Date of Award
9-10-2019
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Biology, MS
First Advisor
Virginie Rolland
Committee Members
Thomas Risch; Yeonsang Hwang
Call Number
LD 251 .A566t 2019 S45
Abstract
Tree roosts in bottomland forests are critical resources required year-round for Rafinesque’s big-eared bats (Corynorhinus rafinesquii; CORA) and Southeastern myotis (Myotis austroriparius; MYAU). I characterized their roost selection and activity patterns in fall and winter in Cache River National Wildlife Refuge, Arkansas. In October-December of 2016 and 2017, I radio-tracked 19 CORAs and 14 MYAUs to 33 and 42 roost trees, respectively. Both species switched their roosting habits (e.g., MYAUs switched tree species and CORAs spent more time in roosts), but remained active when temperatures approached freezing. Additionally, CORA selected trees with large internal volume and diameter at breast height (DBH) within plots of predominately water tupelos and bald cypresses, whereas MYAU selected trees with large internal volume and high cavity openings within plots of medium DBH trees where bald cypresses were absent. Overall, CORAs and MYAUs seemed to anticipate seasonal flooding that could potentially trap them inside cavities.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Scherman, Stacy Jae, "Fall And Winter Roosting Ecology of Southeastern Myotis and Rafinesque's Big-Eared Bats in the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge" (2019). Student Theses and Dissertations. 409.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/409
