Common bats are more abundant within Natura 2000 areas

Published source details Kerbiriou C., Azam C., Touroult J., Marmet J., Julien J.-F. & Pellissier V. (2018) Common bats are more abundant within Natura 2000 areas. Biological Conservation, 217, 66-74.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Legally protect bat habitats Action Link

Legally protect bat habitats

A replicated, site comparison study in 2006–2013 along 1,608 road transects in France (Kerbiriou et al 2018) found that legally protected sites had higher overall bat activity, more bat species, and higher activity of three of six bat species/species groups than unprotected sites. Overall bat activity was 24% higher within protected sites than outside them, and the number of bat species recorded was 14% higher (data reported as statistical model results). The activity of three bat species/species groups was also higher within protected sites than unprotected sites: common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus (14% higher in protected sites), serotine bat Eptesicus serotinus (105% higher) and Myotis spp. (368% higher). For three other bat species (Kuhl’s pipistrelle Pipistrellus kuhlii, common noctule bat Nyctalus noctula, Leisler’s bat Nyctalus leisleri) activity did not differ between protected and unprotected sites. Legally protected sites were part of the Natura 2000 network. Data were collected as part of a citizen science programme. Volunteers recorded bat activity while driving along 1,608 x 2 km road transects (each repeated an average of 2.4 times) through different habitats in protected and unprotected areas (number of sites for each not reported) between June and July in 2006–2013.

(Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)