Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Roads and railways are increasing worldwide. One taxa that is affected by this is bats.
Bats are directly killed by vehicles and experience behavioural changes around roads
and railways. There are different mitigation measurements to help bats cross roads
safely, including different over- and underpasses. One genus of bats that has been shown
negatively affected by roads and railways in many areas is Myotis.
In this study we examined the behaviour of two Myotis species: M. mystacinus and M.
brandtii. We tested the hypothesis that large roads and railways crossing a forest
dominated area act as barriers for these species and that they would use over- and
underpasses to cross the road and railway safely. To study this, we conducted an autobox
survey and radio-tracked individual bats. We had no recordings or direct
observations where bats crossed the road or railway directly. We did, however, observe
bats using both over- and underpasses. Our results suggest that large roads and railways
act as barriers for M. mystacinus and M. brandtii, in the sense that they avoid crossing
the road and railway. We can conclude that these species use mitigation measurements,
such as over- and underpasses, in areas where they are available. It is therefore important
to include these mitigation measurements when constructing new roads and railways.