Author : Mattea A. Lewis
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 84 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (124 download)
Book Synopsis Roost Selection and Seasonal Activity of a Remnant Population of Northern Myotis (Myotis Septentrionalis) in Pennsylvania by : Mattea A. Lewis
Download or read book Roost Selection and Seasonal Activity of a Remnant Population of Northern Myotis (Myotis Septentrionalis) in Pennsylvania written by Mattea A. Lewis and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 84 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The decline in northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis) populations since the arrival of white-nose syndrome (WNS) in eastern North America has led to the species receiving protected status in the United States and Canada. Much of the research on habitat use of this species has occurred during the summer maternity season while similar examinations of autumn and winter habits are scarce. The goal of my thesis was to describe the seasonal presence and habitat use of a remnant colony of northern myotis in central Pennsylvania. From 2017–2020, I radio-tagged 27 northern myotis and used acoustic bat detectors at 5 locations to study roost habitat choice and seasonal changes in activity. Radio-tagged northern myotis never left the study area and were tracked to day roosts until early November. Counts of bats exiting roost trees revealed that maternity roosts were as frequently used during autumn (August 15–October 31) as during summer (21 June–August 14). Similarly, 78% of roost trees located during autumn were used during the summer as well. Using model selection and multinomial logistic regression models, I found that tree decay stage, basal area of the forest stand, and distance to water best described the variance in male roosts, female roosts, and randomly sampled trees. Both male and female northern myotis preferred to roost in dead and declining trees. Females also preferred to roost in dense forest stands and in trees located close to water. During October and November, one radio-tagged female and one male northern myotis were tracked to a ground-level rock crevice. Acoustic activity recorded between February and October at this location differed from trends in activity at other sampling locations and had a peak of activity in late summer when northern myotis are known to swarm. Northern myotis calls were recorded at this roost between March and October and bats were observed emerging from this roost during spring and autumn but not summer. These data support the growing evidence that northern myotis hibernate outside of caves and show that bats in central Pennsylvania roost in maternity trees until at least late October.
