Beauty and the beast: how a bat utilizes forests shaped by outbreaks of an insect pest. (3rd July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kortmann, M.; Hurst, J.; Brinkmann, R.; Heurich, M.; Silveyra González, R.; Müller, J.; Thorn, S.
• Is Part Of: Animal conservation. Volume 21:Number 1(2018)
• Page Start: 21
• Page End: 30
• Publication Date: 2017-07-03
• Subjects: acoustic surveys -- barbastelle bat -- bark beetles -- habitat selection -- natural disturbance -- LiDAR -- maternity colony -- salvage logging; Conservation biology -- Periodicals; Wildlife conservation -- Periodicals; Conservation de la biodiversité; Conservation de la faune; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 333.95416
• DOI: 10.1111/acv.12359
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1367-9430

Abstract

Abstract: The consequences of different management strategies following natural disturbances are a matter of global concern. In former production forests around the Northern Hemisphere, the abandonment of intervention, such as removal of dead wood, after outbreaks of bark beetles has been increasingly promoted to regain more natural conditions. However, many focal species of conservation, such as the barbastelle bat Barbastella barbastellus, do not primarily depend on dead wood but might respond indirectly to disturbance‐induced changes of forest structural attributes. We investigated the response of B. barbastellus foraging activity and roost selection by combining acoustic surveys, radio telemetry, and airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) to characterize B. barbastellus habitat use on different scales. B. barbastellus foraging activity increased with increasing canopy opening. Maternity colonies were recorded exclusively in trees killed by bark beetles. Bats preferred roost trees with a higher volume (m 3 ha −1 ) of live trees in the surrounding, and trees with on average larger diameters than nearby control trees. Our results revealed that outbreaks of bark beetles result in forest structural attributes that are suitable habitat for B. barbastellus . Salvage logging, i.e., the removal of beetle‐affected trees, generally deteriorates the positive effects of bark‐beetle outbreaks on the foraging and roosting habitat of B. barbastellus . We recommend maintaining snags of large diameter if salvage logging is mandatory. Abstract : Natural disturbances are increasingly promoted to regain more natural conditions in many protected areas, coming out of former production forests. We investigated how the barbastelle bat ( Barbastellus barbastellus ) utilizes forests shaped by outbreaks of bark beetles, by using acoustic surveys, radio telemetry, and airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR). Our results demonstrate that beetle‐killed spruce forests are utilized by B. barbastellus on different scales. First, the foraging activity increased with increasing beetle‐induced canopy opening. Second, B. barbastellus roosted beneath bark of beetle‐killed spruces, which were larger than expected by chance.