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Multi-scale ecology of woodland bat the role of species pool, landscape complexity and stand structure

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Abstract

Fragmentation of forest landscapes and structural degradation of woodlands have a holistic negative effect on biodiversity. Bats are considered as indicators of woodland’s structural quality. However, as bats commute long distances on a nightly basis, their diversity should also be limited by large-scale drivers such as landscape and species availability in the region. Therefore we examined roles of the local species pool, landscape structure and habitat properties on species richness of bats through three spatial scales with emphasis on top–down relationships. Our aim for conservation ecology was to evaluate habitat quality and the importance of stand origin, i.e. contrast between mature forests and old parks. Bats were surveyed in 28 landscape windows, which consisted of at least one park and forest site. In total we sampled 63 deciduous woodlands in Estonia. In each site we sampled two microhabitats: edge and stand interior. Bat species richness was mostly explained by large-scale drivers, such as local species pool and landscape composition within 1 km radius. Stand properties had a weaker effect, driven by understory clutter. At the finest scale, the importance of edge habitats was emphasized by greater species richness at the edge in comparison to the stand interior and the edge’s predictive power on species richness in the stand interior. Habitat origin (park vs. forest) was an important aspect only for small-scale species richness, specifically in woodland interiors. The conservation policy of woodland bats should be based on complex multi-scale planning, in which natural and anthropogenic woodlands can be considered as a single land-cover type. To provide optimal foraging habitat for bats, the forest landscape should be diversified with integrated small waterbodies and canopy gaps with sharp edges.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by Tartu University via target-financing project SF0180012s09, by the Estonian Science Agency (project no. 7878) and via the ERA-Net BiodivERsA project smallFOREST, and the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (the Centre of Excellence FIBIR). Derettens OÜ (www.derettens.com) edited the use of English.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Lai 40, 51005, Tartu, Estonia

    Rauno Kalda, Oliver Kalda, Kertu Lõhmus & Jaan Liira

Authors
  1. Rauno Kalda
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  2. Oliver Kalda
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  3. Kertu Lõhmus
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  4. Jaan Liira
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rauno Kalda.

Additional information

Communicated by Dirk Sven Schmeller.

Appendix

Appendix

Variables

Explanation

Stand composition

 Abundance of broadleaved trees in the stand

Abundance of tree species was estimated visually on three-level scale: 1—single or very scarce, 2—few or some, 3—dominating

 Abundance of Populus tremula in the stand

 Abundance of Betula sp. trees in the stand

 Abundance of Picea abies in the stand

 Abundance of Pinus sylvestris in the stand

Stand structure

 Understory: 1–4 m

Estimated visually as a percentage of cover in a radius of 30 m

 Intermediate layer: 4–10 m

Estimated visually as a percentage of cover in a radius of 30 m

 Overstory: >10 m

Estimated visually as a percentage of cover in a radius of 30 m

 Windthrow

Binominal variable

 Special shaped trees

Binominal variable

Presence of potential roost sites in trees

 Holes

Binominal variable

 Loose bark

Binominal variable

 Fungi on stem

Binominal variable

 Pooled average holes, loosebark nad fungi

Continuous variable

Local landscape

 Presence of water bodies in the vicinity

Binominal variable

 Presence of ditches in the vicinity

Binominal variable

 Temporary wet hollows

Binominal variable

 Woodland slope/flat

Binominal variable

Landscape composition

 The percent of water body cover

Estimated in buffers with sizes of 250, 500 and 1,000 m

 The percent of open land cover

Estimated in buffers with sizes of 250, 500 and 1,000 m

 The percent of area covered by yards

Estimated in buffers with sizes of 250, 500 and 1,000 m

 Pooled length of woodland edges

Estimated in buffers with sizes of 250, 500 and 1,000 m

 Count. of buildings

Estimated in buffers with sizes of 250, 500 and 1,000 m

 Average distance to two nearest waterbodies

Measured within 3 km

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Kalda, R., Kalda, O., Lõhmus, K. et al. Multi-scale ecology of woodland bat the role of species pool, landscape complexity and stand structure. Biodivers Conserv 24, 337–353 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-014-0811-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-014-0811-6

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