Abstract
This study explores the spatial distribution of bats around lakes in valleys around 62° N in western Norway. Stationary ultrasound detectors were used to record ultrasound at various distances from the shores of lakes during the bats late pregnancy and lactation period. In this landscape, northern bat was the most commonly recorded species, followed by Myotis bats (pooled) and the soprano pipistrelle. None of the other European bat genera were present. There was a clear non-linear distribution pattern, with a steep increase in bat activity close to the shores. This is similar to what is found in fiords and thus could be a general pattern in landscapes with complex topography. Both climate and topography are factors likely to contribute to this pattern.
Highlights
If a steep increase in bat activity close to shores is confirmed in these valleys, it would suggest that some simple rules can be applied in bat conservation, where a limited portion of the landscape might have a very high importance to foraging bats
Myotis bats and soprano pipistrelles followed with ultrasound present in 1497 (16 %) and 808 (9 %) recordings respectively
The northern bat was present in more recordings than any other species in these valleys
Summary
Bat diversity and behaviour in latitudinal gradients is influenced by light conditions and temperature (e.g. Rydell 1992, Kaufman & Willig 1998, Ulrich et al 2007, Michaelsen et al 2011, Frafjord 2012a). If a steep increase in bat activity close to shores is confirmed in these valleys, it would suggest that some simple rules can be applied in bat conservation, where a limited portion of the landscape might have a very high importance to foraging bats. Such a pattern would suggest great variation within habitats, indicating that discrete habitat variables are not ideal in analysis and that interaction terms between variables must be considered
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