Effects of artificial lighting on insectivorous bat communities in urban ecosystems Joanna Kate Haddock December 2018 A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, at The University of Sydney. Photo credits: Clockwise from left Taken by M. Law - J. Haddock with blacklight intercept trap Taken by J. Haddock - Scoteanax rueppellii Taken by L. Gonsalves - Nyctophilus gouldi Taken by B. Sloggett - J. Haddock with Scoteanax rueppellii Declaration I hereby declare that this work is my own, except where otherwise acknowledged. It has not been submitted in any form for another degree or diploma at any university or other institution. I consent to this thesis being made available for photocopying and loan under the appropriate Australian copyright laws. Role of the funding source This research was financially funded by the Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment (grant numbers: HOLSW2015-2-F147 and HWRE2016R2063CONT). Acknowledgements CGT is supported by the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program through the Clean Air and Urban Landscapes Hub. Joanna Kate Haddock April 2018 i Table of Contents General Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1 Light pollution ........................................................................................................................ 1 Historical developments in the field of light pollution research .............................................. 2 Ecological consequences of light pollution .............................................................................. 5 Mechanisms of ecological light sensitivity .............................................................................. 6 Urban ecological light pollution .............................................................................................. 7 Urban bats and light pollution ................................................................................................ 8 Open space adapted bats and ALAN ..................................................................................... 12 Clutter adapted bat species and ALAN ................................................................................. 13 Trawling bats and ALAN ....................................................................................................... 14 Edge adapted species and ALAN........................................................................................... 15 Aims and chapter structure ................................................................................................... 15 References ............................................................................................................................ 18 Chapter 2: Responses of insectivorous bats and nocturnal insects to local changes in street light technology ................................................................................................... 28 Abstract ................................................................................................................................ 28 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 29 Methods................................................................................................................................ 35 Results .................................................................................................................................. 44 Discussion ............................................................................................................................. 49 References ............................................................................................................................ 53 Chapter 3: Light pollution at the urban forest edge and its impact on insectivorous bats 60 Abstract ................................................................................................................................ 60 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 61 Method ................................................................................................................................. 65 Results .................................................................................................................................. 73 Discussion ............................................................................................................................. 82 References ............................................................................................................................ 89 Appendix .............................................................................................................................. 97 Chapter 4: Short term effect of lights on bat activity and feeding: a case study on Myotis macropus ..................................................................................................................... 100 Abstract .............................................................................................................................. 100 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 101 Methods.............................................................................................................................. 104 Results ................................................................................................................................ 111 ii Discussion ........................................................................................................................... 118 References .......................................................................................................................... 124 Chapter 5: Experimentally introduced red and white lights at wetlands cause diverse effects on insectivorous bats. ....................................................................................... 129 Abstract .............................................................................................................................. 129 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 130 Methods.............................................................................................................................. 133 Results ................................................................................................................................ 141 Discussion ........................................................................................................................... 152 References .......................................................................................................................... 158 Chapter 6: General Discussion ..................................................................................... 165 Overview of findings ........................................................................................................... 165 Emerging themes................................................................................................................ 169 Management implications .................................................................................................. 172 Future research ................................................................................................................... 174 Concluding remarks ............................................................................................................ 175 References .......................................................................................................................... 176 iii Author attributions Chapter 2 of this thesis is accepted for publication as “Haddock, J. K., Threlfall, C. G., Law, B. S. and Hochuli, D. F. Responses of insectivorous bats and nocturnal insects to local changes in street light technology. Austral Ecology. Accepted author manuscript: 27 November 2018.” J. K. Haddock, C. G. Threlfall and D.F. Hochuli conceived the project. J. K. Haddock collected the data. All authors analysed the data and contributed to manuscript preparation. Chapter 3 of this thesis is accepted for publication as “Haddock, J. K., Threlfall, C. G., Law, B. S. and Hochuli, D. F. (2019) Light pollution at the urban forest edge negatively impacts insectivorous bats. Biological Conservation 236, 17-28” All authors conceived the project. J. K. Haddock collected the data. All authors analysed the data and contributed to manuscript preparation. Chapter 4 of this thesis has been prepared for submission as “Haddock, J. K., Threlfall, C. G., Gonsalves, L., Law, B. S. and Hochuli, D. F. Short term effect of lights on bat activity and feeding: a case study on Myotis macropus.” All authors conceived the project. J. K. Haddock collected the data. All authors analysed the data and contributed to manuscript preparation. Chapter 5 of this thesis has been prepared for submission as “Haddock, J. K., Threlfall, C. G., Gonsalves, L., Law, B. S. and Hochuli, D. F. Experimentally introduced red and white lights at wetlands cause diverse effects for insectivorous bats.” All authors conceived the project. J. K. Haddock collected the data.