Article
Forestry
Timothy J. Divoll, Stephen P. Aldrich, G. Scott Haulton, Joy M. O'Keefe
Summary: The study focused on understanding the responses of two federally listed bat species, northern long-eared bats and Indiana bats, to forest management in an oak-dominated forest. It was found that the bats exhibited different foraging habits and habitat preferences, with some bats being attracted to small regeneration harvests. This research highlights the importance of maintaining a variety of forest habitats to promote the conservation of endangered bat species and forest regeneration.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Adria Lopez-Baucells, Carles Flaquer, Maria Mas, Pere Pons, Xavier Puig-Montserrat
Summary: The study reveals that grey long-eared bats primarily forage in small forest fragments while avoiding recurrently burnt areas. They show a significant dependence on the monastery and some of the longest foraging and commuting distances reported in the literature.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ozgur Kuzukiran, Ilker Simsek, Tarkan Yorulmaz, Begum Yurdakok-Dikmen, Ozcan Ozkan, Ayhan Filazi
Summary: The study analyzed the residues of pesticides and organic contaminants in the carcasses of two bat species widely distributed in Turkey, finding multiple pesticides and organic contaminants in most of the bats' carcasses. The results suggest that bats can be used as potential bioindicators to assess environmental pollution.
Article
Forestry
Alek Rachwald, Grzegorz Apoznanski, Katarzyna Thor, Miroslaw Wiecek, Aneta Zapart
Summary: Bialowieza Primeval Forest is an important forest area in Europe for protecting natural diversity, but a bark beetle outbreak caused the death of many trees. Research shows that the Western barbastelle bat chooses to roost in dead Norway spruce trees, demonstrating ecological plasticity. However, the removal of dead trees disrupts these ecological processes, leading to the disappearance of a newly appeared ecological niche.
Article
Biology
Mor Taub, Aya Goldshtein, Arjan Boonman, Ofri Eitan, Edward Hurme, Stefan Greif, Yossi Yovel
Summary: The rate of sensory update is crucial for any sensory system. Echolocating bats have the ability to adjust their sensory update rate based on the intervals between emissions. Factors such as the signals' frequency, intensity, flight speed, and altitude affect the update rate. Bats control their information update rate according to behavioral mode and maintain sensory continuity.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Jesus R. Hernandez-Montero, Michelle Adam, Gerald Kerth
Summary: The availability of suitable roosts is crucial for bat populations. However, attaching echo-reflectors to artificial roosts did not improve discovery and occupation by bats, despite their familiarity with this cue as an indicator of suitability. This has implications for bat conservation efforts.
ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Basile Marteau, Petri Nummi, Thomas M. Lilley, Janne Sundell
Summary: The study found no difference in bird abundance between vernal pools and lakes, suggesting that vernal pools are not more attractive to birds. However, vernal pools are still an important and neglected diverse habitat type within the boreal landscape.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Devon R. O'Rourke, Matthew T. Mangan, Karen E. Mangan, Nicholas A. Bokulich, Matthew D. MacManes, Jeffrey T. Foster
Summary: Effective management of endangered or threatened wildlife requires an understanding of how foraging habitats are used by those populations. Molecular diet analysis of fecal samples offers a cost-effective and non-invasive method to investigate how diets of wild populations vary with respect to spatial and temporal factors.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Robert A. Schorr, Jeremy L. Siemers
Summary: White-nose syndrome has caused significant declines in bat populations, particularly affecting little brown bats in western North America. The study conducted in Colorado highlights the challenges faced by bat populations in terms of survival, emphasizing the importance of monitoring and understanding population dynamics for conservation efforts.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biology
Erik Bachorec, Tomas Bartonicka, Tomas Heger, Jiri Pikula, Jan Zukal
Summary: The study found that hibernating bats are sensitive to non-tactile stimuli, arousing based on changes in microclimatic conditions to avoid energy costs. Bats can experience normothermic and cold arousals, with cold arousals being more common. Additionally, mass loss in bats is related to initial weight, and differs between sex and age categories, highlighting physiological and behavioral adaptations aimed at conserving energy reserves.
