Bat boxes are not a silver bullet conservation tool

2017/07/28 by Stephen R. Griffiths, Robert H. Bender, Robert Bender +5 · 2 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Environmental Science · #Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior #Bat Biology and Ecology Studies #Marine animal studies overview

paper · doi:10.1111/mam.12097

openalex publication_date 2017/07/28 · openalex created_date 2017/08/08 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29

Abstract

Abstract Nest boxes are often promoted as substitute structures for hollow‐dependent fauna, but are they generally effective? In a long‐term bat‐box monitoring project in south‐eastern Australia, box occupancy was dominated by one common and widespread urban‐adapted species, Gould's wattled bat Chalinolobus gouldii . In contrast, the 13 other bat species in the area made little or no use of the boxes. Policymakers, land managers and conservation professionals working in the field of biodiversity offsets should be aware that bat boxes are unlikely to compensate adequately for the broad‐scale loss of tree hollows caused by various forms of human disturbance.

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