Patterns in bat functional guilds across multiple urban centres in south-eastern Australia

摘要: Understanding the impacts of landscape change on species behaviour is a major challenge in ecology. A focus functional traits may improve this understanding if with similar (functional guilds) are impacted by ways, but idea has not been widely tested bat communities urban landscapes. We examined changes richness and activity level different guilds within 72 residential neighbourhoods across 18 towns cities spanning over 250,000 square km south-eastern Australia. Species increased close to native vegetation, declined increasing urbanization, had hump-shaped relationship neighbourhood vegetation cover. Also, all combined peaked at mid-range values The open-adapted guild was strongly related any characteristic, our results concur previous findings that most does appear be negatively urbanization. Conversely, clutter-adapted more sensitive urbanization their intensity closer consistent studies. functional-trait approach capacity make generalisations contexts for guilds, currently hampered other owing variation assigned same guild, lack ecological knowledge regarding types particular species.