Bat Conservation: Global evidence for the effects of interventions (Vol. 5) (Synopses of Conservation Evidence, Vol. 5)

Bat Conservation is the fifth volume in the Synopses of Conservation Evidence series, linked to the online resource www.conservationevidence.com. This synopsis is part of the Conservation Evidence project and provides a useful resource for conservationists. It forms part of a series designed to promote a more evidence-based approach to biodiversity conservation. Others in the series include Bee, Bird, Farmland and Amphibian Conservation and many others are in preparation. The series will cover different species groups and habitats, gradually building into a comprehensive summary of evidence on the effects of conservation interventions for all biodiversity throughout the world. This book brings together and summarizes scientific evidence and experience relevant to the practical conservation of bats. The authors worked with an international group of bat experts and conservationists to develop a global list of interventions that could benefit bats. For each intervention, the book summarizes studies captured by the Conservation Evidence project, where that intervention has been tested and its effects on bats quantified. The result is a thorough guide to what is known, or not known, about the effectiveness of bat conservation actions throughout the world. This synopsis was prepared with funding from Natural England. Additional funding was provided by Pettersson Elektronik. The Conservation Evidence project has also received funding from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and Arcadia. Cover image: Megaderma spasma, the lesser false vampire bat, roosting in a tourist shelter in Baluran National Park, in Java, Indonesia. Photograph by Manuel Ruedi. Bat Conservation Contents Advisory board About the authors Acknowledgements About this book The purpose of Conservation Evidence synopses Who this synopsis is for The Conservation Evidence project Scope of the Bat Conservation synopsis How we decided which bat conservation interventions to include How we reviewed the literature How the evidence is summarized Terminology used to describe evidence Taxonomy Significant results Interpretation of evidence IMPORTANT NOTE – defining the phrase ‘we found no evidence’ How you can help to change conservation practice Threat: Residential and commercial development Key messages Conserve existing roosts within developments Retain or relocate access points to bat roosts Create alternative roosts within buildings Change timing of building works Conserve old buildings or structures as roosting sites for bats Maintain bridges and retain crevices for roosting Protect brownfield sites Provide foraging habitat in urban areas Retain or replace existing bat commuting routes 1.1 Conserve existing roosts within developments 1.2 Retain or relocate access points to bat roosts 1.3 Create alternative roosts within buildings 1.4 Change timing of building works 1.5 Conserve old buildings or structures as roosting sites for bats 1.6 Maintain bridges and retain crevices for roosting 1.7 Protect brownfield sites 1.8 Provide foraging habitat in urban areas 1.9 Retain or replace existing bat commuting routes Threat: Agriculture Key messages – Land use change Conserve old buildings or structures as roosting sites for bats Retain old or dead trees with hollows and cracks as roosting sites for bats Retain or plant trees to replace foraging habitat for bats Protect or create wetlands as foraging habitat for bats Retain or replace existing bat commuting routes Key messages – Intensive farming Convert to organic farming Introduce agri-environment schemes Encourage agroforestry Land use change 2.1 Conserve old buildings or structures as roosting sites for bats 2.2 Retain dead/old trees with hollows and cracks as roosting sites for bats 2.3 Retain or plant trees to replace foraging habitat for bats 2.4 Protect or create wetlands as foraging habitat for bats 2.5 Retain or replace existing bat commuting routes Intensive farming 2.6 Convert to organic farming 2.7 Introduce agri-environment schemes 2.8 Encourage agroforestry Threat: Energy production – wind turbines Key messages Modify turbine design to reduce bat fatalities Modify turbine placement to reduce bat fatalities Leave a minimum distance between turbines and habitat features used by bats Deter bats from turbines using radar Deter bats from turbines using ultrasound Remove turbine lighting to avoid attracting bats Switch off turbines at low wind speeds to reduce bat fatalities Automatically switch off wind turbines when bat activity is high Close off nacelles on wind turbines to prevent roosting bats 3.1 Modify turbine design to reduce bat fatalities 3.2 Modify turbine placement to reduce bat fatalities 3.3 Leave a minimum distance between turbines and habitat features used by bats 3.4 Deter bats from turbines using radar 3.5 Deter bats from turbines using ultrasound 3.6 Remove turbine lighting to avoid attracting bats 3.7 Switch off turbines at low wind speeds to reduce bat fatalities 3.8 Automatically switch off wind turbines when bat activity is high 3.9 Close off nacelles in wind turbines to prevent roosting bats Threat: Energy production – mining Key messages Legally protect bat hibernation sites in mines from reclamation Provide artificial hibernacula to replace roosts lost in reclaimed mines Relocate bats from reclaimed mines to new hibernation sites 4.1 Legally protect bat hibernation sites in mines from reclamation 4.2 Provide artificial hibernacula to replace roosts lost in reclaimed mines 4.3 Relocate bats from reclaimed mines to new hibernation sites Threat: Transportation and service corridors Key messages – Roads Install underpasses as road crossing structures for bats Install overpasses as road crossing structures for bats Install bat gantries or bat bridges as road crossing structures for bats Install green bridges as road crossing structures for bats Install hop-overs as road crossing structures for bats Divert bats to safe crossing points with plantings or fencing Deter bats with lighting Replace or improve habitat for bats around roads 5.1 Install underpasses as road crossing structures for bats 5.2 Install overpasses as road crossing structures for bats 5.3 Install bat gantries or bat bridges as road crossing structures for bats 5.4 Install green bridges as road crossing structures for bats 5.5 Install hop-overs as road crossing structures for bats 5.6 Divert bats to safe crossing points with plantings or fencing 5.7 Deter bats with lighting 5.8 Replace or improve habitat for bats around roads Threat: Biological resource use Key messages – Hunting Introduce and enforce legislation to control hunting of bats Educate local communities about bats and hunting Threat: Biological resource use Introduce sustainable harvesting of bats Key messages – Guano harvesting Introduce and enforce legislation to regulate the harvesting of bat guano Introduce sustainable harvesting of bat guano Key messages – Logging and wood harvesting Use selective harvesting/reduced impact logging instead of clearcutting Use shelterwood cutting instead of clearcutting Thin trees within forests Manage woodland or forest edges for bats Retain deadwood/snags within forests for roosting bats Replant native trees Retain residual tree patches in logged areas Incorporate forested corridors or buffers into logged areas Hunting 6.1 Introduce and enforce legislation to control hunting of bats 6.2 Educate local communities about bats and hunting 6.3 Introduce sustainable harvesting of bats Guano harvesting 6.4 Introduce and enforce legislation to regulate harvesting of bat guano 6.5 Introduce sustainable harvesting of bat guano Logging and wood harvesting 6.6 Use selective harvesting/reduced impact logging instead of clearcutting 6.7 Use shelterwood cutting instead of clearcutting 6.8 Thin trees within forest 6.9 Manage forest or woodland edges for bats 6.10 Retain deadwood/snags within forests for roosting bats 6.11 Replant native trees 6.12 Retain residual tree patches in logged areas 6.13 Incorporate forested corridors or buffers into logged areas Threat: Human disturbance – caving and tourism Key messages Use cave gates to restrict public access Maintain microclimate at underground hibernation/roost sites Impose restrictions on cave visits Educate the public to reduce disturbance to hibernating bats Legally protect bat hibernation sites Provide artificial hibernacula for bats to replace disturbed sites 7.1 Use cave gates to restrict public access 7.2 Maintain microclimate at hibernation/roost sites 7.3 Impose restrictions on cave visits 7.4 Educate the public to reduce disturbance to hibernating bats 7.5 Legally protect bat hibernation sites 7.6 Provide artificial hibernacula for bats to replace disturbed sites Threat: Natural system modification – natural fire and fire suppression Key messages Use prescribed burning 8.1 Use prescribed burning Threat: Invasive species and disease Key messages – Invasive species Remove invasive plant species Control invasive predators Translocate to predator or disease free areas Key messages – White-nose syndrome Control anthropogenic spread Increase population resistance Cull infected bats Modify cave environments to increase bat survival Invasive species 9.1 Remove invasive plant species 9.2 Control invasive predators 9.3 Translocate to predator or disease free areas White-nose syndrome 9.4 Control anthropogenic spread 9.5 Increase population resistance 9.6 Cull infected bats 9.7 Modify cave environments to increase bat survival Threat: Pollution Key messages – Domestic and urban waste water Change effluent treatments Key messages – Agricultural and forestry effluents Introduce legislation to control use Change effluent treatments Key messages – Light and noise pollution Leave bat roosts, roost entrances and commuting routes unlit Minimize excess light pollution Restrict timing of lighting Use low pressure sodium lamps or use UV filters Impose noise limits in proximity to roosts and bat habitats Key messages – Timber treatments Use mammal safe timber treatments in roof spaces Restrict timing of treatment Domestic and urban waste water 10.1 Change effluent treatments Agricultural and forestry effluents 10.2 Introduce legislation to control use 10.3 Change effluent treatments Light and noise pollution 10.4 Leave bat roosts, roost entrances and commuting routes unlit 10.5 Minimize light pollution 10.6 Restrict timing of lighting 10.7 Use low pressure sodium lamps or use UV filters 10.8 Impose noise limits in proximity to roosts and bat habitats Timber treatments 10.9 Use mammal-safe timber treatments in roof spaces 10.10 Restrict timing of timber treatment application Providing artificial roost structures for bats Key messages Provide artificial roost structures for bats 11.1 Provide artificial roost structures for bats Education and awareness raising Key messages Provide training to professionals Educate homeowners about building and planning laws Educate to improve public perception and raise awareness 12.1 Provide training to professionals 12.2 Educate homeowners about building and planning laws 12.3 Educate to improve public perception and improve awareness Index This book brings together scientific evidence and experience relevant to the practical conservation of bats. The authors worked with an international group of bat experts and conservationists to develop a global list of interventions that could benefit bats. For each intervention, the book summarises studies captured by the Conservation Evidence project, where that intervention has been tested and its effects on bats quantified. The result is a thorough guide to what is known, or not known, about the effectiveness of bat conservation actions throughout the world. Bat Conservation is the fifth in a series of Synopses that will cover different species groups and habitats, gradually building into a comprehensive summary of evidence on the effects of conservation interventions for all biodiversity throughout the world. By making evidence accessible in this way, we hope to enable a change in the practice of conservation, so it can become more evidence-based. We also aim to highlight where there are gaps in knowledge. Evidence from all around the world is included. If there appears to be a bias towards evidence from northern European or North American temperate environments, this reflects a current bias in the published research that is available to us. Conservation interventions are grouped primarily according to the relevant direct threats, as defined in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)'s Unified Classification of Direct Threats (www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes). This book brings together scientific evidence and experience relevant to the practical conservation of bats. The authors have developed a global list of interventions that could benefit bats. For each intervention, the book summarises studies captured by the Conservation Evidence project. This text brings together scientific evidence and experience relevant to the practical conservation of bats. The authors have developed a global list of interventions that could benefit bats. For each intervention, the book summarises studies captured by the Conservation Evidence project