JOURNAL OF THERMAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Manuel Roeleke, Ulrike E. Schlaegel, Cara Gallagher, Jan Pufelski, Torsten Blohm, Ran Nathan, Sivan Toledo, Florian Jeltsch, Christian C. Voigt
Summary: Animals that depend on ephemeral, patchily distributed prey use public information to locate resource patches and form temporary mobile sensory networks. This study focused on radio-tracked aerial-hawking bats and found that they adjust their movements to neighboring conspecifics while probing the airspace for prey, leading to improved efficiency in locating food.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Reed D. Crawford, Joy M. OKeefe
Summary: Artificial bat roosts are widely used for conservation, mitigation, and community engagement purposes worldwide. However, there has been little attention given to developing the best practices for their use as conservation tools. Occupancy and abundance data are not accurate indicators of habitat quality, and the lack of information on bat behavior, health, and fitness in artificial roosts hinders the validation of their conservation efficacy. This study explores the factors that may prompt bats to use and show fidelity to suboptimal artificial roosts, as well as the possible negative consequences for their health and fitness. It also presents testable research hypotheses and suggestions to improve the quality of artificial roosts and reduce risks to occupants.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Krzysztof Piksa, Tomasz Brzuskowski, Tomasz Zwijacz-Kozica
Summary: The increase in temperature and decrease in rainfall due to climate change have led to increased disturbances to forest vegetation, which has significant implications for bat diversity. This study examines the ecological parameters of bat assemblages in different types of temperate mountain forests, particularly focusing on disturbed and undisturbed coniferous and deciduous forests, along an elevation gradient. The findings highlight differences in species diversity, elevational distribution, and dominance between different forest types and zones.
Article
Ecology
Evan W. Balzer, Adam D. Grottoli, Lynne E. Burns, Hugh G. Broders
Summary: The study indicates that the body mass variation patterns of North American northern latitude temperate bats in summer and fall are influenced by reproductive constraints and interannual survival. There are significant differences in mass variation between females and males, as well as between adult and juvenile bats. Future research should focus on quantifying the fitness benefits of identified patterns.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Stephen R. Griffiths, Pia E. Lentini, Kristin Semmens, Kylie A. Robert
Summary: Interest in carving cavities into trees to provide habitat for hollow-dependent wildlife is growing rapidly, but there is little evidence to support the use of carved fissure cavities by bats. A field trial found that the entrances to carved fissures were closed by wood growth or sap flow within a short period of time, and no bats or other vertebrates were observed using them as roosts. This highlights the need for further research to assess whether these carved cavities can truly provide long-term habitat for bats.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Marcel Uhrin, Veronika Gahurova, Michal Andreas, Peter Backor, Martin Dobry, Denisa Lobbova, Radek K. Lucan, Edita Maxinova, Ladislav Nad'o, Martin Sevcik, Petr Benda
Summary: The study reveals the high adaptability of the northern marginal populations of the Mediterranean horseshoe bat, with their habitat preferences being influenced by reproductive seasons, demonstrating ecological plasticity to exploit human-altered habitats.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jakub Horak, Patrik Rada, Ludwig Lettenmaier, Michal Andreas, Petr Bogusch, Tomasz Jaworski
Summary: Weather has a significant impact on the abundance of butterflies, with vegetation temperature and light intensity having positive effects. Marginal woody vegetation cover also positively influences butterfly abundance.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Martin Salek, Miroslav Bazant, Michal Zmihorski, Anna Gamero
Summary: Farmland biodiversity has declined significantly in recent decades. This study investigates the effects of seed-rich strips (SRS) on winter farmland species and finds that SRS can have a positive impact on species richness and abundance, especially for birds.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Martin Salek, Karolina Kalinova, Jiri Reif
Summary: The study explores the conservation potential of semi-natural habitats for farmland birds and finds that both open scrubland and farmland hedges have large potential for bird conservation. However, the type and area of habitats have different impacts on species richness and abundance of birds.
