LiDAR metrics predict suitable forest foraging areas of endangered Mouse-eared bats (Myotis myotis)

We systematically sampled bat activity in forests close to 18 maternity roosts in Switzerland and applied a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) to fit the activity data to forest structure variables recorded in the field and derived from LiDAR. We found that suitable forest foraging habitat is defined by single layered for- est, dense canopy, no shrub layer and a free flight space. Most importantly, this key foraging habitat can be well predicted by airborne LiDAR data.

This allows for the first time to create nationwide prediction maps of potential foraging habitats of this species to inform conservation management. This method has a special significance for endangered species with large spatial use, whose key resources are hard to identify and widely distributed across the landscape.