Meeting Abstract
Bats are economically important predators of agricultural pests and excluding them from agricultural areas can have devastating effects on crop production. Artificial lighting is a growing conservation concern and is known to disrupt many aspects of bat behavior including commuting and foraging, forcing bats to avoid areas they normally occupy or use them in different ways. Further, artificial light likely modifies more effects of natural moonlight on bat behavior. Light emitting diodes (LED) are becoming more common as a light source because they are energy efficient and LEDs have been found to have effects on bat behavior comparable to other lighting types. In this study, we assessed bat activity levels as they relate to artificially lit and unlit conditions across several lunar cycles. We used bat detectors (Anabat) to compare foraging activity of two bat communities in different habitats (agriculture and forest) in the presence and absence of artificial light (accomplished with 30W LED lights 3.5 m off the ground). Bat activity was generally higher in the agricultural habitat. The interaction between artificial light and moonlight was also stronger at agricultural sites. Our results indicate LED lighting does affect bat activity but this effect is variable. The extent and direction of this influence is dependent upon the local habitat. Artificial lighting around agricultural fields could alter bat activity resulting in a change in crop quality, subsequently influencing their economic value.
