Bats and aquatic habitats: a review of habitat use and anthropogenic impacts

Abstract

Abstract Many bats use aquatic habitats for foraging and for drinking water. Interactions between aquatic and terrestrial systems are important for understanding food web dynamics and for conserving species and ecosystems. Therefore, in this review, I examined the data available on bats’ use of aquatic habitats. The objectives of the present review were to evaluate the importance of aquatic resources for bats and to identify the effects that eutrophication, water pollution, and other anthropogenic impacts on water bodies have on bats. Most studies on bats and aquatic habitats have been conducted in Europe or in North America. They show, directly or indirectly, how bats use aquatic resources. Acoustic survey is the most common technique employed to assess habitat use by bats, although some researchers have used radio telemetry or other methods. Myotis daubentonii is the most commonly studied species. Within this topic, research does not tend to be focused more on threatened species. The effects of water pollution and eutrophication on bats remain unclear: different effects are reported for different species and in different areas. More studies are needed from Africa, South America, and Asia, regions for which few data are available, as well as from arid regions where fresh water is a limited resource.