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Contrasting responses of bats and macro-moths to structural complexity in forest borders
Stockholm University, Faculty of Science, Department of Physical Geography. Stockholm University, Faculty of Science, The Bolin Centre for Climate Research (together with KTH & SMHI).ORCID iD: 0000-0001-5244-9908
Stockholm University, Faculty of Science, Department of Physical Geography. UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster, UK.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0807-9943
Stockholm University, Faculty of Science, Department of Physical Geography. Stockholm University, Faculty of Science, The Bolin Centre for Climate Research (together with KTH & SMHI).ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2656-2645
(English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Habitat fragmentation increases the proportion of forest borders in the landscape and many forest borders lose their structural complexity due to modern forestry practices.  However, remnants of structurally complex deciduous forests can remain as ecotones between plantations and agricultural fields. In this study we used terrestrial laser scanning to measure structural complexity of different forest borders, measured microclimate and surveyed bats and macro-moths to understand how these taxa are affected. Our aim is to disentangle the main drivers, direct or indirect, that influence bat and moth assemblages. We studied 79 forest borders, and surrounding landscapes and compared them with adjacent agricultural fields and coniferous plantations. Overall, we found less bat activity and lower macro-moth diversity in simple compared to complex borders. Using structural equation modelling, we show the contrasting responses of forest-specialist bats and moths to structural complexity; with bats responding positively and moths negatively. We found similar divergent results in relation to understorey openness; with increasing forest-specialist bat activity but a lower diversity of forest-specialist moths in more open borders. Understorey vegetation also appears to regulate microclimate with more open borders being warmer and less humid. This has a potential knock-on effect for bats as they favoured borders that were warmer and more humid. Surrounding land-cover was more important than structural complexity for generalist species; with increasing generalist bat activity due to a higher proportion of local deciduous forest cover and increasing generalist moth diversity in landscapes with more forest borders. Overall, these complex relationships between forest structure, microclimate and landscape factors, coupled with divergent responses of both taxa highlight their diverse ecological needs. Therefore, we highlight the importance of managing forest borders to retain complexity and connectivity within multifunctional landscapes.

Keywords [en]
forest borders, moths, microclimate, structural complexity, terrestrial laser scanning
National Category
Ecology
Research subject
Physical Geography
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:su:diva-233585OAI: oai:DiVA.org:su-233585DiVA, id: diva2:1898930
Available from: 2024-09-18 Created: 2024-09-18 Last updated: 2024-09-18
In thesis
1. Bats at northern latitudes: The influence of habitat and climate
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Bats at northern latitudes: The influence of habitat and climate
2024 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Globally, habitat change is one of the major drivers of biodiversity loss. Similar changes have occurred in Sweden over the past 150 years resulting in loss of habitat complexity at local and landscape scales.  In parallel, the climate is changing, with increasing air temperatures in the past 100 years. This changing climate will likely have knock-on effects on habitats and their microclimates.  Bats are often considered good indicators of environmental change. However, many bat species are declining globally with north European populations considered the most at risk due to climate change. The effects of habitat and climate change on bats are wide ranging and include loss of foraging habitat, impacts to roost locations, morphological changes and effects on their insect prey. In this thesis I identify how habitat and climate influence bat populations in Sweden, at multiple spatial and temporal scales.  Due to the complex nature of these drivers a multi-method approach was used, across a long latitudinal gradient in Sweden. To investigate the drivers of bat morphological change I analysed museum specimens over a 180-year time period together with historical maps, land-use statistics, and temperature data. To understand how habitat complexity at local and landscape scales influences bat activity, I monitored bats acoustically, sampled prey abundance and measured microclimate in a study focusing on forest borders. I also used a citizen science project to investigate bat diet and the local and landscape drivers of roost selection. I found no effect of climate change on bat morphology but jaw size changed over time in two bat species, with increasing jaw size in one species and decreasing in the other. In terms of microclimate, humidity was a strong driver of bat activity. As for effects of landscape level habitat, forest cover influenced wing morphology with bats having shorter, broader wings in more forested landscapes. Furthermore, area of deciduous forest had a positive effect on bat activity, roost selection and abundance of bat prey. At the local-scale forest structural complexity was important for bat activity but not for their insect prey. I also found high dietary overlap in the two most common species (Eptesicus nilssonii and Pipistrellus pygmaeus).  These findings highlight the need to maintain and increase deciduous forest cover and structurally complex forest borders within heterogenous habitats at local and landscape scales to meet the ecological needs of bats and their prey and ensure their conservation in the future.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Stockholm: Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University, 2024. p. 44
Series
Dissertations in Physical Geography, ISSN 2003-2358 ; 40
Keywords
bats, biodiversity, citizen science, climate, diet, forest borders, forest structure, historical maps, land-cover, landscape change, LiDAR, microclimate, morphology, moths, museum specimens, niche differentiation, roost selection
National Category
Physical Geography
Research subject
Physical Geography
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-233589 (URN)978-91-8014-941-9 (ISBN)978-91-8014-942-6 (ISBN)
Public defence
2024-11-01, De Geersalen, Geovetenskapens hus, Svante Arrhenius väg 14 and online via Zoom https://stockholmuniversity.zoom.us/j/65604626496, Stockholm, 13:00 (English)
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Supervisors
Available from: 2024-10-09 Created: 2024-09-18 Last updated: 2024-10-03Bibliographically approved

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Wood, HeatherKimberley, AdamCousins, Sara

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