Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1893/24711
Appears in Collections:Biological and Environmental Sciences Journal Articles
Peer Review Status: Refereed
Title: Bat use of commercial coniferous plantations at multiple spatial scales: Management and conservation implications
Author(s): Kirkpatrick, Lucinda
Maher, Sarah J
Lopez, Zeltia
Lintott, Paul R
Bailey, Sallie
Dent, Daisy
Park, Kirsty
Contact Email: k.j.park@stir.ac.uk
Keywords: Coniferous plantation
Management
Biodiversity
Chiroptera
Bats
Issue Date: Feb-2017
Date Deposited: 16-Dec-2016
Citation: Kirkpatrick L, Maher SJ, Lopez Z, Lintott PR, Bailey S, Dent D & Park K (2017) Bat use of commercial coniferous plantations at multiple spatial scales: Management and conservation implications. Biological Conservation, 206, pp. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2016.11.018
Abstract: Commercial plantations are primarily managed for timber production, and are frequently considered poor for biodiversity, particularly for mammalian species. Bats, which constitute one fifth of mammal species worldwide, have undergone large declines throughout Europe, most likely due to widespread habitat loss and degradation. Bat use of modified landscapes such as urban or agricultural environments has been relatively well studied, however, intensively managed plantations have received less attention, particularly in Europe. We assessed three of the largest, most intensively managed plantations in the UK for the occurrence of bats, activity levels and relative abundance in response to environmental characteristics at multiple spatial scales, using an information theoretic approach. We recorded or captured nine species;Pipistrellus pipistrellusandP.pygmaeuswere the most commonly recorded species on acoustic detectors and femaleP.pygmaeuswere the most commonly captured. The influence of environmental characteristics on bat activity varied by species or genus, although all bat species avoided dense stands. Occurrence and activity of clutter and edge adapted species were associated with lower stand densities and more heterogeneous landscapes whereas open adapted bats were more likely to be recorded at felled stands and less likely in areas that were predominantly mature conifer woodland. In addition, despite morphological similarities,P.pipstrellusandP.pygmaeuswere found foraging in different parts of the plantation. This study demonstrates that with sympathetic management, non-native conifer plantations may have an important role in maintaining and supporting bat populations, particularly forPipistrellusspp.
DOI Link: 10.1016/j.biocon.2016.11.018
Rights: This item has been embargoed for a period. During the embargo please use the Request a Copy feature at the foot of the Repository record to request a copy directly from the author. You can only request a copy if you wish to use this work for your own research or private study. Accepted refereed manuscript of: Kirkpatrick L, Maher SJ, Lopez Z, Lintott PR, Bailey S, Dent D & Park K (2017) Bat use of commercial coniferous plantations at multiple spatial scales: Management and conservation implications, Biological Conservation, 206, pp. 1-10. DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2016.11.018 © 2016, Elsevier. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Licence URL(s): http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

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