Bat activity at a major road in Sweden

Humans have changed ecosystems steadily over the years, leading to habitat fragmentation and loss. Road- and railroad networks are rapidly expanding around the world and disintegrating natural landscapes. Habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and habitat degradation are three factors why bat species are threatened, and infrastructure such as roads has the potential to contribute to all of these factors. This is the first study of bats and the impact roads have on bats in Sweden. In this study we tested whether the major road acts as a barrier to movement of four different taxa of bats. Especially we focused on the activity of Myotis species at various environments in the landscape in relation to a major road. We placed auto boxes that automatically record bat ultra sounds in 34 study sites around Enköping for seven weeks. We had 8 sites along a major road, 8 sites in open gaps between forests without any roads, 4 sites at wildlife passages and 14 control sites within the forest. The results of this study show avoidance behaviour in Myotis, and Eptesicus species. For Nyctalus` the road does not reveal to be any obstacle. Observations of Pipistrellus species were too few to draw any conclusions. An important conclusion in this study is that there is not a difference in Myotis- activity between the road and open gaps in the forest. Both types of openings are avoided. However, wildlife passages are used for foraging and commuting.

• Record URL:
  • https://trafikverket.ineko.se/Files/sv-SE/12279/RelatedFiles/2015_175_bat_activity_at_a_major_road_in_sweden.pdf
• 
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9789174678383
• Corporate Authors:

  Trafikverket, Sweden

  Borlänge,   Sweden  SE-781 89
• Authors:
  • Sjölund, Amanda
• Publication Date: 2015

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 22
• Serial:
  • Trafikverket. Publikation
  • Issue Number: 2015:175
  • Publisher: Trafikverket, Sweden

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Animals; Ecosystems; Environmental protection; Habitat (Ecology); Roadside fauna; Wildlife
• Uncontrolled Terms: Roads as barriers
• ITRD Terms: 2459: Animal; 2448: Animal protection; 2866: Barrier effect (transp infrastructure); 2448: Corridor function; 2466: Ecosystem; 2448: Plant protection; 2449: Wildlife crossing
• Subject Areas: Environment; I15: Environment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01664496
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI)
• ISBN: 9789174678383
• Files: ITRD, VTI
• Created Date: Mar 28 2018 10:27AM