Session

Changes in agricultural practices have been recognized as a significant driver of biodiversity loss worldwide. Bats are facing a global decline primarily due to habitat loss and agricultural intensification. In Italy, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature reports that 33% of bat species are threatened by agriculture expansion. This study investigates the impact of natural structural elements and agricultural intensity variables on bat diversity.  We selected 47 sites in open agricultural areas, considering pastures, hay meadows, dry grasslands, and annual crops. The total area of natural structural elements (e.g., hedgerows, trees), a management intensity index, the presence of manure hills, a grazing pressure index, and the frequency of cutting events in hay meadows were selected as the most important variables to explain agricultural intensification in mountain environments (South Tyrol, Northern Italy). We used generalized linear mixed models to analyze the acoustic activity of bats divided into guilds in relation to agriculture-related variables and landscape features such as distance to water sources, buildings, roads, and forest types. Overall, the results revealed that natural structural elements and wetlands, positively influence the presence of short-range echolocators and low foragers, playing a key role for bats in agricultural areas. Grazing and mowing practices showed mixed impacts on bat diversity, while the presence of manure hills displays a negative correlation with most bat species. This study underscores the need for nuanced approaches to agricultural management that consider the complex effects on bat species diversity. It highlights the importance of maintaining natural structural elements and implementing extensive grazing and mowing practices. The findings contribute to a holistic understanding of how agricultural practices and natural structural elements can support or compromise bat populations and overall biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, facilitating targeted conservation actions in the context of the EU Biodiversity Strategy.