Bat echolocation plasticity in allopatry: a call for caution in acoustic identification of Pipistrellus sp.

Animals modify their behaviours and interactions in response to changing environments. In bats, environmental adaptations are reflected in echolocation signalling that is used for navigation, foraging and communication. However, the extent and drivers of echolocation plasticity are not fully understood, hindering our identification of bat species with ultrasonic detectors, particularly for cryptic species with similar echolocation calls. We used a combination of DNA barcoding, intensive trapping, roost and emergence surveys and acoustic recording to study a widespread European cryptic species complex (Pipistrellus pipistrellus and Pipistrellus pygmaeus) to investigate whether sibling bat species could exhibit extreme echolocation plasticity in response to certain environmental conditions or behaviours. We found that P. pygmaeus occupied the acoustic niche of their absent congeneric species, producing calls with P. pipistrellus’ characteristic structure and peak frequencies and resulting in false positive acoustic records of that species. Echolocation frequency was significantly affected by the density of bats and by maternity rearing stage, with lower frequency calls emitted when there was a high density of flying bats, and by mothers while juveniles were non-volant. During roost emergence, 29% of calls had peak frequencies typical of P. pipistrellus, with calls as low as 44 kHz, lower than ever documented. We show that automatic and manual call classifiers fail to account for echolocation plasticity, misidentifying P. pygmaeus as P. pipistrellus. Our study raises a vital limitation of using only acoustic sampling in areas with high densities of a single species of a cryptic species pair, with important implications for bat monitoring

Applying genomic approaches to identify historic population declines in European forest bats

1. Anthropogenically driven environmental changes over recent centuries have led to severe declines of wildlife populations. Better tools are needed to assess the magnitude and consequences of these declines. Anecdotal evidence suggests European bat populations have suffered substantial declines in the past centuries. However, there is little empirical evidence of these declines that can be used to put more recent population trends into historic context.2. This study is a collaboration between academics and conservation practitioners to develop molecular approaches capable of providing evidence of historic population changes that can inform conservation status assessments and management. We generated a genomic dataset of 46,872 SNPs for the Western barbastelle, Barbastella barbastellus, a regionally Vulnerable bat species, including colonies from across the species' British and Iberian ranges. We used a combination of landscape genetics and model-based inference of demographic history to identify both evidence of population size changes and possible drivers of these changes.3. Levels of genetic diversity increased and inbreeding decreased with increasing broadleaf woodland cover around the colony. Genetic connectivity was impeded by artificial lights and facilitated by rivers and broadleaf woodland cover.4. The demographic history analysis showed that both the northern and southern British barbastelle populations have declined by 99% over the past 330–548 years. These declines may be linked to the loss of large oak trees and native woodlands due to shipbuilding during the early colonial period.5. Synthesis and applications. Genomic approaches can provide a better understanding of the conservation status of threatened species, within historic and contemporary contexts, and inform their conservation management. Our findings of will directly influence the definition of the Favourable Conservation Status of the barbastelle, in turn influencing considerations of the conservation of the species in development plans. Knowledge gained will also help set species recovery targets. Policymakers are interested in using our approach for other species. This study shows how we can bridge the implementation gap between genomic research and direct conservation applications. There is an urgent need to carry out such collaborative studies for other priority species to enable informed species recovery interventions via policy mechanisms and project delivery

Assessing the potential for extended producer responsibility in construction, renovation and demolition waste in Metro Vancouver

