Small noctule sailor: Understanding habitat loss due to wind power in Brandenburg!

Small noctule sailor: Understanding habitat loss due to wind power in Brandenburg!

In a recent study, a research team from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) examined the habitat use of the lesser noctule (Nyctalus leisleri). This native bat species is increasingly dependent on settlements as the loss of suitable roosts in forestry crops is an issue. The study, which was published in the “Journal of Environmental Management”, shows that the bats primarily find shelter in old trees and old buildings such as village churches.

For the noctule, which relies on old trees and structurally rich forests, the lack of suitable habitats represents a significant threat. The results showed that 32 noctules in Brandenburg were equipped with GPS loggers to record their movement data. These data confirmed that the bats prefer structurally rich oak forests and avoid spruce forests. Their use of settlement areas is therefore a reaction to the lack of suitable accommodation in the forest.

Dangers from wind turbines

The danger posed by wind turbines is particularly alarming. Not only can these pose fatal collision risks for the noctule bat, but they can also result in the bats being attracted, increasing the risk of collisions. The Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) highlights in its reports that numerous bat species suffer from the effects of habitat loss and collisions with wind turbines.

In order to counteract these dangers, the study calls for sustainable forestry. For example, old trees with lots of caves should be preserved in settlements. It is also advisable that new wind turbines are not built near structurally rich deciduous forests or bat roosts. Further recommendations include careful wood removal and longer growing times in order to better protect habitat-specific species such as the lesser noctule.

Action against the decline

A research project to develop a species action plan for the noctule swift is currently being carried out in order to improve the unfavorable conservation status of the species, which is partly in decline according to the 2019 FFH report. Research into migration routes and the analysis of genetic structures of nurseries and winter colonies play a central role.

The aim of the project, which runs until December 2025 and is funded by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, is to close knowledge gaps about the ecology of the noctule swift. Workshops and data research are also being carried out to better understand the distribution of the species and to develop protective measures.

The use of new types of transmitters that are registered via the mobile phone network also promises to provide important data on the bats' migration routes and could be crucial for the conservation of the noctule swift in the future. Close collaboration with bat scientists is sought to ensure the existence and population structure of this endangered species.

The combination of scientific research, sustainable forestry and targeted protective measures could create an essential basis for the conservation of the small noctule in Germany. For more information on the challenges bats face, see reports from the BfN and the studies of Leibniz IZW as well as in Bat protection about the importance of protective measures for these important animal species.