other areas with similar landscape characteristics and patterns of space use. © 2013 The Wildlife Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite prevalent use of anthropogenic structures by bats and the associated implications for public health, management, and bat conservation, very little quantitative information exists about urban roost characteristics and their selection by bats. During the summers of 2001 to 2004 we conducted fieldwork in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA, situated on the northern end of Colorado's Front Range, to address questions of roost selection by the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus). The city has experienced its greatest growth in the past half century, with its population increasing by 30% in the last decade. Similar growth in new buildings has occurred, with the number of new housing permits issued annually doubling in the past decade. We located 142 roosts using radiotelemetry or by citizen calls in response to a newspaper article and flyers. To determine characteristics of roost selectivity by bats, we compared variables for known maternity roosts and randomly selected buildings at microhabitat and landscape scales using logistic regression; we used an information theoretic approach to determine which variables were most important. We considered 44 and 100 buildings in the microhabitat and landscape scale analyses, respectively. At the microhabitat scale maternity roosts had exit points with larger areas that were higher from the ground and had warmer average temperatures than randomly selected buildings. At the landscape scale distances to similarly categorized roosts were smaller, and urbanization variables such as lower building density, higher street density, and lower traffic count density were most important. Results for variables important to urban-roosting big brown bats were often analogous to studies that characterized maternity roosts found in tree snags and rock crevices. In addition, changes in the landscape, not only in the form of anthropogenic structures but also in water availability and vegetation structure such as riparian forests, may have led to population increases and range expansions of the big brown bat. Because big brown bats appear to selectively choose specific combinations of characteristics found at maternity roosts, not all available structures can be considered suitable and exclusion from established maternity roosts may negatively impact bat populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article gives a comprehensive overview on potentially harmful algae occurring in the built environment. Man-made structures provide diverse habitats where algae can grow, mainly aerophytic in nature. Literature reveals that algae that is potentially harmful to humans do occur in the anthropogenic environment in the air, on surfaces or in water bodies. Algae may negatively affect humans in different ways: they may be toxic, allergenic and pathogenic to humans or attack human structures. Toxin-producing alga are represented in the built environment mainly by blue green algae (Cyanoprokaryota). In special occasions, other toxic algae may also be involved. Green algae (Chlorophyta) found airborne or growing on manmade surfaces may be allergenic whereas Cyanoprokaryota and other forms may not only be toxic but also allergenic. Pathogenicity is found only in a special group of algae, especially in the genus Prototheca. In addition, rare cases with infections due to algae with green chloroplasts are reported. Algal action may be involved in the biodeterioration of buildings and works of art, which is still discussed controversially. Whereas in many cases the disfigurement of surfaces and even the corrosion of materials is encountered, in other cases a protective effect on the materials is reported. A comprehensive list of 79 taxa of potentially harmful, airborne algae supplemented with their counterparts occurring in the built environment, is given. Due to global climate change, it is not unlikely that the built environment will suffer from more and higher amounts of harmful algal species in the future. Therefore, intensified research in composition, ecophysiology and development of algal growth in the built environment is indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]