Movement responses of common noctule bats to the illuminated urban landscape
Autor: | Yossi Yovel, Julia M. Scholl, Stephanie Kramer-Schadt, Christian C. Voigt, Pierre Gras, Tobias Teige, Juliane Bauer |
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Rok vydání: | 2019 |
Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
Nyctalus noctula Ecology biology 010604 marine biology & hydrobiology Geography Planning and Development Foraging Light pollution Wildlife Nocturnal biology.organism_classification 010603 evolutionary biology 01 natural sciences Geography Habitat ddc:570 Landscape ecology Institut für Biochemie und Biologie Nature and Landscape Conservation Natural landscape |
Zdroj: | Landscape Ecology. 35:189-201 |
ISSN: | 1572-9761 0921-2973 |
Popis: | Context Cities are a challenging habitat for obligate nocturnal mammals because of the ubiquitous use of artificial light at night (ALAN). How nocturnal animals move in an urban landscape, particularly in response to ALAN is largely unknown. Objectives We studied the movement responses, foraging and commuting, of common noctules (Nyctalus noctula) to urban landscape features in general and ALAN in particular. Methods We equipped 20 bats with miniaturized GPS loggers in the Berlin metropolitan area and related spatial positions of bats to anthropogenic and natural landscape features and levels of ALAN. Results Common noctules foraged close to ALAN only next to bodies of water or well vegetated areas, probably to exploit swarms of insects lured by street lights. In contrast, they avoided illuminated roads, irrespective of vegetation cover nearby. Predictive maps identified most of the metropolitan area as non-favoured by this species because of high levels of impervious surfaces and ALAN. Dark corridors were used by common noctules for commuting and thus likely improved the permeability of the city landscape. Conclusions We conclude that the spatial use of common noctules, previously considered to be more tolerant to light than other bats, is largely constrained by ALAN. Our study is the first individual-based GPS tracking study to show sensitive responses of nocturnal wildlife to light pollution. Approaches to protect urban biodiversity need to include ALAN to safeguard the larger network of dark habitats for bats and other nocturnal species in cities. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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