Paul Lintott

PhD Research Student (part-time)

MSc in Environmental Management (Distinction; University of Stirling 2009-10)

Paul Lintott (PhD student, University of Stirling)

BSc (with Honours) in Biological Sciences (1st Class; University of Edinburgh 2003-07)

Supervisors: Dr Kirsty Park; Dr Nils Bunnefeld

Start Date: 1st October 2010

3B156 Cottrell Building
School of Natural Sciences
University of Stirling
Stirling
Scotland
FK9 4LA

Tel: +44 (0) 1786 467 787
Email: Paul Lintott
Twitter: @PRLintott

Ecology and conservation of urban bats

Although urbanisation by expanding human populations can reduce native biological diversity by reducing the amount and quality of habitat available for wildlife, green spaces (e.g. parks, gardens) within urban areas can hold relatively rich wildlife communities. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of green space to human health and well-being as well as wildlife conservation and the issue of urban biodiversity is moving up political and environmental agendas. Urban areas are important for wildlife, however, they are often threatened by development.  Understanding how different species use urban environments and how habitat management and urban planning can promote population persistence is therefore critical to their conservation.

Many bat species in Europe have undergone large population declines during the 20th century, and the expansion of urban development is thought to be a contributory factor. The impact of urbanisation appears to vary between bats, for example, Pipistrellus spp. are thought to be relatively well adapted to urbanisation, while Myotis spp. are not. There is currently relatively little information on bat ecology within British urban areas; during my PhD I will be looking at a variety of research topics including:

Bats in Urban Woodland

An explanation of the factors that may determine bat diversity, bat activity, and bat abundance within fragmented urban woodland throughout Central Scotland. This study will determine how bat usage within fragmented urban woodland is influenced by woodland characteristics such as tree species richness, woodland clutter, and woodland size. I will also examine the influence of the surrounding urban matrix by looking at the influence of landscape metrics such as woodland patch configuration, habitat diversity, and connectivity on bat activity and abundance. I will also examine sexual differences in foraging behaviour and habitat selection in P. pygmaeus. 

Bats along Urban Waterways

A study of how bats exploit urban waterways (rivers and canals) throughout Britain.My research will look at how bat activity is determined by both local site characteristics such as bankside vegetation or pollution and landscape characteristics such as connectivity to woodland or the extent of urbanisation.

The distribution and habitat preferences of pipistrelle bats within UK urban areas (in collaboration with the Bat Conservation Trust)

The National Bat Monitoring Programme (NBMP) is a nationwide survey which monitors the population trends of British bat species across a range of habitats. Since 1996 more than 3,000 volunteers have undertaken surveys at over 5,800 roost or field sites throughout the UK. Using this data we will examine differential responses to urbanisation between P. pygmaeus and P. pipistrellus at a landscape scale. Using geographic information systems (GIS) we will explore the response of pipistrelle bats to landscape configuration and habitat fragmentation. Results may form the basis of management plans to optimise habitats for particular species or to identify the extent to which urban landscapes are detrimental to pipistrelle populations.

Publications

Lintott, P.R., Fuentes-Montemayor, E., Goulson, D. & Park, K.J. 2014 Testing the effectiveness of surveying techniques in determining bat community composition within woodland. Wildlife Research, 40(8), 675-684

Lintott, P.R., Bunnefeld, N., Fuentes-Montemayor, E., Minderman, J., Blackmore, Goulson, D. & Park, K.J. 2014. Moth species richness, abundance and diversity in fragmented urban woodlands: implications for conservation and management strategies. Biodiversity & Conservation, 23(11), 2875-2901

Lintott, P.R., Bunnefeld, N., Fuentes-Montemayor, E., Minderman, J., Olley, L., Mayhew, R. & Park, K.J. 2014. City life makes females fussy: sex differences in habitat use of temperate bats in urban areas. Royal Society Open Science 1 (3), 140200.

Lintott, P.R., Bunnefeld, N., Fuentes-Montemayor, E., Minderman, J., Olley, L., Mayhew, R. & Park, K.J. 2014. Differential responses to woodland character and landscape context by cryptic bats in the urban landscape. (under review)

Lintott, P.R., Bunnefeld, N. & Park, K.J. 2014. Differential responses at the local and landscape level to urban waterways by temperate bats. (under review)

Lintott P.R., Bunnefeld, N., Daley, H., Christie, M. & Park K.J. The influence of vegetation characteristics, anthropogenic disturbances and the surrounding landscape in determining use of urban gardens by bats. Proposed journal: (under review).

Lintott P.R., Barlow, K., Bunnefeld, N., Gajas Roig, C.,  Park K.J. Differential responses of cryptic bat species to the urban landscape (in prep)

Presentations

Lintott, P.R. City life makes females fussy: sex differences in habitat use of temperate bats in urban areas. European Bat Research Symposium. Croatia, September 2014

Lintott, P.R. City life makes females fussy: sex differences in habitat use of temperate bats in urban areas. Mammal Society Conference. Birmingham, March 2014

Lintott, P.R. Sex differences in foraging behaviour and habitat selection in temperate bats. Stirling University Winter Symposium. December 2013

Lintott, P.R. Sex differences in foraging behaviour and habitat selection in temperate bats. International Conference on Behaviour, Physiology and Genetics of Wildlife. Berlin, September 2013

Lintott, P.R. Bats in the urban ecosystem. Summer school on ‘Urban Ecology – As Science, Culture and Power’. Stockholm, June 2013

Lintott, P.R. The influence of woodland character and landscape context on bat abundance and activity. Britbats. Bristol, March 2013