Combining unmanned aerial vehicles and radio-telemetry to investigate niche partitioning of two morphological similar bat species in light of the range expansion of Pipistrellus kuhlii
Abstract
Coexistence mechanisms are key in ecological communities because this knowledge facilitates understanding the high levels of biodiversity. Niche partitioning is a mechanism, which enables the coexistence of ecological similar species and is defined by differences in habitat use, temporal behavior, resource use, and predation between species. Communities of temperate, insectivorous bats are often composed of morphological and ecological very similar species. In the absence of specialized predators, predation plays a minor role in niche partitioning of temperate bats. Thus it is hypothesized that habitat use, temporal behavior, and resource use might facilitate coexistence.Studying habitat use and temporal behavior of small vertebrates depends on radio-tracking methods which are limited due to size, weight and range restrictions of the transmitters. Thus, we will develop and test an automatic tracking method using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)and track the movement of Pipistrellus kuhlii and P. nathusii in the Seewinkel region.
Publikationen
Project staff
Markus Milchram
Markus Milchram MSc.
markus.milchram@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-83321
Project Leader
18.01.2022 - 30.09.2024
Marcela Suarez-Rubio
Priv.-Doz. Dr. Marcela Suarez-Rubio
marcela.suarezrubio@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-83316
Project Leader
01.10.2021 - 17.01.2022