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is recognized by the Government of British Columbia, Metro Vancouver, and Metro municipalities like the City of Vancouver as a waste diversion strategy through economic stimulation of the market for recycled materials. As an environmental policy, EPR ensures producers and consumers are physically and financially responsible for post-consumer management of their products in an environmentally safe manner. Successful EPR programs shift the expenses associated with product end-of-life management from governments and taxpayers to producers and consumers, as well as reduces the amount of waste generated from going to landfills and waste-to-energy facilities. Currently, the Province, Metro Vancouver and City of Vancouver are actively supporting and focusing on the establishment of EPR programs for a variety of materials as a waste management solution. Metro Vancouver’s plan is to achieve a large reduction in waste reaching landfills and waste-to-energy facilities through improving the overall diversion/recycling rate from 55% to 70% for 2015, and up to 80% by 2020. Currently, the demolition, land-clearing, and construction waste sector generates the most waste out of all the sectors, contributing an estimated 1.3 million tonnes of waste materials annually. Metro Vancouver has recognized the large potential for waste reduction and diversion in this sector and thus, a specific target of 80% diversion of waste material from the demolition, land clearing, and construction sector within the overall 70% diversion goal for 2015 has been set in place. Under the Canada-wide Action Plan for EPR, published by the Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment in October 2009, the Province has committed to developing EPR programs for construction, renovation and demolition materials by 2017. This research project aims to help progress EPR programs for building materials by identifying a list of building materials in which an EPR program would have long term viability. It is hoped that results from this project will significantly contribute to the establishment of successful provincial EPR programs for building materials. Municipalities like the City of Vancouver can utilize it to become a zero-waste city, achieve overall regional waste diversion goals for Metro Vancouver, and guide the province to achieve the interim targets and overall target from the CCME Canada-Wide Action Plan. To determine the list of building materials for our analysis, a review of Market Analysis of Used Building Materials by Kane Consulting et al. (2012) was done. From a comprehensive list of building materials currently sent to landfills and the waste-to-energy facility, the list was narrowed down to nine candidate materials for further evaluation of EPR potential: asphalt shingles, carpet, ceramic tiles, concrete, gypsum drywall, miscellaneous metal products, sheet plastic, miscellaneous glass building products, and wood waste. A modified version of the EPR Evaluation Tool developed by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment was used to prioritize a list of candidate materials based on their suitability for EPR. Using this evaluation matrix, candidate materials were assessed over four broad categories: Environmental Impacts, Suitability for Extended Producer Responsibility, Political Interest, and Industry Readiness. Scoring was based on information sourced from literature, Metro Vancouver waste management staff, municipal recycling coordinators and construction and demolition waste professionals. The raw scores represent the unweighted outcome of the evaluation process. Weighting was adjusted to reflect the varying degrees of importance of each category and subcategory. For the purposes of this study, four sensitivity analyses were conducted based on discussions with City of Vancouver waste management staff with weighted emphasis on one evaluation category at a time. Table E-1 summarizes the results from the raw score evaluation for the nine candidate materials, and compares these to the results of the four sensitivity analyses. Based on our comprehensive analyses, and taking the raw scores and sensitivity analyses into account, we recommend EPR for asphalt shingles, carpet, sheet plastic, and wood waste in British Columbia. Furthermore, by emphasizing different criteria, the highest priority material varies. For example, emphasizing the implications of Environmental Impacts and strong political support on the waste diversion strategy of such materials in Metro Vancouver, wood waste should be prioritized. In comparison, in the case of implementing a better waste management in the form of EPR, carpet ranked first. Finally, in terms of industry readiness when it comes to initiating and establishing an EPR program, gypsum drywall came first. [Table E-1. Summary of raw score and sensitivity analyses appears here in the PDF file] This research project sourced best available information from literature research (e.g. case studies, annual waste flow reports waste composition studies, etc.) and interviews and 5 personal communication with industry professionals and local government staff. With this study, we have compiled a list that will enable the Ministry of Environment, Metro Vancouver and City of Vancouver to identify the current status of potential products for EPR, and have included a comprehensive list of recommendations and next steps for waste management within the demolition and construction sector.Science, Faculty ofEarth and Ocean Sciences, Department ofUnreviewedUndergraduat

Bats as natural samplers: First record of the invasive pest rice water weevil Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus in the Iberian Peninsula

We face an increasing global food security challenge as the human population continues to grow across the globe. As agricultural production rises to keep up with food demand, so too does the expansion of crop detrimental pest species. Early detection can be crucial to control their damage and relies on the use of accurate and dependable techniques. We report the first record of rice water weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus) in the Iberian Peninsula. The distribution range expansion of this invasive rice pest weevil is confirmed through traditional sampling and through natural sampling by bats combined with DNA metabarcoding, a non-invasive technique with strong potential for early detection of pests in agricultural areas. Presence of rice water weevil was confirmed genetically from bat faecal samples collected from a Pipistrellus pygmaeus bat roost in the Ebro Delta (Catalonia, Spain). The known distribution of this rice pest, native to North America, now includes four of the top five rice-producing European countries. To date, the economic damage caused by this pest in Europe is minimal and concentrated in small areas, but chemical and agronomic controls are implemented to control their populations. The nature of this record highlights the potential of insectivorous bats as natural samplers to detect (and possibly control) pest species in crops. Further studies are required to determine the full extent of the rice water weevil's spread, and to investigate integrated pest management systems, including biological control to suppress their populations