Bats as suppressors of agroforestry pests in beech forests

Ancillotto, Leonardo; Rummo, Rosario; Agostinetto, Giulia; Tommasi, Nicola; Garonna, Antonio P.; Benedetta, Flavia de; Bernardo, Umberto; Galimberti, Andrea; Russo, Danilo

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120467

Cited by 21 publications

(9 citation statements)

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“…Defoliated trees could be hampered by reduced growth and competitive ability, and higher levels of insect-associated pathogen infections [ 121 ]. Here, in line with previous research [ 10 , 23 , 24 ], we therefore suggest that broadleaved forests greatly benefit from the presence of insectivorous bats.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…leucophaearia ) were both presumably preyed upon as larvae. Our results provided support for the recent suggestion that another gleaner species ( Plecotus auritus ) potentially prey on caterpillars [ 23 ]. To our knowledge, a single study recently investigated whether European bats feed on imagos versus larvae [ 110 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…Previous studies have shown that bats act as effective top-down regulators of the pest pine processionary moth ( Thaumetopoea pityocampa ), by enhancing their foraging activity according to the moth abundance, thus significantly reducing the reproductive success of this pest [ 22 ]. In regard to broadleaved forests, Ancillotto [ 23 ] showcased the beneficial role of Plecotus auritus bats as regulators of beech forest pests, which accounted for up to 85% of their consumed prey. In addition, a recent experimental field study showed that the insect density was significantly higher on seedlings in bat-excluded plots than on control seedlings, hence highlighting the vital role of bats in structuring forest ecosystems [ 24 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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All-you-can-eat buffet: A spider-specialized bat species (Myotis emarginatus) turns into a pest fly eater around cattle

Vescera,

Van Vyve,

Smits

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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Determining the dietary spectrum of European insectivorous bats over time is the cornerstone of their conservation, as it will aid our understanding of foraging behavior plasticity in response to plummeting insect populations. Despite the global decline in insects, a restricted number of arthropod pest species thrive. Yet past research has overlooked the potential of European bats to suppress pests harmful to woodlands or livestock, in spite of their economic relevance. Here we investigated the diet composition, its breeding season variations and pest consumption of an insectivorous bat species (Myotis emarginatus), at the northern edge of its range (Wallonia, Belgium). We also explored the prey ecology to gain insight into the hunting strategies and foraging habitats of this bat species. We used DNA metabarcoding to amplify two COI markers within 195 bat droppings collected in June, July and August, thereby identifying 512 prey taxa predominated by Diptera, Araneae and Lepidoptera. Overall, in 97% of the samples we detected at least one of the 58 potential pest taxa, 41 of which targeting trees. The June samples were marked by a diet rich in orb-weaver spiders, in accordance with the archetypal diet of M. emarginatus bats. However, during the highly energy demanding July-August parturition and lactation period, roughly 55% of the dropping samples contained two cattle fly pests (Stomoxys calcitrans and Musca domestica). Moreover, among the 88 Diptera species preyed upon by M. emarginatus in July and August, these flies accounted for around 50% of the taxa occurrences. This plasticity—the switch from a spider-rich to a fly-rich diet—seems providential considering the dramatic ongoing drop in insect populations but this involves ensuring bat-friendly cattle farming. Our results revealed that bats widely consume pest entomofauna, thereby highlighting their potential role as allies of forest managers and farmers.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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All-you-can-eat buffet: A spider-specialized bat species (Myotis emarginatus) turns into a pest fly eater around cattle

Vescera,

Van Vyve,

Smits

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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“…In total, 23 of the 59 species found in the diet of the 3 bat species (38.9%) are known or potential agricultural/forestry pest species or species known to transmit diseases to humans and 10 species found in bat diets had not previously been described to Madeira Island ( Supplementary Data SD1 ). These findings highlight the potential role of insectivorous bats as suppressors of arthropods with negative economic and human health impacts and their potential as an early warning signal to presence of non-native taxa ( Kemp et al 2019 ; Ancillotto et al 2022 , 2023 ; Ramírez-Fráncel et al 2022 ). Although our findings of arthropod taxa not yet recorded on Madeira Island are not surprising, we emphasize that targeted efforts to search for these species may be advisable before considering them as present on the island.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

A metabarcoding assessment of the diet of the insectivorous bats of Madeira Island, Macaronesia

Gonçalves,

Nóbrega,

Rebelo

et al. 2024

Journal of Mammalogy

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Understanding the trophic structure of species assemblages is crucial in order to comprehend how syntropic species coexist in space and time. Bats are the second most taxonomically diverse group of mammals and display a wide range of dietary strategies. Due to their ability to disperse over water, ca. 60% of all extant bat species occur on islands and for the most part their interspecific ecological interactions are poorly known. Using DNA metabarcoding, this study offers the first insights into the diet of Macaronesian bats by providing a holistic overview of prey consumed by all 3 bat species found on Madeira Island (Pipistrellus maderensis, Nyctalus leisleri verrucosus, and Plecotus austriacus) and investigating both interspecific (between P. maderensis and N. l. verrucosus) and intraspecific (between female and male N. l. verrucosus) dietary differences. We identified a total of 110 species of arthropod prey in the diet of the 3 bat species, including multiple agriculture and forestry pest species, a human disease-relevant species, and numerous taxa not previously recorded on the island. Lepidoptera was the primary prey order for all 3 bat species. The diet composition of P. maderensis and N. l. verrucosus differed significantly, with P. maderensis consuming more Diptera and multiple prey taxa not found in the diet of N. l. verucosus. Moreover, male N. l. verrucosus exhibited a broader niche breadth than females. This study is among the first to use DNA metabarcoding to evaluate the diet of insular bats and thus greatly advances knowledge regarding the trophic ecology and pest suppression services of these poorly-known mammals.

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“…Morcegos são animais de extrema relevância para os ecossistemas onde habitam, inclusive, realizando serviços ecossistêmicos que trazem benefícios ao homem (ANCILLOTTO et al, 2022;CLEVELAND et al, 2006;KUNZ et al, 2011;BOYLES et al, 2011;MAINE & BOYLES, 2015;PEDRO et al, 2020;PUIG-MONTSERRAT, et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Proficiência no conhecimento zoológico 2

Oliveira¹,

Moreno²,

Calvão³

2022

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Bats as suppressors of agroforestry pests in beech forests

Cited by 21 publications

References 70 publications

All-you-can-eat buffet: A spider-specialized bat species (Myotis emarginatus) turns into a pest fly eater around cattle

All-you-can-eat buffet: A spider-specialized bat species (Myotis emarginatus) turns into a pest fly eater around cattle

A metabarcoding assessment of the diet of the insectivorous bats of Madeira Island, Macaronesia

Proficiência no conhecimento zoológico 2

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