Winter in the Southern Regions can lead to a significant alteration in circumstances that influence woodlands and their numerous inhabitants. Nevertheless, recent investigations from the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources reveal that, in spite of these seasonal transitions, forest stewardship initiatives are nurturing robust bat populations.
As white-nose syndrome, a lethal fungal affliction, decimates bat numbers, wildlife ecology and management professor Steven Castleberry aimed to ascertain that all other factors affecting bat survival were being upheld.
“There’s nothing significant we can do regarding that ailment. Our only option is to keep providing suitable habitats,” Castleberry stated. “As these populations rebound, we must ensure that those quality forests and habitats continue to exist.”
Prior studies examined how bats endured in managed woodlands during summer, yet the influence of winter on forest conditions and prey quantity had not been investigated.
Essential forestry
Castleberry and Santiago Perea, a UGA Ph.D. candidate at the time of this investigation, analyzed bat activity across 400 nights utilizing the animals’ echolocation.
As bats navigated through Southeastern woodlands, the team discovered they depended on vast sections of semi-open, canopied forest areas, which Castleberry refers to as diverse stand structures. The equilibrium had to be precise — an open canopy enabled bats to maneuver and forage efficiently, while dense, closed-canopy regions with thick foliage hindered flight.
“These types of woodlands are advantageous for bats as they form a mosaic. Bats don’t require just one forest type; they thrive on a variety of forest types, which is what these stands in different stages of succession and ages provide,” noted Castleberry.
Castleberry emphasizes that most privately held forests already maintain an appropriate balance for bats during winter. Moving ahead, forest managers ought to sustain this equilibrium instead of implementing drastic alterations.
“It benefits business, but it also favors the environment, and it’s proving to be quite effective for the bats as well,” he remarked.
UGA researchers investigate tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus) species to comprehend winter dietary changes in working southeastern U.S. forests. (Submitted photo)
Identifying prey
Chillier weather also had a direct effect on food availability for bats. When temperatures declined, nocturnal flying insects — a key component of bat diets — became less active and simpler to capture. This is excellent news for bats.
“All of our bats in the Southeast are insectivorous, meaning they rely on insects,” he explained. “No one had extensively researched insects during winter as they had in summer, hence our particular interest in insect population.”
With the support of Kamal Gandhi, co-author and interim associate dean for research, Castleberry’s team successfully identified a range of insects within these forests.
Thus, while cooler temperatures impacted insect activity, Castleberry discovered another benefit of a diverse forest — the more mixed the stand structure, the larger the variety of insects fluttering about.
No need for excessive strategizing
The researchers accentuate that a heterogeneous forest structure is vital for bat survival. Appropriately managing all stages of forest stewardship facilitates the right assortment of vegetation for our flying allies.
Everything is interconnected. Bats account for 20% of all mammal species, which means their roles in insect population control and seed dispersal are immensely significant. One estimation places the economic value of bats at over $22 billion, reflecting their impact on agricultural systems by regulating insect pests.
“Nature, and in this case, working forest ecosystems, is often more intricate than we assume, and our findings shed light on the elaborate interactions they facilitate,” stated Perea, a co-author of the research. “This emphasizes the necessity for varied forest management approaches to support a thriving bat community.”
This study was financially supported by the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement and also included contributions from co-authors Amanda Vicente-Santos, Angela L. Larsen-Gray, Daniel U. Greene, and Brittany F. Barnes.
The article UGA research analyzes bat behavior during winter was originally published on UGA Today.