@article{fdi:010093474,
  title = {{S}paceborne and {UAV}-{L}i{DAR} reveal hammer-headed bat preference for intermediate canopy height and diverse structure in a {C}entral {A}frican rainforest},
  author = {{R}usso, {N}. {J}. and {T}akuo, {J}. {M}. and {T}egebong, {V}. and {L}ebreton, {M}. and {D}ean, {M}. and {F}erraz, {A}. and {B}arbier, {N}icolas and {W}ikelski, {M}. and {O}rdway, {E}. {M}. and {S}aatchi, {S}. and {S}mith, {T}. {B}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground{A}nimals with key ecological roles, such as seed-dispersing fruit bats, rely to varying degrees on habitat structure to indicate the locations of resources and risks.{M}ethods{T}o understand how variation in vegetation structure influences fruit bat habitat selection, we related movement steps of hammer-headed bats ({H}ypsignathus monstrosus) to attributes of canopy height, vertical and horizontal vegetation structure, and habitat type in a mature rainforest of southern {C}ameroon. {V}egetation structural metrics were measured with {UAV}-{L}i{DAR} at 10 m resolution for a 25 km2 study area. {B}ecause bats frequently moved outside the study area, we also characterized vegetation height and horizontal complexity over the full extent of bat movement trajectories by upscaling {UAV}-{L}i{DAR} measurements using primarily {GEDI} {L}i{DAR} data.{R}esults{A}t the site level, hammer-headed bats preferred areas of intermediate canopy height (13.9-32.0 m) close to large canopy gaps (>= 500 m2). {I}ndividual bats varied in selection for vertical vegetation complexity, distance to smaller canopy gaps (>= 50 m2) and plant volume density of intermediate vegetation strata (10-20 m). {O}ver the full extent of movement trajectories, hammer-headed bats consistently preferred intermediate canopy height, and areas closer to canopy gaps. {A}t both spatial extents, bats moved the shortest distances in swamp habitats dominated by {R}aphia palms. {T}hese behaviors indicate the use of forest types that vary structurally, with a preference for open airspace during foraging or moving among resources, and for dense swamp vegetation during roosting and resting periods. {I}n addition, most bats regularly made long flights of up to 17.7 km shortly after sunset and before sunrise and limited their movements to three or fewer destinations throughout the tracking period.{C}onclusions{T}hese results highlight the importance of structurally diverse landscapes for the nightly movements of hammer-headed bats. {O}ur results show how remote sensing methods and animal tracking data can be integrated to understand habitat selection and movement behavior in tropical ecosystems.},
  keywords = {{GEDI} ; {F}rugivore ; {H}ypsignathus monstrosus ; {M}ovement ecology ; {P}teropodidae ; {S}tep selection function ; {UAV}-{L}i{DAR} ; {V}egetation structure ; {CAMEROUN}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{M}ovement {E}cology},
  volume = {13},
  numero = {1},
  pages = {30 [13 p.]},
  ISSN = {2051-3933},
  year = {2025},
  DOI = {10.1186/s40462-025-00552-7},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010093474},
}