Back to Search Start Over

Effects of landscape-scale broadleaved woodland configuration and extent on roost location for six bat species across the UK

Authors :
Boughey, Katherine L.
Lake, Iain R.
Haysom, Karen A.
Dolman, Paul M.
Source :
Biological Conservation. Sep2011, Vol. 144 Issue 9, p2300-2310. 11p.
Publication Year :
2011

Abstract

Abstract: Although forest fragmentation can greatly affect biodiversity, responses to landscape-scale measures of woodland configuration in Europe have been examined for only a limited range of taxa. Almost all European bat species utilise woodland, however little is known about how they are affected by the spatial arrangement of woodland patches. Here we quantify landscape structure surrounding 1129 roosts of six bat species and a corresponding number of control locations across the UK, to examine associations between roost location and landscape composition, woodland proximity and the size of the nearest broadleaved woodland patch. Analyses are performed at two spatial scales: within 1km of the roost and within a radius equivalent to the colony home-range (3–7km). For four species, models at the 1km scale were better able to predict roost occurrence than those at the home-range scale, although this difference was only significant for Pipistrellus pipistrellus. For all species roost location was positively associated with either the extent or proximity of broadleaved woodland, with the greatest effect of increasing woodland extent seen between 0% and 20% woodland cover. P. pipistrellus, Pipistrellus pygmaeus, Rhinolophus hipposideros, Eptesicus serotinus and Myotis nattereri all selected roosts closer to broadleaved woodland than expected by chance, with 90% of roosts located within 440m of broadleaved woodland. Roost location was not affected by the size of the nearest broadleaved patch (patches ranged from 0.06–2798ha±126SD). These findings suggest that the bat species assessed here will benefit from the creation of an extensive network of woodland patches, including small patches, in landscapes with little existing woodland cover. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00063207
Volume :
144
Issue :
9
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Biological Conservation
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
63605512
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2011.06.008