Echolocation and Stratum Preference: Key Trait Correlates of Vulnerability of Insectivorous Bats to Tropical Forest Fragmentation

Aerial insectivorous bats exhibit distinct vulnerabilities to tropical forest fragmentation, with echolocation call structure, vertical stratum preference, and wing aspect ratio emerging as critical predictors of sensitivity. Species with constant-frequency calls, which thrive in dense vegetation, are particularly susceptible to fragmentation compared to those with frequency-modulated calls. Understory species also show greater vulnerability than canopy-dwelling bats, while high-aspect-ratio wings correlate with occupancy of forest edges and clearings. These findings, derived from a large-scale ecological experiment across the Central Amazon, underscore the importance of preserving structurally complex forests to ensure the long-term persistence of vulnerable bat species in fragmented landscapes.

Núñez, S. F., López-Baucells, A., Rocha, R., Farneda, F. Z., Bobrowiec, P. E. D., Palmeirim, J. M., & Meyer, C. F. J. (2019). Echolocation and Stratum Preference: Key Trait Correlates of Vulnerability of Insectivorous Bats to Tropical Forest Fragmentation. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2019.00373