Abstract
As the federally threatened northern long-eared bat Myotis septentrionalis continues to decline due to white-nose syndrome (WNS) impacts, the application of effective conservation measures is needed but often hindered by the lack of ecological data. To date, recommended management practices have been adopted in part from other federally listed sympatric species such as the endangered Indiana bat M. sodalis. During the maternity season, these measures have largely focused on conservation of known day-roost habitat, often with little consideration for foraging habitat, particularly riparian areas. We examined acoustic activity of northern long-eared bats relative to day-roost and capture data at coastal and interior sites in the District of Columbia, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, USA, over the course of 6 summers (2015-�2020), where maternity activity was still documented after the initial arrival and spread of WNS. Acoustic activity of northern long-eared bats relative to forest cover decreased at the acoustic site level (fine scale) but increased at the sampling region level (coarse scale). We observed a positive association of northern long-eared bat acoustic activity with riparian areas. Additionally, we observed higher levels of activity during pregnancy through early lactation period of the reproductive cycle prior to juvenile volancy. Our findings suggest the need for more explicit inclusion of forested riparian habitats in northern long-eared bat conservation planning. Acoustic sampling in spring and early summer rather than mid- to late summer and in forested riparian areas is the most effective strategy for identifying potential active northern long-eared bat maternity colonies on the local landscape.
Highlights
Understanding the ecological relationships of bats to their environment is a critical first step in developing effective management plans for their conservation (Henderson et al 2008, Threlfall et al 2012, Rodríguez-San Pedro & Simonetti 2015)
Despite population declines throughout much of their range, researchers have found several northern long-eared bat populations overwintering in coastal areas far removed from their traditional karst/mine hibernacula (Brown et al 2007, Dowling & O’Dell 2018, Jordan 2020), as well as a few residual populations in interior regions distant (De La Cruz 2021)
We predicted that acoustic activity would generally be greater in coastal areas than interior sampling regions, region was not statistically significant
Summary
Understanding the ecological relationships of bats to their environment is a critical first step in developing effective management plans for their conservation (Henderson et al 2008, Threlfall et al 2012, Rodríguez-San Pedro & Simonetti 2015). Endang Species Res 47: 119–130, 2022 listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) since 2015 (US Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS] 2015). It currently is undergoing an additional assessment for possible up-listing to Endangered in the United States Some colonies are showing declining or failed recruitment (Francl et al 2012, Reynolds et al 2016), further inhibiting the stability or growth of the remaining populations. Due to large population declines from WNS impacts, documenting northern long-eared bat presence via mist-netting has become more difficult (Reynolds et al 2016). Despite population declines throughout much of their range, researchers have found several northern long-eared bat populations overwintering in coastal areas far removed from their traditional karst/mine hibernacula (Brown et al 2007, Dowling & O’Dell 2018, Jordan 2020), as well as a few residual populations in interior regions distant (De La Cruz 2021)
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