The simulated effects of timber harvest on suitable habitat for Indiana and northern long‐eared bats

Bat conservation in the eastern United States following the onset of white‐nose syndrome necessitates the conservation and production of important summer habitat required by bats for both diurnal roosting and nocturnal foraging and commuting. Forest management via silvicultural applications can purposely direct forest succession so important habitat features are retained and developed. The effects of timber harvest on habitat at large spatiotemporal scales for a species are not always readily apparent but can be investigated with spatially explicit forest dynamic modeling. Here we used a forest succession model (LANDIS‐II) to simulate future forest conditions under different harvest regimes. We simulated nine harvest scenarios on Indiana State Forests that ranged from a complete cessation of timber harvest to intensive timber extraction. We then applied previously created models of nocturnal and diurnal habitat occupancy for both Indiana and northern long‐eared bats. We found that suitable nocturnal habitat was maximized for Indiana bats but minimized for northern long‐eared bats under low intensity timber harvest scenarios. Among moderate intensity timber harvest scenarios, both species exhibited the greatest amount of suitable nocturnal habitat when timber harvest applications focused on regenerative openings. The quantity of suitable diurnal habitat trended in the opposite direction of nocturnal habitat with selection harvests favoring suitable roosting habitat. Finally, both species displayed a trend in which overall suitable habitat was primarily driven by the degree of suitable diurnal habitat rather than nocturnal habitat. These results highlight the complex nature of managing multiple habitat needs for more than one species. Furthermore, our research illustrates the importance of understanding the distinct habitat requirements associated with different life history needs that can occur within a single species. Despite such complexities, our results can help guide forest management to preserve and encourage suitable habitat for multiple imperiled bat species.