Abstract
Understanding the winter behavior of bats in temperate North America can provide insight into how bats react to perturbations caused by natural disturbances such as weather, human‐induced disturbances, or the introduction of disease. This study measured the activity patterns of bats outside of their hibernaculum and asked how this winter activity varied by time, temperature, bat species, body condition, and WNS status. Over the course of three winters (2011–2013), we collected acoustic data and captured bats outside of five hibernacula in Tennessee, United States. During this time, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the causative agent of white‐nose syndrome, became established in hibernacula throughout the region, allowing us to track disease‐related changes in the winter behavior of ten bat species. We determined that bats in the southeastern United States were active during winter regardless of disease. We recorded activity outside of hibernacula at temperatures as low as −13°C. Although bat activity was best determined by a combination of variables, the strongest factor was mean daily temperature (R 2 = .2879, F 1,1450 = 586.2, p < .0001). Bats that left the hibernacula earlier in evening had lower body condition than those that left 2–4 hr after sunset (F 7,932 = 7.225, p < .0001, Tukey HSD, p < .05). The number of daytime emergences from hibernacula, as determined via acoustic detection, increased the longer a site was P. destructans positive (F 3,17 808 = 124.48, p < .0001, Tukey HSD, p < .05). Through the use of passive acoustic monitoring and monthly captures, we determined that winter activity was driven by both ambient temperature and the presence of P. destructans.
Highlights
Winter activity is documented for several species of North American bats that use roost sites with variable microclimates such as foliage, bark, or man-made structures (Boyles, Dunbar, and Whitaker, 2006)
Activity was found to be strongly correlated with temperature; activity during daytime and subfreezing temperatures increased following the confirmation of P. destructans at a site, suggesting that vulnerable bat species in the southeast exhibit behaviors similar to those seen at white-nose syndrome (WNS)- infected hibernacula in the northeast
We found regional differences in the bat faunas affected by WNS
Summary
Winter activity is documented for several species of North American bats that use roost sites with variable microclimates such as foliage, bark, or man-made structures (Boyles, Dunbar, and Whitaker, 2006). Previous studies of winter activity of bats in Ontario, New England, Indiana, and Missouri found that individuals arousing during winter months mostly flew within the hibernaculum, and rarely left the cave (Griffin 1945; Whitaker and Rissler, 1992; Boyles et al 2006). These findings reinforce the assumption that bats enter hibernation sites in the fall and are not observed on the landscape until mid-spring.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
