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- Title
Use of highway infrastructure by bats: a literature review and survey of the Trans-Pecos region of Texas.
- Authors
WILSON, HOLLY G.; ROBERTSON, STIRLING J.; STEVENS, RICHARD D.
- Abstract
Bats are important components of nature and provide both monetary and nonmonetary benefits to mankind. While anthropogenic effects on wildlife and their habitats are typically viewed as negative, highway infrastructure might benefit numerous species of plants and animals, bats in particular. Cracks, crevices, and grooves within structures provide places for bats to roost. Here we review the literature on this topic as well as describe results of our own survey of bridges and culverts in the Trans-Pecos of Texas. We surveyed 204 bridges and 768 culverts between 2018 and 2019. We observed 7 species of bats using bridges or culverts as day roosts. Frequency of use of highway structures for bats varied depending on characteristics of structures. Prestressed concrete box girder bridges were the bridge type most used by bats (90.91% occupied), while steel I-beam bridges were the least used (0%). Box and pipe culverts were used in equal proportions (16.5% of box culverts and 13.7% of pipes were occupied), likely because different kinds of culverts present similar types of places for bats to roost. These findings contribute to other surveys around the country and can inform management plans for departments of transportation and wildlife managers.
- Publication
Western North American Naturalist, 2023, Vol 83, Issue 1, p89
- ISSN
1527-0904
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3398/064.083.0106