Prey Consumed by Bats Across Central Appalachia Prior to Detection of White-nose Syndrome

Abstract

ABSTRACT An understanding of prey consumption patterns across bat species is lacking in a community context across Appalachia. This region of North America is of immediate importance to conservation efforts given the emergence of White-nose Syndrome (WNS). We report on prey consumed by 187 bats captured in mist nets from 2006 to 2008 in Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Results indicate that consumption of arthropod groups varies among bat species and geographic location, but Coleoptera and Lepidoptera were important dietary items across this predator assemblage. We attribute the variation observed across bat species to be due to differences in ecomorphology and foraging strategies. This study provides baseline data for investigating feeding patterns following impacts from WNS in the Central Appalachian region.