Elizabeth Tinsley: Bats are avoiding solar sites

Shortlisted for the 2023 Southwood Prize Elizabeth Tinsley talks us through how she and colleagues conducted a paired study at 19 ground-mounted solar PV developments in southwest England. Through the use of static detectors to record bat echolocation calls and the development of generalised linear mixed-effect models, it was determined that ground-mounted solar photovoltaic developments have a significant negative effect on bat activity. Bats and … Continue reading Elizabeth Tinsley: Bats are avoiding solar sites

Temporal mismatches in flight activity patterns between Pipistrellus kuhlii and Prays oleae in olive farms: Implications for biocontrol services potential

In this blog post José M. Herrera discusses their latest research, conducted alongside co-authors, which looks at the temporal relationship between the nightly activity patterns of the common pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus kuhlii) and the olive fruit moth (Prays oleae). To enhance biocontrol services, they propose increasing the availability of suitable roosting and foraging sites as well as conserving areas of remnant native woodland and scattered … Continue reading Temporal mismatches in flight activity patterns between Pipistrellus kuhlii and Prays oleae in olive farms: Implications for biocontrol services potential

Editor’s Choice 60:9 Bat activity falls by over half at solar farms

Author Elizabeth Tinsley summarises Journal of Applied Ecology’s September Editor’s Choice research article. This latest research, conducted alongside colleagues, aimed to assess the impact of solar panel farms on bat activity. The growing need for renewable energy As our planet continues to warm, the need for renewable energy is becoming increasingly urgent. Renewable technologies are important in meeting energy demands sustainably and are of vital importance … Continue reading Editor’s Choice 60:9 Bat activity falls by over half at solar farms

How does bat box design affect box temperatures and their suitability as maternity habitats?

In this podcast, authors Joy O’Keefe and Frank Tillman are interviewed about their latest research that seeks to better understand how bat box design affect internal temperatures – a critical factor for a species that spend more than half a day at roosts. Bat boxes are becoming important tools for conservationists worldwide. In our latest study published in Ecological Solutions and Evidence, we compared the … Continue reading How does bat box design affect box temperatures and their suitability as maternity habitats?