Tunnels as a possibility to connect bat habitats

• Published in: mamm
• Main Authors: Bach, Lothar, Burkhardt, Petra, Limpens, Herman J. G. A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Walter de Gruyter GmbH 2004
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Myotis nattereri
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/mamm.2004.041; http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/mamm.2004.68.issue-4/mamm.2004.041/mamm.2004.041.xml; https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/mamm.2004.041/xml; https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/mamm.2004.041/pdf

Fragmentation of the landscape is one of the greatest problems for animals which use large home ranges and/or different habitats within a landscape. Even in the case of undisturbed hunting habitats and roosts, disconnection of flight paths could lead to a decline in the populations of bats. Tunnels connecting both sides of a barrier, allowing exchange, can be used to minimise the impact of e.g. motorways. Results of studies in different parts of Germany and anecdotal observations in other parts of Germany demonstrate the use of tunnels for nine species of bats. Data are analysed with respect to different types of tunnels. Although our data do not allow quantitative analysis, observations suggest smaller bats like Myotis nattereri , and M. daubentonii can use relatively low and narrow tunnels, whereas the larger M. myotis , was only observed using larger tunnels. The results support the role of tunnels as effective for the conservation of the connectivity of landscapes.