Impacts of Urban Forest Structure on Bat Populations in Kitchener, Ontario

Multiple factors have led to declines in North American bat populations, namely white-nose syndrome and forest habitat loss. Studies have shown that natural forest remnants in urban areas have positive impacts on bats. However, few studies have established the relative importance of structural habitat components in supporting bat populations in urban areas. This study assessed five natural areas in Kitchener, Ontario and the impacts of forest structure on bat populations therein. Forest variables were significantly different between and within natural areas (P ≤ 0.05), and bat presence/absence showed no apparent pattern with park-wide forest structure. At a smaller scale, significant correlations were found for little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus, Le Conte) only, which showed preference for higher densities of large trees and snags, higher canopy cover, and lower groundcover (P ≤ 0.05). Experimental design, additional habitat variables, and effects of adjacent land use may have impacted the efficacy of this study in identifying crucial habitat components for other bat species. Management strategies should prioritize conservation of mature forest stands and wetlands, control of invasive species and pests and long-term monitoring of bat populations in urban natural areas