Effects of fire and its severity on occupancy of bats in mixed pine-oak forests

Published source details Burns L.V.L, Loeb S.C. & Bridges W.C. Jr. (2019) Effects of fire and its severity on occupancy of bats in mixed pine-oak forests. Forest Ecology and Management, 446, 151-163.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Use prescribed burning Action Link

Use prescribed burning

A replicated, paired sites study in 2014–2015 in 11 paired areas of mixed forest in Tennessee and Kentucky, USA (Burns et al 2019) found that burned sites had a higher occupancy of five bat species or species groups than unburned sites, and burn severity had a negative effect on Myotis spp. and tri-colored bats Perimyotis subflavus. Overall, burned sites had a higher occupancy of five bat species/species groups (big brown bats Eptesicus fuscus/silver-haired bats Lasionycteris noctivagans, eastern red bats Lasiurus borealis/evening bats Nycticeius humeralis, Myotis spp., tri-colored bats, hoary bats Lasiurus cinereus) than unburned sites (data reported as statistical model results). Occupancy of Myotis spp. and tri-colored bats was higher in sites burned with a low severity than a moderate severity. A total of 164 paired forest sites were surveyed within 11 burned and 11 unburned areas (each 10–1,150 ha). Burned areas had been treated with low or moderate intensity prescribed fire (or wildfire at one site) at least once in the past 10 years. Bat presence and activity were recorded simultaneously with bat detectors at paired sites for at least two full nights in May–August 2014 and 2015.

(Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)