Free-ranging livestock and a diverse landscape structure increase bat foraging in mountainous landscapes

L Ancillotto,F Cosentino,F De Benedetta,D Russo,F Festa,B Pejic

doi:10.1007/s10457-021-00591-0

Abstract

Traditional farming, where livestock is seasonally managed as free ranging and the use of drugs is reduced or absent, may prove beneficial to biodiversity by fostering the occurrence of spatial heterogeneity, and increasing the availability of trophic resources to wildlife. Previous work indicates that the presence of cattle in lowlands leads to an increase in bat foraging activity, yet no study has addressed this topic in mountainous regions, where free-ranging livestock is still common. Here we explore the relationships between landscape structure, farming and bat activity in a mountainous agricultural area, hypothesizing that bat activity will increase in response to the presence of livestock and landscape structure and heterogeneity. We found that traditional cattle farming may have a role in influencing bat activity in mountainous agroecosystems, yet its effects are evident for a limited number of species. Three pipistrelle species favoured foraging in areas subjected to cattle farming by hunting more often over cattle or fresh dung than at control sites. Free-ranging cattle thus provide profitable foraging opportunities for bats in mountainous landscapes, which remarks the importance of traditional farming activities in sustaining biodiversity. Cattle might also benefit from bat foraging activity if this leads to suppression of blood-sucking pests.

Highlights

Progressive intensification of human activities globally altered the natural environment, and due to the need of natural resources, primary habitats have been replaced with agricultural systems (Park 2015)
We found that traditional cattle farming may have a role in influencing bat activity in mountainous agroecosystems, yet its effects are evident for a limited number of species
Cattle treatment had a significant effect on the activity of P. pipistrellus, H. savii and P. kuhlii (100 m scales)

Summary

Introduction

Progressive intensification of human activities globally altered the natural environment, and due to the need of natural resources, primary habitats have been replaced with agricultural systems (Park 2015). Non-intensive farming practices, and the reduced use of livestock drugs, may prove beneficial to biodiversity by fostering the occurrence of spatial heterogeneity (Wickramasinghe et al 2003), and increasing trophic resources (Mcadam et al 2007). Several Mediterranean mosaic and semi-open habitats depend on human activities, including free-ranging livestock farming (Goncalves et al 2012). While lowland systems tend towards intensification and biodiversity loss, mountainous areas, which used to feature non-intensive and traditional farming practices, are being abandoned in response to their lower productivity (Sokos et al 2013)

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Results

Conclusion