Variation of Bat Activities in Different Stands of Fire-Prone Calabrian Pine Forests in Southwestern Türkiye

Abstract Forest ecosystems are important habitats for the bio-ecological needs of bats; however, there are a limited number of studies investigating the Eastern Mediterranean Basin, which contains considerable fire-prone forest richness. This study investigated the activity patterns and habitat use of bats in the Calabrian pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) forests in Southwestern Türkiye. These forests were chosen as the study area because Calabrian pine is a species native to the Eastern Mediterranean Basin and the primary species of a fire-developing ecosystem. In field studies conducted between November 2019 and October 2020, using 16 bat boxes, one active bat detector, and two full-spectrum bat detectors (a total of 624 records for 67 days at six stations), bat activity data were obtained from different stands in Calabrian pine forests. According to bat sound data, activities of a total of 624 records belonging to eight bat species were recorded in three different Calabrian pine stands (degraded, young, and mature). Only in the winter were five different bat species found roosting in the bat boxes from the same three pine stands. With this study, it has been understood that each different habitat/stand of Calabrian pine forests has a different importance for bats in Türkiye. Bats forage in both open and closed-canopy mature forests but require closed-canopy forest for roosting. Bats preferred the Calabrian pine forests mostly for roosting during the winter season and foraging all year. The results obtained from this study contribute to how post-fire restoration studies in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin, where catastrophic fires are increasing, can be better revised by taking wildlife into account. Cite this article as: İlemin, Y., Urker, O., & Yorulmaz, T. (2024). Variation of bat activities in different stands of fire-prone calabrian pine forests in southwestern Türkiye. Forestist, 74(3), 377-386.