ABSTRACT
Bats are a highly diverse and unique order of mammals, with many species persisting in cities. Their flight and echolocation abilities has enabled the diversification of ecological strategies within this group. Given their dependence upon habitat structure for navigation, they are very sensitive to habitat disturbance and hence make suitable bioindicators for environmental conditions in cities. To this end, there has been a proliferation of studies, using passive acoustic techniques in addition to radio-tracking studies, examining the response of bat species and communities to urbanisation. Many studies show an overall negative impact of urbanisation on bat activity and diversity, however there are some species that thrive. The most important elements of the urban landscape to many bat species include roosting sites (either natural or man-made), foraging and commuting sites, and water sources for drinking. Future research is needed into population level impacts of urbanisation, in addition to better understanding the traits that allow for adaptation to urban conditions. This knowledge is greatly needed to improve the conservation trajectory of urban bats, enabling bat-friendly city planning, design, and management.
