Bat overpasses: An insufficient solution to restore habitat connectivity across roads

摘要: Roads have many negative effects on wildlife, including their role in habitat fragmentation. Habitat fragmentation affects bats during daily movements between roosts and foraging areas. As are protected Europe, developers must implement specific mitigation measures that hierarchically structured to achieve a null net impact. However, very few been undertaken specifically for bats. Bat overpasses (e.g. gantries) among proposed improvements intended reduce the impact of roads, but they rarely tested. The effectiveness facilitating safe road crossing is critical justifying implementation this measure. We therefore assessed whether bat effectively used by bats. studied three with different designs France. developed an innovative method characterize crossings using acoustic flight path reconstruction (AFPR). six pairs stereo recorders types were located both sides road, operated simultaneously throughout night. Recording data contained 57,941 passes 284 from species at study sites. Our results suggest more numerous if overpass where commuting routes identified environmental assessment. we found proportion along route was same or without overpass; thus highlighting do not fully restore connectivity. Synthesis applications. demonstrates (AFPR) useful approach obtain information behaviour. also emphasize importance field testing measures, such as those offset roads biodiversity, highlight should be implemented based theoretical alone.