PATTERNS OF HABITAT USE BY BATS ALONG A RIPARIAN CORRIDOR IN NORTHERN UTAH

Abstract

We examined patterns of habitat use within a community of bats along the Provo River in Heber Valley, Utah. The landscape was divided into 5 habitat categories: riparian forest, wetland, agricultural field, edge, and a habitat restoration site. We used Anabat II bat detectors to record the number of echolocation calls per night within each habitat type as an index of bat activity. Echolocation calls were classified into foraging guilds based on acoustic traits, and we analyzed activity by entire community and by the 4 guilds related to habitat type and environmental variables. Activity was not significantly related to moon phase, average temperature, or day of the season. Activity by the entire bat community was significantly higher in riparian forest and edge habitats compared to other habitat types. Activity of the ''high'' Myotis guild was significantly greater in the riparian forest, edge habitats, and in the restored habitat site. Similarly, activity by the ''low'' Myotis guild was significantly higher in riparian forest and edge habitats. In contrast to the Myotis guilds, activity of molossids was significantly higher in agricultural fields compared to other habitats. Activity by the ''low'' Eptesicus guild did not vary significantly among habitats. ESUMEN Examinamos los patrones de uso del habitat en una comunidad de murcielagos a lo largo del Provo River, en el Heber Valley, Utah. El habitat fue dividido en cinco categorias: bosque ripario, humedal, terreno cultivado, borde de habitat, y a de restauracion de habitat. Usamos