Compared to the pine monoculture and light black cherry forest, the overall abundance of the bat community was significantly lower in the dense black cherry forest. In dense black cherry forest, only four species and one sonotype were detected. Within the succession stages of pine monoculture and light black cherry forest, a comparable bat diversity of eight bat species and three sonotypes with a similar relative abundance were observed. From the bat call recordings made during the study period, eight bat species could be identified to species level. In three pre-classified succession stages of the black cherry, the diversity and relative abundance of bats were bioacoustically monitored for a period of 60 nights. Therefore, this case study aimed to investigate the influence of the invasive black cherry (Prunus serotina) on bats (Chiroptera: Verpertilionidae) in pine (Pinus sylvestris) forest ecosystems, in order to identify the potential of bats as bioindicators for a black cherry invasion. Forest managers are increasingly confronted by alien tree species.

In times of land use changes towards more close-to-nature forestry, the application of bioindicators becomes an interesting tool for effective land-use management schemes. Linear characteristics of the vegetation (edges, paths) in general did not regulate the local preferences of bats (p = 0.154), but they corresponded to bat activity in complex structured areas (e.g. Pipistrelle bats and Myotis species favoured open canopy areas (p = 0.007 p = 0.029), whereas Nyctalus species were not significantly more active at this patch type, compared to closed canopy areas (p = 0.0712).

In different vertical strata (above or below the canopy), differed in the activity at the various habitat types. Furthermore, regression analysis revealed that bat activity was positively correlated (p = 0.004) with the relative area of open canopy type (clearances, still waters), and vise versa was negatively associated with the area of closed canopy (p = 0.0005). Bat activity increased with the insect abundance (p = 0.025). Effects of the local insect occurrence, of the canopy structure and of linear vegetation elements on the presence of bats were compared. We examined the associations of bats with different types of landscape elements.

The habitat choice of foraging bats depends on the local food supply as well as on vegetation structures that may enable the animals to orientate by echolocation.

Kurtai atlasi tochiki 2017