Research
The impact of development on bats
in the UK
A PhD study by Emma Stone. Partially funded by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (formerly Mammals Trust UK), ARUP, The Dulverton Trust, Natural England, Countryside Council for Wales, One World Wildlife, Bat Conservation International, CSa Environmental Planning and DW Windsor.
Supervised by Professor Stephen Harris and Professor Gareth Jones. This study is in collaboration with Natural England and the Institute of Lighting Engineers.
Introduction
The alarming decrease in many bat species around the world in recent times, has stimulated international and regional bat protection activities. Some bat species in Britain have experienced population declines in the previous century, with even the most common and widespread species Pipistrellus pipistrellus being subject to significant population reductions in the last decade.
Population declines of some species have been largely attributed to the pressures of widespread landscape change, with changes in agricultural practices (intensive management) and development activities resulting in loss of key foraging and roosting sites. Linear landscape features such as hedgerows, river banks and canals are important for bats, often being used for foraging and commuting. However, such features are under increasing anthropogenic pressures in Britain. Hedgerows are often subject to disturbance from road and residential developments. Although all bat species and their roosts are protected under UK and European law, their foraging habitats, including hedgerows, are not, unless they are specifically designated as such.
Lesser horseshoe bats roosting in an artificial roost
Each year throughout the UK increasing numbers of bat roosts and habitats are altered and demolished under license from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) administered by Natural England (NE), the UK Government's nature conservation and licensing authority. DEFRA and NE provide licenses and advice with the aim to ensure no loss of bat regional and national bat conservation status. As a result of the Heritage and Sports Lottery Fund, there has been a recent increase in lighting applications affecting bat foraging habitat around the country, including the London region, some of which have been approved without ecological assessment. However, despite the increasing number of bat disturbance and mitigation projects conducted, to date no comprehensive studies have investigated the conservation impact of such activities on a national scale. In addition, there have been no comprehensive studies assessing the impact of lighting on bat commuting and foraging areas and, as yet, there are no established protocols defining when surveys and mitigation are required for schemes proposing lighting enhancements.
Project Aims
The overall aim of this project is to investigate the impact of development and bat mitigation activities on bat conservation and behaviour. I will review bat mitigation and development activities in England and conduct experimental field studies to investigate the impact of artificial lighting on bats, with a focus on the lesser horseshoe (Rhinolophus hipposideros) bat an endangered British species. The project will include:
- A review of the nature and extent of bat mitigation activities conducted in England since 2003
- Experimental study to investigate the impact of artificial lighting on bat commuting and foraging behaviour, with a focus on the lesser horseshoe bat
- Road transect surveys to assess bat activity and species diversity along illuminated roads
Bat caught in flight in camera trap
in Mankwe Game Reserve South Africa
Project outputs
The results of my work will contribute towards the production of guidelines for the mitigation of artificial lighting on bats along commuting routes and foraging areas. This is invaluable information for the effective conservation management of bats in areas of human-bat conflict such as lighting of sports grounds, public events and concerts, street lighting, residential and industrial development sites, and riverside development.
This project fulfils section 5.5.2 of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan for lesser horseshoe bats as my results will be used to 'inform the development of guidelines and policies for habitat protection, creation and management around roost sites', including foraging and commuting areas such as hedgerows and field boundaries.
Project outputs and resulting guidance will be shared with collaborators including the Institute of Lighting Engineers (ILE), Bat Conservation Trust (BCT), Natural England (NE), The Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG), The National Trust (NT) and DEFRA. This is invaluable information for the effective sustainable management of managed landscapes for bat biodiversity. and to improve the conservation management of British bats.
How can you help?
Roost Sites
If you know of any lesser horseshoe roosts which have hedgerows connecting them to foraging areas I would love to know about them as I am looking for sites to conduct lighting research.
Consultancies
If you work for an ecological consultancy which is conducting mitigation for bats I would love to speak to you about collaborating on some field sites for my mitigation study. This would mainly involve me asking you questions and shouldn't take up much of your time. If you are interested please get in contact with me using my details posted below.
Avon Bat Group
I am also the Chairperson for the Avon Bat Group which is very active and conducts many training events, walks and talks. If you are interested in bats take a look at our webpage www.avonbatgroup.org.uk join up and come along to our events.
Contact details
Emma Stone
Bat Ecology and Bioacoustics Lab / Mammal Research Group
School of Biological Sciences
University of Bristol
Woodland Road
Bristol BS8 1UG, U.K.
Tel: 0117 9546386 / 9287593
Fax: 0117 3317985
Email: Emma Stone