The use by bats of habitat features in mixed farmland in Scotland ...

(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) Most previous studies of the use bats make of their foraging areas have been concerned with general habitat preferences rather than with microhabitats. The present study focuses on microhabitat preference within three landscape features: linear land...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Downs, Nick C., Racey, Paul A.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
Published: Zenodo 2006
Subjects:
bat
Online Access:https://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13520259
https://zenodo.org/doi/10.5281/zenodo.13520259
Description
Summary:(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) Most previous studies of the use bats make of their foraging areas have been concerned with general habitat preferences rather than with microhabitats. The present study focuses on microhabitat preference within three landscape features: linear landscape elements, ponds and rivers. The importance of linear landscape elements to bats was investigated by placing recording stations next to treelines, and others in adjacent open spaces approximately 35 m away. Most pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus and P. pygmaeus) bat activity was recorded next to treelines and very little over open spaces. Bats used treelines for both commuting and foraging, but flew closer to treelines when commuting than when foraging. More insects were caught, and more pipistrelle feeding attempts were recorded close to treelines than further away. The relationship between the number and type of landscape elements leading to and surrounding ponds, and the use pipistrelle and ...