TY  - JOUR
A1  - Voigt, Christian
A1  - Scholl, Julia M.
A1  - Bauer, Juliane
A1  - Teige, Tobias
A1  - Yovel, Yossi
A1  - Kramer-Schadt, Stephanie
A1  - Gras, Pierre
T1  - Movement responses of common noctule bats to the illuminated urban landscape
JF  - Landscape ecology
N2  - Context Cities are a challenging habitat for obligate nocturnal mammals because of the ubiquitous use of artificial light at night (ALAN). How nocturnal animals move in an urban landscape, particularly in response to ALAN is largely unknown. Objectives We studied the movement responses, foraging and commuting, of common noctules (Nyctalus noctula) to urban landscape features in general and ALAN in particular. Methods We equipped 20 bats with miniaturized GPS loggers in the Berlin metropolitan area and related spatial positions of bats to anthropogenic and natural landscape features and levels of ALAN. Results Common noctules foraged close to ALAN only next to bodies of water or well vegetated areas, probably to exploit swarms of insects lured by street lights. In contrast, they avoided illuminated roads, irrespective of vegetation cover nearby. Predictive maps identified most of the metropolitan area as non-favoured by this species because of high levels of impervious surfaces and ALAN. Dark corridors were used by common noctules for commuting and thus likely improved the permeability of the city landscape. Conclusions We conclude that the spatial use of common noctules, previously considered to be more tolerant to light than other bats, is largely constrained by ALAN. Our study is the first individual-based GPS tracking study to show sensitive responses of nocturnal wildlife to light pollution. Approaches to protect urban biodiversity need to include ALAN to safeguard the larger network of dark habitats for bats and other nocturnal species in cities.
KW  - Urbanization
KW  - GPS tracking
KW  - Artificial light at night
KW  - ALAN
KW  - Habitat use
KW  - Preference
KW  - Movement
KW  - Common noctule bat
Y1  - 2019
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-019-00942-4
SN  - 0921-2973
SN  - 1572-9761
VL  - 35
IS  - 1
SP  - 189
EP  - 201
PB  - Springer
CY  - Dordrecht
ER  -