Aspects of a Population Study of Cavern-Dwelling Bats

Abstract

In the course of a year's investigation (September, 1952, to August, 1953) of the habitat selection behavior of four species of cavern-dwelling bats, some data regarding aspects of the population dynamics of these bats were gathered. This paper is primarily concerned with Myotis velifer incautus (J. A. Allen), although Corynorhinus rafinesquei pallescens Miller, Eptesicus fuscus pallidus Young, and Antrozous bunkeri Hibbard are secondarily mentioned. The classification of Cockrum (1952) has been followed. These bats were studied in gypsum caverns in south-central Kansas and north-western Oklahoma (Fig. 1). These caverns vary from small tunnels to rather extensive underground passageways, and are quite variable in their climate and physiography. Those that are named are colloquially called “caves” although caves typically have but one entrance whereas caverns have two or more. In order to avoid confusion, these caverns have been designated by Roman numeral, but those with names that have been used in scientific literature of the region are listed as follows: Cavern II, Merrihew Cave; Cavern IX, Double Entrance “S” Cave (Hibbard, 1934), McMoran Cave of Cockrum (1952); Cavern XI, Natural Bridge; Cavern XII, Dancer's Cave (Hibbard, 1934); Cavern XIII, Triple Arch Cave (Hibbard, 1934); Cavern XIV, Havard Cave; and Locality XV, an unused mineshaft of a gypsum mine still in operation. Fig. 1 The locations of the caverns where bats were studied. I would like to acknowledge the freedom allowed me by landowners of the region, without whose cooperation this problem could not have been completed. Particularly, I would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. John McMoran of Coldwater, Kansas, and Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Merrihew of Alva, Oklahoma. This paper is a part of a doctoral dissertation submitted to the graduate school of the University of Michigan. I would like to thank Professors Marston Bates, Dugald E. S. Brown, William H. …