The creation of new artificial lakes as a mitigation measure for bats

Ralf Gyselings; Geert Spanoghe; Erika Van den Bergh

The creation of new artificial lakes as a mitigation measure for bats

Ralf Gyselings, Geert Spanoghe, Erika Van den Bergh

Onderzoeksoutput: Bijdrage aan congres › Poster › peer review

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The border of the Antwerp harbour, lying in a Natura 2000 area, contains several artifi cial lakes that are important for many species protected under the habitat and birds directive, including birds, Natterjack toad and bats. A previous study
indicated that the activity and the species diversity of foraging bats at these lakes are high compared to other regions in the neighbourhood. The harbour is in full expansion and some important lakes are planned to disappear. However, as a compensation for birds, new big lakes have been created recently. We examined the use of these new lakes by bats by counting bat passes with bat detectors. After two years all species of bats used the new lakes. Activity, however, depended on the landscape context. A new lake that was poorly connected to existing network of lakes, canals and tree rows showed lower activity than a well connected one. The activity over the well connected lake was comparable
with the activity over an important old lake. We concluded that creation of new artifi cial lakes can effectively and fast act as a mitigation measure for bats, provided they are well embedded in the network of landscape elements that bats
use for commuting.

Oorspronkelijke taal	Engels
Aantal pagina’s	1
Publicatiestatus	Gepubliceerd - 2009

Thematische lijst

Soorten en biotopen

EWI Biomedische wetenschappen

B005-dierkunde
B003-ecologie

Taxonomische lijst

vleermuizen (Chiroptera)

Beleidsmatig

Habitatrichtlijn (HRL)

Geografische lijst

Antwerpse Haven

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Dit citeren

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title = "The creation of new artificial lakes as a mitigation measure for bats",

abstract = "The border of the Antwerp harbour, lying in a Natura 2000 area, contains several artifi cial lakes that are important for many species protected under the habitat and birds directive, including birds, Natterjack toad and bats. A previous study indicated that the activity and the species diversity of foraging bats at these lakes are high compared to other regions in the neighbourhood. The harbour is in full expansion and some important lakes are planned to disappear. However, as a compensation for birds, new big lakes have been created recently. We examined the use of these new lakes by bats by counting bat passes with bat detectors. After two years all species of bats used the new lakes. Activity, however, depended on the landscape context. A new lake that was poorly connected to existing network of lakes, canals and tree rows showed lower activity than a well connected one. The activity over the well connected lake was comparable with the activity over an important old lake. We concluded that creation of new artifi cial lakes can effectively and fast act as a mitigation measure for bats, provided they are well embedded in the network of landscape elements that bats use for commuting.",

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T1 - The creation of new artificial lakes as a mitigation measure for bats

AU - Gyselings, Ralf

AU - Spanoghe, Geert

AU - Van den Bergh, Erika

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N2 - The border of the Antwerp harbour, lying in a Natura 2000 area, contains several artifi cial lakes that are important for many species protected under the habitat and birds directive, including birds, Natterjack toad and bats. A previous study indicated that the activity and the species diversity of foraging bats at these lakes are high compared to other regions in the neighbourhood. The harbour is in full expansion and some important lakes are planned to disappear. However, as a compensation for birds, new big lakes have been created recently. We examined the use of these new lakes by bats by counting bat passes with bat detectors. After two years all species of bats used the new lakes. Activity, however, depended on the landscape context. A new lake that was poorly connected to existing network of lakes, canals and tree rows showed lower activity than a well connected one. The activity over the well connected lake was comparable with the activity over an important old lake. We concluded that creation of new artifi cial lakes can effectively and fast act as a mitigation measure for bats, provided they are well embedded in the network of landscape elements that bats use for commuting.

AB - The border of the Antwerp harbour, lying in a Natura 2000 area, contains several artifi cial lakes that are important for many species protected under the habitat and birds directive, including birds, Natterjack toad and bats. A previous study indicated that the activity and the species diversity of foraging bats at these lakes are high compared to other regions in the neighbourhood. The harbour is in full expansion and some important lakes are planned to disappear. However, as a compensation for birds, new big lakes have been created recently. We examined the use of these new lakes by bats by counting bat passes with bat detectors. After two years all species of bats used the new lakes. Activity, however, depended on the landscape context. A new lake that was poorly connected to existing network of lakes, canals and tree rows showed lower activity than a well connected one. The activity over the well connected lake was comparable with the activity over an important old lake. We concluded that creation of new artifi cial lakes can effectively and fast act as a mitigation measure for bats, provided they are well embedded in the network of landscape elements that bats use for commuting.

M3 - Poster

ER -