JOURNAL FOR NATURE CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Martin Salek, Martin Mayer
Summary: The modernization of farmsteads has negatively impacted farmland bird populations by reducing nesting and foraging opportunities. It is recommended to include compensatory measures during farmstead construction/modernization, increase awareness among stakeholders, and support small traditional farms.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Hendrik Bluhm, Tom A. A. Diserens, Thomas Engleder, Kaja Heising, Marco Heurich, Tomas Janik, Miloslav Jirku, Daniel Klich, Hannes J. J. Koenig, Rafal Kowalczyk, Dries Kuijper, Weronika Maslanko, Frank-Uwe Michler, Wiebke Neumann, Julian Oeser, Wanda Olech, Kajetan Perzanowski, Miroslaw Ratkiewicz, Dusan Romportl, Martin Salek, Tobias Kuemmerle
Summary: This study aimed to assess the opportunities and limitations for range expansions of European bison and moose in Central Europe. It found widespread suitable habitats for these two species, but also identified human pressure and natural barriers that restrict their recolonization. Conservation measures restoring connectivity are needed to allow these large herbivores to expand their historical ranges.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Mateusz Baca, Danijela Popovic, Anna Lemanik, Sandra Banuls-Cardona, Nicholas J. Conard, Gloria Cuenca-Bescos, Emmanuel Desclaux, Helen Fewlass, Jesus T. Garcia, Tereza Hadravova, Gerald Heckel, Ivan Horacek, Monika Vlasta Knul, Loic Lebreton, Juan Manuel Lopez-Garcia, Elisa Luzi, Zoran Markovic, Jadranka Mauch Lenardic, Xabier Murelaga, Pierre Noiret, Alexandru Petculescu, Vasil Popov, Sara E. Rhodes, Bogdan Ridush, Aurelien Royer, John R. Stewart, Joanna Stojak, Sahra Talamo, Xuejing Wang, Jan M. Wojcik, Adam Nadachowski
Summary: This study investigated the population dynamics of the common vole and found that the decrease in open habitat during the last glacial period was the main factor affecting their populations. Climate deterioration during the Last Glacial Maximum had little impact on their population dynamics.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Michal Andreas, Ladislav Nad'o, Barbora Bendova, Marcel Uhrin, Edita Maxinova, Radek Lucan, Petr Benda
Summary: The diet of Rhinolophus euryale in southeastern Slovakia was dominated by Lepidoptera, especially in July and September. Nonflying arthropods were almost absent from the diet, suggesting aerial hawking as the primary feeding method. Sex differences in diet were also observed.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Martin Salek, Miroslav Bazant, Petr Klvana, Zdenek Vermouzek, Radovan Vaclav
Summary: Raptors are affected by anthropogenic mortality, with direct persecution historically dominating but contemporary patterns shaped by different sources. Vehicle collisions caused higher mortality rates after 2000, while powerlines and other anthropogenic causes gradually declined. Species-specific variation was detected in raptor mortality causes.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Biographical-Item
Zoology
Ivan Horacek, Petr Benda
JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Mateusz Baca, Danijela Popovic, Alexander K. Agadzhanyan, Katarzyna Baca, Nicholas J. Conard, Helen Fewlass, Thomas Filek, Michal Golubinski, Ivan Horacek, Monika V. Knul, Magdalena Krajcarz, Maria Krokhaleva, Loic Lebreton, Anna Lemanik, Lutz C. Maul, Doris Nagel, Pierre Noiret, Jerome Primault, Leonid Rekovets, Sara E. Rhodes, Aurelien Royer, Natalia V. Serdyuk, Marie Soressi, John R. Stewart, Tatiana Strukova, Sahra Talamo, Jaroslaw Wilczynski, Adam Nadachowski
Summary: By studying the ancient mitochondrial genomes of narrow-headed voles from Europe and Asia, the researchers found that the evolution of narrow-headed voles and collared lemings was influenced by climate fluctuations. They also identified time-structured mtDNA lineages in European narrow-headed voles during the Late Pleistocene, which helped explain the drivers of dynamics in steppe- and cold-adapted species.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Michal Andreas, Romana Prausova, Tereza Brestovanska, Lucie Hostinska, Marketa Kalabova, Petr Bogusch, Josef P. Halda, Patrik Rada, Ladislav Sterba, Martin Cizek, Jakub Horak
Summary: It is evident that biodiverse urban forests have positive impacts on biodiversity and citizen health. The study in Prague, Czech Republic, found that continuous forests dominated by native oaks with open canopies, diverse tree species and shrubs, and scattered trees in the surrounding landscape were optimal for biodiversity. Active forest management is crucial for maintaining biodiversity in urban forests.
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Martin Salek, Jan Riegert, Aleksandra Krivopalova, Jan Cukor
Summary: Current lowland agricultural landscapes have a low representation of seminatural habitats, but the presence of non-farmed habitats, such as power pylons, may be beneficial for medium-sized mammals. Mammalian species show a clear preference for power pylons over farmland and spend more time under power pylons engaging in comfort behavior. Shrub density, distance to the field edge, and distance to shrub patches have significant effects on mammal use intensity under power pylons, particularly for European hare.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biology
Jan Blazek, Adam Konecny, Michal Andreas, Tomas Bartonicka
Summary: A large number of moth species are considered agricultural pests in their caterpillar stage. The role of temperate bats in foraging moths and their contribution to crop quality and quantity are still unclear. By examining indigestible moth body parts in bat feces, the size and number of prey items consumed can be determined more accurately, providing valuable insights into the importance of bats as biological control agents.