Enhanced crop diversity but not smaller field size benefit bats in agricultural landscapes

Landscape Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 40(1)

Published: Jan. 8, 2025

Abstract Context Farmland biodiversity continues to decline due the expansion and intensification of agriculture. Historically, efforts conserve farmland have focused on conserving habitats outside agricultural production areas. More recently, attention has turned conservation potential cropland matrix, where reducing field size increasing crop diversity promote heterogeneity can significantly benefit biodiversity. Bats are one group species that experienced dramatic declines over recent decades. Objectives Here we investigated effects (crop diversity, size) landscape structural elements (e.g. length linear structures, distance forest, proportion semi-natural habitat) activity bat functional groups. Results Increasing led greater activity, especially for open space foraging bats. However, contrary expectations, was not affected by in configuration, i.e. edge density. Furthermore, elements, including hedgerows were important predictors hunt highly cluttered spaces. While clearly benefited lack effect configurational may suggest heterogeneityarea trade-offs intensive pesticide use small-scale vegetable production. Conclusions Therefore, addition maintaining high levels promoting tree lines between woodland facilitate across matrix. The combination provides favorable hunting grounds bats their landscapes.

Language: Английский

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Precision foraging: Bats in organic desert palm plantations hunt where it is most needed

Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 58, P. e03467 - e03467

Published: Jan. 29, 2025

Language: Английский

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Susceptibility of bats to ecological and evolutionary traps

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 305, P. 111110 - 111110

Published: March 25, 2025

Language: Английский

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Tree-volume and forest age increase bat species diversity in boreal urban landscape

Landscape Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 40(1)

Published: Jan. 13, 2025

Abstract Context Given the rate at which humankind is changing habitats, it essential to understand its impact on surrounding nature and biota. The intensification of human activities fragmentation forested habitats now affect many taxonomic groups, such as bats, are largely dependent forests (e.g. roosting sites feeding areas). Northern Europe generally considered very but intensive land-use changes, caused by urbanization forestry, contribute forest loss biodiversity. Land-use changes classified biggest threats for especially in boreal zone, these environmental not yet known a sufficient level. Objectives We explored how bats (species occurrences activity) were influenced forestry urbanization, landscape variables (tree volume, percentage deciduous trees, vicinity water bodies built Methods used bioacoustic dataset from Finnish capital area (20 × 20 km, 51 sites) recorded during summer season (May – September) evaluate different habitat classes (old forest, young economical rural area, suburban urban) influence activity species richness across this region. Hierarchical Modelling Species Communities (HMSC) approach characterize responses species. investigated with two models: one focusing second relative activity. Results Our findings indicate distinct pattern, highest old forests, followed gradual decline increased intensity. Species-specific evident both presence Most showed negative either their or Key further underscored species-specific variations conditions. Additionally, our study observed temporal dynamics, revealing bats’ active season. Conclusion sheds light complex dynamics diverse landscapes, emphasizing crucial role specific factors conservation. Old natural emerge vital while pose challenges highlighting need continuous monitoring strategic conservation actions.

Language: Английский

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Tree-dwelling bats as indicators of forest landscapes

Ecological Indicators, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 171, P. 113260 - 113260

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Green infrastructure impacts in winegrowing: A systematic map

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 385, P. 109546 - 109546

Published: Feb. 21, 2025

Language: Английский

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Balancing bats and agriculture: Investigating the effects of agricultural management practices on bat species diversity in mountain ecosystems

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 387, P. 109620 - 109620

Published: March 23, 2025

Language: Английский

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Ground cover promotes enhanced bat activity in high-value insular vineyards

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 389, P. 109698 - 109698

Published: April 18, 2025

Language: Английский

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Agriculture and Water Availability Show Contrasting Effects on Bats in a Mediterranean Island of Outstanding Chiropteran Biogeographical Value

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(12)

Published: Dec. 1, 2024

ABSTRACT With their unique ecosystems and evolutionary dynamics, small islands offer fascinating contexts to explore animal diversity. Island bats are key players in maintaining ecological balance. However, populations threatened worldwide, necessitating comprehensive research conservation strategies. Pantelleria, a Mediterranean island biogeographic crossroad between Europe Africa, offers an excellent model exemplify the challenges bat such geographic contexts. We tested three hypotheses: (1) would show weak preference patterns for landscape composition due island's heterogeneous landscapes, (2) farmland (especially vineyards) strongly affect activity, (3) distance from water sources highly influence richness activity. surveyed acoustically using Audiomoth recorders covering most of surface. recorded seven species, including endangered Plecotus gaisleri , Myotis punicus Rhinolophus mehelyi . Bats showed preferences specific composition, but dominant species ( Pipistrellus kuhlii ) decreased its activity increasing portions vineyards within landscape. Moreover, critically influenced Agricultural expansion, pesticide use human activities pose significant threats on Pantelleria. advocate sustainable farming practices careful resource management safeguard habitats mitigate these threats. Conservation should target vineyards, economic produce world‐renowned wine ‘Passito di Pantelleria’ by reducing adopting organic management. Water might be supplemented critical dry habitats. urge preservation diversity support ecosystem health resilience like

Language: Английский

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Agroforestry systems favor bat conservation but only when old and grazed

Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. e03369 - e03369

Published: Dec. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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