Impact of dual-axis elevated photovoltaic systems on bats’ activity and foraging behavior in wheat fields and hay meadows

Despite rapid agrivoltaic (APV) development, little is known about their effects on bats. We assessed dual-axis elevated photovoltaic systems’ impact on bat activity in 17 agricultural plots (10 wheat fields, 7 hay meadows) in western France (2023–2024). Acoustic surveys were conducted at three standardized plot locations (near photovoltaic system (PV), center of the field, hedge) using ultrasonic recorders. Bat activity was quantified at the guild level and by species within guilds. Feeding buzzes from orientation calls helped identify foraging activity, while insect density on sticky traps and plant species richness served as indirect prey availability proxies. We tested the effect of recorder location on bat activity, feeding buzzes, arthropod biomass, plant species richness and their interrelations using generalized linear mixed models. In wheat fields, mid-range echolocators showed significantly higher activity and more feeding buzzes near PV system than in plot center but it was not correlated with higher arthropod biomass, suggesting bats were not attracted by prey density. Generalist species like Pipistrellus pipistrellus and P. kuhlii may be attracted by the PV’s structure as an isolated vertical element potentially acting as a landmark. Short-range echolocators as Barbastella barbastellus and Rhinolophus spp., preferred hedgerows, likely due to their reliance on structurally complex habitats and aversion to open areas. Long-range echolocators, which forage at higher altitudes, showed little response to PV structures, consistent with their independence from ground-level features. Agrivoltaic structures can thus locally influence bat behavior, creating microhabitats benefiting adaptable species. Clarifying interactions across APV systems is vital for designing solar installations that integrate ecological considerations.