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Passing rail traffic reduces bat activity.

Paul Jerem1,2, Fiona Mathews3

  • 1Faculty of Science, Animal Ecology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

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Passing trains significantly reduce bat activity, impacting wildlife near railways. This study highlights potential ecological costs for bats due to rail infrastructure expansion.

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Bioacoustics
  • Conservation Biology

Background:

  • Global rail transport infrastructure is projected to increase by one-third by 2050.
  • Rail transport is expected to reduce carbon emissions but its impact on wildlife is understudied.
  • Bats, due to their movement patterns and sensory ecology (nocturnality, echolocation), are potentially vulnerable to train-related disturbances like noise and light.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of passing trains on bat activity levels.
  • To quantify changes in bat activity in response to train passage.
  • To assess the potential ecological consequences for bats inhabiting rail-side environments.

Main Methods:

  • Ultrasonic detectors were used to monitor bat activity.
  • Monitoring was conducted at 12 wooded rail-side sites in southern England.
  • The study focused on the two most abundant bat species in the UK.

Main Results:

  • Bat activity decreased by 30-50% for at least two minutes following each train passage.
  • At sites with median rail traffic, activity was reduced for at least one-fifth of the time.
  • At the busiest site, bat activity was reduced for two-thirds or more of the time.

Conclusions:

  • Passing trains cause significant, short-term reductions in bat activity.
  • These activity changes suggest bats may engage in evasive maneuvers or avoid otherwise suitable habitats.
  • Disturbance from trains may impose energetic costs and disadvantage bats in rail-side habitats, raising conservation concerns.