Structure and Reproductive Patterns in the Summertime Forest-Bat Community of Southeastern Texas

Abstract

Abstract Forests of eastern Texas represent the westernmost extent of the southern pine forests and part of the pine belt of the forested Gulf coastal plain. Bat community assemblages in similar forests throughout southeastern United States have been documented in various studies, but only scant data are available for Texas. The purpose of this study was to characterize the assemblage and investigate reproductive patterns of the summer bat community in the austroriparian forest of eastern Texas. Using mist nets, we captured bats during summers 2009–2011 and recorded species, gender, age and reproductive condition. We captured 382 bats of eight species: Seminole Lasiurus seminolus (n = 163), evening Nycticeius humeralis (n = 86), big brown Eptesicus fuscus (n = 57), eastern red Lasiurus borealis (n = 31), southeastern myotis Myotis austroriparius (n = 21), tri-colored Perimyotis subflavus (n = 19), Mexican free-tailed Tadarida brasiliensis (n = 4), and hoary Lasiurus cinereus (n = 1) bats. Analysis of reproductive data suggests that three of these species (big brown, evening, and Seminole bats) may be following a reproductive strategy—extended seasonal monoestry (births of single litters spanning a particular season)—different than their previously reported pattern of synchronous monoestry.