Three‐dimensional stratification pattern in an old‐growth lowland forest: How does height in canopy and season influence temperate bat activity?
Abstract The study of animal–habitat interactions is of primary importance for the formulation of conservation recommendations. Flying, gliding, and climbing animals have the ability to exploit their habitat in a three‐dimensional way, and the vertical canopy structure in forests plays an essential...
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8363 https://doaj.org/article/112d1d3e0b30466c9f06e80d3a9bd1a3 |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:112d1d3e0b30466c9f06e80d3a9bd1a3 2023-05-15T15:37:51+02:00 Three‐dimensional stratification pattern in an old‐growth lowland forest: How does height in canopy and season influence temperate bat activity? Maude Erasmy Christoph Leuschner Niko Balkenhol Markus Dietz 2021-12-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8363 https://doaj.org/article/112d1d3e0b30466c9f06e80d3a9bd1a3 EN eng Wiley https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8363 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-7758 2045-7758 doi:10.1002/ece3.8363 https://doaj.org/article/112d1d3e0b30466c9f06e80d3a9bd1a3 Ecology and Evolution, Vol 11, Iss 23, Pp 17273-17288 (2021) Bialowieza forest gaps insectivorous bats seasonality three‐dimensional habitat use Ecology QH540-549.5 article 2021 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8363 2022-12-31T16:23:32Z Abstract The study of animal–habitat interactions is of primary importance for the formulation of conservation recommendations. Flying, gliding, and climbing animals have the ability to exploit their habitat in a three‐dimensional way, and the vertical canopy structure in forests plays an essential role for habitat suitability. Forest bats as flying mammals may seasonally shift their microhabitat use due to differing energy demands or changing prey availability, but the patterns are not well understood. We investigated three‐dimensional and seasonal habitat use by insectivorous bats in a temperate lowland old‐growth forest, the Belovezhskaya Pushcha in Belarus. We acoustically sampled broadleaved and mixed coniferous plots in the forest interior and in gaps in three heights during two reproductive periods (pregnancy/lactation vs. postlactation). In canopy gaps, vertical stratification in bat activity was less pronounced than in the forest interior. Vertical activity patterns differed among species. The upper canopy levels were important foraging habitats for the open‐space forager guild and for some edge‐space foragers like the Barbastelle bat Barbastella barbastellus and the soprano pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus. Myotis species had highest activity levels near the ground in forest gaps. Moreover, we found species‐dependent seasonal microhabitat shifts. Generally, all species and species groups considered except Myotis species showed higher activity levels during postlactation. Myotis species tended toward higher activity in the forest interior during postlactation. P. pygmaeus switched from high activity levels in the upper canopy during pregnancy and lactation to high activity levels near the ground during postlactation. We conclude that a full comprehension of forest bat habitat use is only possible when height in canopy and seasonal patterns are considered. Article in Journal/Newspaper Barbastella barbastellus Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Ecology and Evolution 11 23 17273 17288 |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Bialowieza forest gaps insectivorous bats seasonality three‐dimensional habitat use Ecology QH540-549.5 |
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Bialowieza forest gaps insectivorous bats seasonality three‐dimensional habitat use Ecology QH540-549.5 Maude Erasmy Christoph Leuschner Niko Balkenhol Markus Dietz Three‐dimensional stratification pattern in an old‐growth lowland forest: How does height in canopy and season influence temperate bat activity? |
topic_facet |
Bialowieza forest gaps insectivorous bats seasonality three‐dimensional habitat use Ecology QH540-549.5 |
description |
Abstract The study of animal–habitat interactions is of primary importance for the formulation of conservation recommendations. Flying, gliding, and climbing animals have the ability to exploit their habitat in a three‐dimensional way, and the vertical canopy structure in forests plays an essential role for habitat suitability. Forest bats as flying mammals may seasonally shift their microhabitat use due to differing energy demands or changing prey availability, but the patterns are not well understood. We investigated three‐dimensional and seasonal habitat use by insectivorous bats in a temperate lowland old‐growth forest, the Belovezhskaya Pushcha in Belarus. We acoustically sampled broadleaved and mixed coniferous plots in the forest interior and in gaps in three heights during two reproductive periods (pregnancy/lactation vs. postlactation). In canopy gaps, vertical stratification in bat activity was less pronounced than in the forest interior. Vertical activity patterns differed among species. The upper canopy levels were important foraging habitats for the open‐space forager guild and for some edge‐space foragers like the Barbastelle bat Barbastella barbastellus and the soprano pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus. Myotis species had highest activity levels near the ground in forest gaps. Moreover, we found species‐dependent seasonal microhabitat shifts. Generally, all species and species groups considered except Myotis species showed higher activity levels during postlactation. Myotis species tended toward higher activity in the forest interior during postlactation. P. pygmaeus switched from high activity levels in the upper canopy during pregnancy and lactation to high activity levels near the ground during postlactation. We conclude that a full comprehension of forest bat habitat use is only possible when height in canopy and seasonal patterns are considered. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Maude Erasmy Christoph Leuschner Niko Balkenhol Markus Dietz |
author_facet |
Maude Erasmy Christoph Leuschner Niko Balkenhol Markus Dietz |
author_sort |
Maude Erasmy |
title |
Three‐dimensional stratification pattern in an old‐growth lowland forest: How does height in canopy and season influence temperate bat activity? |
title_short |
Three‐dimensional stratification pattern in an old‐growth lowland forest: How does height in canopy and season influence temperate bat activity? |
title_full |
Three‐dimensional stratification pattern in an old‐growth lowland forest: How does height in canopy and season influence temperate bat activity? |
title_fullStr |
Three‐dimensional stratification pattern in an old‐growth lowland forest: How does height in canopy and season influence temperate bat activity? |
title_full_unstemmed |
Three‐dimensional stratification pattern in an old‐growth lowland forest: How does height in canopy and season influence temperate bat activity? |
title_sort |
three‐dimensional stratification pattern in an old‐growth lowland forest: how does height in canopy and season influence temperate bat activity? |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8363 https://doaj.org/article/112d1d3e0b30466c9f06e80d3a9bd1a3 |
genre |
Barbastella barbastellus |
genre_facet |
Barbastella barbastellus |
op_source |
Ecology and Evolution, Vol 11, Iss 23, Pp 17273-17288 (2021) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8363 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-7758 2045-7758 doi:10.1002/ece3.8363 https://doaj.org/article/112d1d3e0b30466c9f06e80d3a9bd1a3 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8363 |
container_title |
Ecology and Evolution |
container_volume |
11 |
container_issue |
23 |
container_start_page |
17273 |
op_container_end_page |
17288 |
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1766368522394402816 |