Contrasting responses of bats and macro-moths to structural complexity in forest borders

Wood, Heather; Kimberley, Adam ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0807-9943; Cousins, Sara A.O.. 2025 Contrasting responses of bats and macro-moths to structural complexity in forest borders. Forest Ecology and Management, 578, 122416. 12, pp. 10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122416

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122416

Abstract/Summary

Habitat fragmentation increases the proportion of forest borders in the landscape and many forest borders lose their structural complexity due to modern forestry practices. However, remnants of structurally complex deciduous forests can remain as ecotones between plantations and agricultural fields. In this study we used terrestrial laser scanning to measure structural complexity of different forest borders, measured microclimate, and surveyed bats and macro-moths to understand how these taxa are affected. Our aim is to disentangle the main drivers, direct or indirect, that influence bat and moth assemblages. We studied 79 forest borders, and surrounding landscapes and compared them with adjacent agricultural fields and coniferous plantations. Overall, we found less bat activity and lower macro-moth diversity in simple compared to complex borders. Using structural equation modelling, we show the contrasting responses of forest-specialist bats and moths to structural complexity; with bats responding positively and moths negatively. We found similar divergent results in relation to understorey openness; with increasing forest-specialist bat activity but a lower diversity of forest-specialist moths in more open borders. Understorey vegetation also appears to regulate microclimate with more open borders being warmer and less humid. This has a potential knock-on effect for bats as they favoured borders that were warmer and more humid. Surrounding land-cover was more important than structural complexity for generalist species; with increasing generalist bat activity due to a higher proportion of local deciduous forest cover and increasing generalist moth diversity in landscapes with more forest borders. Overall, these complex relationships between forest structure, microclimate and landscape factors, coupled with divergent responses of both taxa highlight their diverse ecological needs. Therefore, we highlight the importance of managing forest borders to retain complexity and connectivity within multifunctional landscapes.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122416
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Soils and Land Use (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	0378-1127
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	bats, moths, terrestrial laser scanning, forest borders, structural complexity, microclimate
Date made live:	02 Dec 2024 15:37 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/538491

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122416

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Soils and Land Use (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

0378-1127

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

bats, moths, terrestrial laser scanning, forest borders, structural complexity, microclimate