Comparing acoustic and radar deterrence methods as mitigation measures to reduce human-bat impacts and conservation conflicts.
Where humans and wildlife co-exist, mitigation is often needed to alleviate potential conflicts and impacts. Deterrence methods can be used to reduce impacts of human structures or activities on wildlife, or to resolve conservation conflicts in areas where animals may be regarded as a nuisance or po...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:6a56a91988fb41e0b0d4185e57b857ac 2023-05-15T17:59:56+02:00 Comparing acoustic and radar deterrence methods as mitigation measures to reduce human-bat impacts and conservation conflicts. Lia R V Gilmour Marc W Holderied Simon P C Pickering Gareth Jones 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228668 https://doaj.org/article/6a56a91988fb41e0b0d4185e57b857ac EN eng Public Library of Science (PLoS) https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228668 https://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203 1932-6203 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0228668 https://doaj.org/article/6a56a91988fb41e0b0d4185e57b857ac PLoS ONE, Vol 15, Iss 2, p e0228668 (2020) Medicine R Science Q article 2020 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228668 2022-12-31T09:14:11Z Where humans and wildlife co-exist, mitigation is often needed to alleviate potential conflicts and impacts. Deterrence methods can be used to reduce impacts of human structures or activities on wildlife, or to resolve conservation conflicts in areas where animals may be regarded as a nuisance or pose a health hazard. Here we test two methods (acoustic and radar) that have shown potential for deterring bats away from areas where they forage and/or roost. Using both infrared video and acoustic methods for counting bat passes, we show that ultrasonic speakers were effective as bat deterrents at foraging sites, but radar was not. Ultrasonic deterrents decreased overall bat activity (filmed on infrared cameras) by ~80% when deployed alone and in combination with radar. However, radar alone had no effect on bat activity when video or acoustic data were analysed using generalised linear mixed effect models. Feeding buzzes of all species were reduced by 79% and 69% in the ultrasound only treatment when compared to the control and radar treatments, but only the ultrasound treatment was significant in post-hoc tests. Species responded differently to the ultrasound treatments and we recorded a deterrent effect on both Pipistrellus pipistrellus (~40-80% reduction in activity) and P. pygmaeus (~30-60% reduction), but not on Myotis species. However, only the ultrasound and radar treatment was significant (when compared to control and radar) in post-hoc tests for P. pipistrellus. Deterrent treatment was marginally non-significant for P. pygmaeus, but the ultrasound only treatment was significant when compared to radar in post-hoc tests. We therefore suggest that acoustic, but not radar methods are explored further as deterrents for bats. The use of acoustic deterrence should always be assessed on a case-by-case basis, with a focus on bat conservation. Article in Journal/Newspaper Pipistrellus pipistrellus Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles PLOS ONE 15 2 e0228668 |
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Medicine R Science Q Lia R V Gilmour Marc W Holderied Simon P C Pickering Gareth Jones Comparing acoustic and radar deterrence methods as mitigation measures to reduce human-bat impacts and conservation conflicts. |
topic_facet |
Medicine R Science Q |
description |
Where humans and wildlife co-exist, mitigation is often needed to alleviate potential conflicts and impacts. Deterrence methods can be used to reduce impacts of human structures or activities on wildlife, or to resolve conservation conflicts in areas where animals may be regarded as a nuisance or pose a health hazard. Here we test two methods (acoustic and radar) that have shown potential for deterring bats away from areas where they forage and/or roost. Using both infrared video and acoustic methods for counting bat passes, we show that ultrasonic speakers were effective as bat deterrents at foraging sites, but radar was not. Ultrasonic deterrents decreased overall bat activity (filmed on infrared cameras) by ~80% when deployed alone and in combination with radar. However, radar alone had no effect on bat activity when video or acoustic data were analysed using generalised linear mixed effect models. Feeding buzzes of all species were reduced by 79% and 69% in the ultrasound only treatment when compared to the control and radar treatments, but only the ultrasound treatment was significant in post-hoc tests. Species responded differently to the ultrasound treatments and we recorded a deterrent effect on both Pipistrellus pipistrellus (~40-80% reduction in activity) and P. pygmaeus (~30-60% reduction), but not on Myotis species. However, only the ultrasound and radar treatment was significant (when compared to control and radar) in post-hoc tests for P. pipistrellus. Deterrent treatment was marginally non-significant for P. pygmaeus, but the ultrasound only treatment was significant when compared to radar in post-hoc tests. We therefore suggest that acoustic, but not radar methods are explored further as deterrents for bats. The use of acoustic deterrence should always be assessed on a case-by-case basis, with a focus on bat conservation. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Lia R V Gilmour Marc W Holderied Simon P C Pickering Gareth Jones |
author_facet |
Lia R V Gilmour Marc W Holderied Simon P C Pickering Gareth Jones |
author_sort |
Lia R V Gilmour |
title |
Comparing acoustic and radar deterrence methods as mitigation measures to reduce human-bat impacts and conservation conflicts. |
title_short |
Comparing acoustic and radar deterrence methods as mitigation measures to reduce human-bat impacts and conservation conflicts. |
title_full |
Comparing acoustic and radar deterrence methods as mitigation measures to reduce human-bat impacts and conservation conflicts. |
title_fullStr |
Comparing acoustic and radar deterrence methods as mitigation measures to reduce human-bat impacts and conservation conflicts. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Comparing acoustic and radar deterrence methods as mitigation measures to reduce human-bat impacts and conservation conflicts. |
title_sort |
comparing acoustic and radar deterrence methods as mitigation measures to reduce human-bat impacts and conservation conflicts. |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228668 https://doaj.org/article/6a56a91988fb41e0b0d4185e57b857ac |
genre |
Pipistrellus pipistrellus |
genre_facet |
Pipistrellus pipistrellus |
op_source |
PLoS ONE, Vol 15, Iss 2, p e0228668 (2020) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228668 https://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203 1932-6203 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0228668 https://doaj.org/article/6a56a91988fb41e0b0d4185e57b857ac |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228668 |
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PLOS ONE |
container_volume |
15 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
e0228668 |
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