Multi-scale models offer an important tool for identifying conservation requirements at the fine landscape level

Using multi-scale modelling to predict habitat suitability for species of conservation concern: The grey long-eared bat as a case study
Orly Razgour,Julia Hanmer,Gareth Jones
Biological Conservation, Volume 144, Issue 12, December 2011, Pages 2922–2930

Habitat suitability modelling has been used traditionally to understand broad-scale patterns of species distribution. It also comes in handy to address conservation needs at finer scales.

Studies combining a range of scales for understanding ecological processes are rare. Here the researchers studied the ability of presence-only species distribution modelling to predict patterns of habitat selection at broad and fine spatial scales for one of most endangered animal in the UK, the grey long-eared bat (Plecotus austriacus).

Models were constructed with Maxent using broad-scale distribution data from across the UK and fine-scale radio-tracking data from bats at one colony. Fine-scale model predictions were evaluated with radio-tracking locations from bats from a distant colony. This was compared with results of traditional radio-tracking data analysis methods.

Broad-scale models indicated that winter temperature, summer precipitation and land cover were the most important variables limiting the distribution of the grey long-eared bat in the UK. Fine-scale models predicted that proximity to unimproved grasslands and distance to suburban areas determines foraging habitat suitability around maternity colonies. Compositional analysis identified unimproved grasslands as the most preferred foraging habitat type.

The authors say this strong association with unimproved lowland grasslands highlights the potential importance of changes in agricultural practices in the past century for wildlife conservation. They reiterate that multi-scale models offer an important tool for identifying conservation requirements at the fine landscape level that can guide national-level conservation management practices.