The importance of non-forest landscapes for the conservation of forest bats: lessons from barbastelles (Barbastella barbastellus) L. AncillottoL. CistroneF. MosconiG. JonesL. Boitani •

摘要: Although open landscapes are typically regarded as inhospitable matrix for several species of forest bats, their role may be crucial maintaining gene flow among otherwise isolated populations occurring in distant fragments. The barbastelle (Bar- bastella barbastellus) is a bat previously known to depend on mature and dead trees its wide yet fragmented range. We tested the general hypothesis that viable popu- lations this persist whose current structure result historical deforestation. unveiled roosting foraging ecology B. barbastellus clay badland area central Italy where forested habitats absent woody vegetation scarce. Bats badlands used rock crevices lieu typical maternity tree-roosts largely foraged non-forest habitat, alongside riparian vegetation, they found moth- rich hunting sites. Body condition sex ratio did not differ from those documented source population same region. Our study identifies hitherto overlooked importance apparently unsuitable conservation bats