Urbanisation and its effects on bats
Researchers include Dr Caragh Threlfall and Dr Kirsten Jung, University of Ulm
Bats are a highly diverse group of mammals that occur worldwide, and many species persist in cities. In this project we have been synthesising current knowledge of bats in urban environments, an examining what traits of bats allows them to persist in cities.
See our book chapter, it's open access!
Jung, K and Threlfall, C.G. (2015) Urbanisation and Its Effects on Bats - A Global Meta-Analysis in Bats in the Anthropocene: Conservation of bats in a changing world. Voigt, C. and Kingston, T (Eds), Springer. pp13-33.
Threlfall, C.G and Jung, K (2018) Trait-dependent tolerance of bats to urbanization: a global meta-analysis. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Science 85, 20181222
Global cross-taxa trait-based analysis
The attributes or traits of species shape their response to human disturbances. Stressors such as increased heat, light, and noise act as ‘filters’, selecting for or against species with certain traits. Using field-based approaches, and global data synthesis, this research aims to examine key traits associated with the persistence or decline of wildlife in the face of one of the worlds greatest environmental challenges – ongoing urban expansion.
Much of this work is being done in collaboration with researchers from across the globe as part of the UrBioNet Research Coordination Network: A global network of urban biodiversity research and practice, funded by the United States National Science Foundation. http://urbionet.weebly.com/