Landscape influences bat suppression of pine processionary moth: Implications for pest management

A M Augusto; S Pereira; S Rodrigues; F Marques; O Aizpurua; A Alberdi; G Jones; O Razgour; T A Marques; D Russo; H Rebelo

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123803

Landscape influences bat suppression of pine processionary moth: Implications for pest management

J Environ Manage. 2024 Dec 21:373:123803. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123803. Online ahead of print.

Authors

A M Augusto¹, S Pereira², S Rodrigues², F Marques³, O Aizpurua⁴, A Alberdi⁴, G Jones⁵, O Razgour⁶, T A Marques⁷, D Russo⁸, H Rebelo⁹

Affiliations

¹ ICS, Instituto de Ciências Sociais, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Aníbal de Bettencourt, 9, 1600-189, Lisboa, Portugal. Electronic address: anamargaridasantos1@edu.ulisboa.pt.
² CEAUL - Centro de Estatística e Aplicações, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal.
³ BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal; NBI, Natural Business Intelligence, Régia Douro Park 5000-033 Andrães, Vila Real, Portugal.
⁴ Centre for Evolutionary Hologenomics (CEH), Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, 1350, Copenhagen, Denmark.
⁵ School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK.
⁶ Biosciences, University of Exeter, Hatherly Laboratories, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter, EX4 4PS, UK.
⁷ CEAUL - Centro de Estatística e Aplicações, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal; Centre for Research Into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, The Observatory, University of St Andrews, UK.
⁸ Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Evolution (AnEcoEvo), Dipartimento di Agraria, Università Degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Piazza Carlo di Borbone 1, I-80055, Portici, Napoli, Italy.
⁹ CE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal.

PMID: 39709663
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123803

Abstract

Bats provide important ecosystem services, particularly in agriculture, yet integrating bat management into conservation plans remains challenging. Some landscape features considerably influence bat presence, diversity, and ecosystem service provision. Understanding the relationship between landscape structure, composition, pest suppression, and ecosystem services is crucial. We modelled areas where bats most effectively suppress pine processionary moths (Thaumetopoea pityocampa), considering landscape characteristics to predict ecosystem services and optimise pest suppression in Serra da Estrela, Portugal. Faecal samples collected during fieldwork were analysed for pine processionary moth presence in bat diets. Lasso regression assessed spatial landscape variables to create an "optimal landscape" for predation. Landscape structure and composition influenced pest suppression differently, with the greatest impact within a 5000-m buffer. "Riparian edge" and "tree cover density" were key habitat structure variables supporting bat navigation and access to hunting areas, while "other forest" and "vineyard/orchard" areas were important composition variables. Optimising landscape composition involves incorporating diverse forest within agroforestry systems to enhance pest suppression by creating habitats reflecting bats' foraging preferences. We recommend strategies focusing on riparian edge conservation, selective canopy reduction, and promoting diverse forest compositions. These strategies aim to create mosaic landscapes balancing land uses, fostering optimal conditions for bat foraging. Our study shows edges provide the highest rates of bats-pine processionary moth interactions. However, caution is needed to avoid excessive fragmentation, which may reduce habitat suitability and increase pest presence before effective bat predation. A balanced approach, focusing on edge creation without over-fragmenting the landscape, is key to promoting sustainable pest management.

Keywords: Agroforestry systems; Bats ecosystem services; Habitat composition; Habitat structure; Landscape management; Pest suppression.