A spatially-based modeling framework for assessing the risks of soil-associated metals to bats

作者：Hernout Beatrice V^*; Somerwill Kate E; Arnold Kathryn E; McClean Colin J; Boxall Alistair B A

来源：Environmental Pollution, 2013, 173: 110-116.

DOI：10.1016/j.envpol.2012.08.017

• Pipistrellus sp.
• Spatially explicit modeling
• Geographic information system
• Trace metal elements
• Trophic transfer

Populations of some species of bats are declining in some regions of Europe. These declines are probably due to a range of pressures, including climate change, urbanization and exposure to toxins such as metals. This paper describes the development, paramaterisation and application of a spatially explicit modeling framework to predict the risks of soil-associated metals (lead, copper, zinc and cadmium) to bat health. Around 5.9% of areas where bats reside were predicted to have lead levels that pose a risk to bat health. For copper, this value was 2.8%, for cadmium it was 0.6% and for zinc 0.5%. Further work is therefore warranted to explore the impacts of soil-associated metals on bat populations in the UK.

• 出版日期2013-2