This project focuses  on the impacts of habitat fragmentation on free-ranging populations of forest-living bats. Bats have a high ecological diversity and many species are endangered, which makes them an interesting group for conservation biology. As many temperate-zone species use forests for foraging and roosting in summer, bats suffer from the loss of suitable forest habitat, for example as a consequence of infrastructure (construction of new streets) as well as of intensive forest management.
The study of adaption and shifts in habitat use of bats living in disturbed landscapes focuses on two highly endangered species, Barbastella barbastellus and Myotis bechsteinii. Both have a high relevance for conservation and are forest-living bats with divergent ecological needs.


Responsible:      Markus Melber, Gerald Kerth (Univ. Lausanne)
Also Involved:    Achim Poethke
Funding:            BMVBS (Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs)