Bats in nature conservation

Bats act as ecosystem service providers and can serve as indicators in nature conservation. They are therefore particularly valuable and worthy of protection for humans, but many populations of this species group are threatened worldwide. I am involved in various research projects in this area of conflict. I am currently researching population trends and various demographic parameters to find out how well or how badly the populations in Germany and Europe are doing. In the BfN-funded projects Threatened Data for Threatened Species and BATTREND, we work together with long-standing bat conservationists and analyse counting and tagging data. The organisation and effective cooperation between scientists, recreational researchers and volunteer conservationists is very important to me. One important project result is the so-called BATLAS, an online platform for bat population trends.

As a further field of research, I am committed to improving species conservation. The development and application of integrative, evidence-based conservation measures is very important to me. One of my topics is bat protection in the expansion of wind turbines, another is the topic of light pollution.I am also interested in the topic of anthropogenic influences on habitats. I am currently working on human-wildlife interactions and ecosystem services under the working title Bats and Biosphere, and Bats and Ponds is specifically about the role of water bodies as essential elements in ecosystems.

Hibernation physiology and ecoimmunology

Hibernation, or rather winter torpor, is a physiological state in which energy is conserved by adjusting the body temperature to the ambient temperature and shutting down the entire metabolism. This ability is a speciality in the animal kingdom and is interesting for us humans from many points of view. How can a mammal at the same temperature survive if its body temperature is less than 10°C for long periods of time? What benefits can we humans derive from this, for example for medicine or space travel? As hibernating mammals, bats are a good model for researching many questions. I am particularly interested in how an immune system can function during hibernation. For example, I am researching white-nose disease, in which a dangerous fungus infects bats during hibernation.

Into the wild with F.U.N.

Into the wilderness with F.U.N.": The term F.U.N. stands for: Research, environmental education and practical nature conservation. Using the example of bats, we want to closely interlink these three components in order to make a contribution to biodiversity. More information at www.fledermausfun.de.

• Conservation and Behaviour (Seminar)
• Current Topics in Conservation (Seminar)
• Behavioural Methods in Conservation (Praktikum)

Master's:

Daniel Ruppert: Bats on fruit orchards – an ecosystem service?

Nele Lemcke: Factors influencing bat habitat quality at urban ponds [degree 2023]

Edna Paola Niño Mahecha (Co-Supervision with Dr. José F. González-Maya, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana – Unidad Lerma, Columbia): Socio-ecological drivers of Jaguar perception and willigness to participate in it conservation in Caquetá, Colombia [degree 2023]

Marie Baumgartner: Habitatnutzung von Fledermäusen im Nationalpark Donau-Auen und Umgebung [degree 2023]

Pratitgya Gyawali: Importance of water bodies for bat conservation in a human-transformed lanscape [degree 2022]

Xenia Mathgen: The role of spring mating in the reproductive cycle of the European temperate-zoned bat species Nyctalus noctula [degree 2022]

Bachelor:

Lukas Beger (Co-Supervision with Dr. Tanja Straka, TU Berlin): Chancen und Herausforderungen bei der Implementierung des internationalen Artenschutzabkommens EUROBATS in der deutschen Naturschutzpolitik [degree 2022]

1. Mathgen, X., Fritzsche, A., Arnold, A., Bach, L., Gager, Y., Harder, J., Knörnschild, M., Meyer, F., Porschien, B., Seebens-Hoyer, A., Starik, N., Straka, T., Fritze, M. (2024): Zeitenwende im Artenschutz – Aktuelle Gesetzesänderung versus wissenschaftliche Evidenzen beim Fledermausschutz und dem Ausbau der Windenergienutzung. Nyctalus 20 (3-4), S. 182-202. DOWNLOAD

2. Tovstukha, I.* & Fritze, M.*, Kravchenko, K., Kovalov, V., Vlaschenko, A. (2024): Pilot study suggests cellular immunity changes in bats from urban landscapes. Submitted. https://dx.doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3836467/v1 *shared authorship

3. Twort, V. G., Laine, V. N., Field, K^., Whiting-Fawcett, F., Ito F., Reiman, M., Bartonicka, T., Fritze M., Iluykha, V., Reeder, D. M., Fukui, D., Jiang, T., Lilley, T. M. (2023):Signals of positive selection in Palearctic bat species coexisting with a fungal pathogen. BMC Genomics25, 828 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-024-10722-3

4. Fasel, N., Jeucken, J., Kravchenko, K., Fritze, M., Ruczynski, I., Komar, E., ... & Holtze, S. (2023). No intromission is involved in the mating of Eptesicus serotinus, a novel copulatory pattern in mammals. Current Biology, 33(22), R1182-R1183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.09.054

5. Straka, Tanja M., Hilmer, C., Fritze, M., Starik, N., Buchholz, S. (2023): Catch me if you can – Urbane Klimatrends und deren Auswirkungen auf die winterliche Aktivität von Fledermäusen und Insekten. In: Stadtler, J: Biodiversität und Klima – Vernetzung der Akteure in Deutschland XVIII. BfN- Schriften 652. https://doi.org/10.19217/skr652

6. Blomberg, A. S., Lilley, T. M., Fritze, M., & Puechmaille, S. J. (2023). Climatic factors and host species composition at hibernation sites drive the incidence of bat fungal disease. bioRxiv, 2023-02.

7. Krivek, G., Gillert, A., Harder, M., Fritze, M., Frankowski, K., Timm, L., Meyer-Olbersleben, L., Freiherr von Lukas, U., Kerth, G., van Schaik, J. (2023) BatNet: a deep learning-based tool for automated bat species identification from camera trap images. Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation.  https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/rse2.339
8. Reusch, C., Paul, A. A., Fritze, M., Kramer-Schadt, S., Voigt, C. C. (2023): Wind energy production in forests conflicts with tree-roosting bats. Current Biology 33, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.12.050
9. Zschorn, M., Fritze, M. (2022): Lichtverschmutzung und Fledermausschutz - aktueller Kenntnisstand, Handlungsbedarf und Empfehlungen für die Praxis | Light pollution and bat protection - current state of knowledge, need for action and recommendations for practice. Naturschutz und Landschaftsplanung 54 (12). https://doi.org/10.1399/NuL.2022.12.01
10. Barré, K., Froidevaux, J. S. P., Leroux, C., Mariton, L., Fritze, M., Kerbiriou, C., Le Viol, I., Bas, Y., & Roemer, C. (2022): Over a decade of failure to implement UNEP/EUROBATS guidelines in wind energy planning: A call for action. Conservation Science and Practice, e12805. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12805
11. Seltmann, A., Troxell, S.A., Schad, J., Fritze, M., Bailey, L. D., Voigt, C. C., Czirják,G. Á. (2022):  Differences in acute phase response to bacterial, fungal and viral antigens in greater mouse-eared bats (Myotis myotis). Sci Rep 12, 15259 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-18240-6
12. Niessen, L., Fritze, M., Wibbelt, G., & Puechmaille, S. J. (2022): Development and Application of Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Assays for Rapid Diagnosis of the Bat White-Nose Disease Fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans. Mycopathologia, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-022-00650-9
13. Fritze, M. (2022): Current knowledge and long-term monitoring of white-nose disease in hibernating bats | Aktueller Wissensstand und langfristige Überwachung der Weißnasenkrankheit bei überwinternden Fledermäusen. Nyctalus 20(1), im Druck.
14. Kruszynski, C., Bailey, L.D., Bach, L., Bach, P., Fritze, M., Lindecke, O., Teige, T. and Voigt, C.C. (2022): High vulnerability of juvenile Nathusius' pipistrelle bats (Pipistrellus nathusii) at wind turbines. Ecological Applications 2022; 32: e2513. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2513
15. Voigt, C.C., Dekker, J., Fritze, M., Gazaryan, S., Hölker, F., Jones, G., Lewanzik, D., Limpens, H.J.G.A., Mathews, F., Rydell, J., Spoelstra, K., Zagmajster, M. (2021): The impact of light pollution on bats varies according to foraging guild and habitat context. BioScience, biab087. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biab087
16. Fritze, M.; Puechmaille, S. J.; Fickel, J.; Czirják, G. Á.; Voigt, C. C. (2021): A rapid, in-situ minimally-invasive technique to assess infections with Pseudogymnoascus destructans in bats. Acta Chiropterologica, 23(1): 259–270. https://doi.org/10.3161/15081109ACC2021.23.1.022
17. Fritze M., Puechmaille S., Costantini D., Fickel J., Voigt C.C, Czirják G.A. (2021):  Determinants of defence strategies of a hibernating European bat species towards the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans. Developmental and Comparative Immunology 119 (104017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dci.2021.104017
18. Röse, N., Sauerbier, W. Fritze, M. (2021): Long-term data of microclimate and barbastelle bats show an effect of climate change in bat hibernacula | Langzeitdaten von Mikroklima und Mopsfledermäusen zeigen einen Effekt des Klimawandels in Fledermaus-Winterquartieren. Nyctalus (N.F.) 19 (4-5), S. 330-342.
19. Voigt, C.C., Fritze M., Lindecke O., Costantini D., Pētersons G., Czirják G.A. (2020): The immune response of bats differs between pre-migration and migration seasons. Scientific Reports 10 (17384). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-74473-3
20. Straka, T. M., Fritze, M., Voigt, C.C. (2020): The human dimensions of a green–green-dilemma: Lessons learned from the wind energy — wildlife conflict in Germany. Energy Reports (6), 1768–1777. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2020.06.028
21. Fritze, M., Lehnert, L.S., Heim, O., Lindecke, O., Roeleke, M.,  Voigt, C.C. (2020): Windenergievorhaben und  Fledermausschutz: Was fordern Experten zur Lösung des Grün-Grün Dilemmas? Wind turbine projects and bat conservation: What do experts demand to solve the green-green dilemma? In: Evidenzbasierter Fledermausschutz in Windkraftvorhaben (Hrsg. Voigt, C.C.) Springer Spektrum, Berlin. ISBN 978-3-662-61454-9 (eBook). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-61454-9
22. Voigt, C.C., Roeleke, M., Heim, O., Lehnert, L.S., Fritze, M., Lindecke, O. (2020): Expertenbewertung der Methoden zum Fledermausmonitoring bei Windkraftvorhaben - Expert evaluations of methods used for monitoring bats during wind turbine projects.  In: Evidenzbasierter Fledermausschutz in Windkraftvorhaben (Hrsg. Voigt, C.C.) Springer Spektrum, Berlin. ISBN 978-3-662-61454-9 (eBook). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-61454-9
23. Lindecke, O., Currie, S., Fasel, N.J., Fritze, M.,Kravchenko, K., Kruzsynski de Assis, C., Lehnert, L., Roeleke, M., Voigt-Heucke, S.,Voigt, C.C. (2020) Common noctule (Nyctalus noctula). Handbook of Mammals of Europe (eds. Hackländer, K., Zachos, F.E.). SpringerNature, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65038-8_63-1
24. Voigt, C.C., Straka, T.M., Fritze, M. (2019): Producing wind energy at the cost of biodiversity: A stakeholder view on a green-green dilemma. Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy 11, 063303 (2019).  https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5118784
25. Fritze, M, David Costantini, Jörns Fickel, Dana Wehner, Gábor Á. Czirják, and Christian C. Voigt: Immune response of hibernating European bats to a fungal challenge. Biology Open (2019) 8, bio046078. https://doi:10.1242/bio.046078 .
26. Fritze, Marcus, Lehnert, Linn S., Heim, Olga, Lindecke, O., Röleke, Manuel, Voigt, Christian C. (2019): Fledermausschutz im Schatten der Windkraft – Deutschlands Experten vermissen Transparenz und bundesweite Standards in den Genehmigungsverfahren. Naturschutz und Landschaftsplanung 51 (1), S. 20-27.
27. Voigt, C.C, Azam, C., Dekker, J., Ferguson, J., Fritze,M., Gazaryan, S., Hölker, F., Jones, G. Leader, N., Lewanzik, D., Limpens, H.J.G.A., Mathews, F., Rydell, J., Schofield, H., Spoelstra, K., Zagmajster, M. (2018):  Guidelines for consideration of bats in lighting projects. EUROBATS Publication Series No. 8. UNEP/EUROBATS Secretariat, Bonn, Germany, 62 pp.
28. Dool, Serena, Altewischer, Andrea, Fischer, Nicola M., Drees, Kevin P. T. Foster Jeffrey, Fritze, Marcus, Puechmaille Sebastien J. (2018):Mating type determination within a microsatellite multiplex for the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the causative agent of white-nose disease in bats. Conservation Genetic Resources 2018, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-018-1064-6   
29. Voigt, Christian, Currie, Shannon E., Fritze, Marcus, Roeleke, Manuel, Lindecke, Oliver (2018):Conservation Strategies for Bats Flying at High Altitudes. Bioscience 68 (6), 427–435. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biy040
30. Fritze, Marcus & Puechmaille, Sebastien 2018: Identifying unusual mortality events in bats: a baseline for bat hibernation monitoring and white‐nose syndrome research. Mammal Review 48 (3), 224-228. https://doi.org/10.1111/mam.12122
31. Fischer, Klaus; Becker, Marlen; Becker, Bianca; Bensch, Julia; Böckers, Andre; Burmeister, Martin; Dombrowski, Janine; Donke, Elisabeth; Ermisch, Rebecca; Fritze, Marcus; Fritzsch, Anna; Hübler, Nora; Ide, Marina; Klockmann, Michael; Mielke, Melanie; Pfender, David; Schiffler, Maria; Schrödter, Marlen; Sund, Lars; Viertel, Caroline (2015): Determinants of tree frog calling ponds in a human-transformed landscape. Ecological Research 30 (3), 439-450.
32. Fritze, Marcus; Pham, Thi Lam Huong; Ohlendorf, Bernd (2012): Untersuchung der ökologischen Wachstumsbedingungen des sich auf Fledermäusen ansiedelnden Pilzes Geomyces destructans. In: Nyctalus (N.F.) 17 (3-4), S. 146–160.
33. Fritze, Marcus; Pham, Thi Lam Huong; Zaspel, Irmtraut (2012): Effekt des Bodenbakteriums Pseudomonas veronii-like PAZ1 auf das Wachstum des White-Nose Erregers Geomyces destructans in Antagonisten-Tests. In: Nyctalus (N.F.) 17 (3-4), S. 104–107.
34. Ohlendorf, Bernd; Fritze, Marcus; Rupsch, Chris; Teumer, Christine; Brockmann, Dagmar (2011): Zum Vorkommen des Pilzes Geomyces destructans bei Fledermäusen in Sachsen-Anhalt. In: Nyctalus (N.F.) 16 (3-4), S. 186–196.
35. Ohlendorf, Bernd; Fritze, Marcus; Schatz, Juliane (2010): Winterbeobachtungen von Zwergfledermäusen (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) und Kleinabendseglern (Nyctalus leisleri) in Fledermauskästen im Naturschutzgebiet Bodetal/NO-Harz (Sachsen-Anhalt). In: Nyctalus (N.F.)15 (2-3), S. 235–243.