Date of Award
6-7-2012
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Biology, MS
First Advisor
Thomas Risch
Committee Members
James Bednarz; Tanja McKay
Call Number
LD 251 .A566t 2012 K23
Abstract
The proper management of any species requires baseline knowledge such as populations, diversity and habitat requirements. This thesis answers some of these vital questions about endangered (gray bat, Indiana bat and Ozark big-eared bat) and species of concern (Rafinesque's big-eared bat and southeastern myotis) bats in the mid-south. I conducted a mist net bat surveys at Donaldson Point Conservation Area (DPCA) in southeast Missouri and Rosson Hollow in west Arkansas. Both species of special concern were captured in DCPA and the species diversity of the area is consistent with similar habitat in northeast Arkansas. The species diversity in Rosson Hollow has been variable for the past several years, however all three endangered species inhabit the area and their populations seem stable between 2004 and 2010. Additionally, I investigated the roosting ecology of male Indiana bats during the fall of 2010. Three bats were tracked to tree roosts. The roosts were significantly larger, closer to the hibernaculum and had less canopy cover than random trees in the area. The temperature of cave roosts used by endangered bats in Buffalo River National Park was investigated along with the stability of these roosts compared to temperatures outside the cave. These roosts varied considerably from reported temperatures for gray and Indiana bats. The roosts of gray bats were the most stable followed by the Indiana bat. The temperature at roosts of Ozark big-eared bats varied the most which is consistent with the ecology of these bats roosting closer to cave entrances than the other two endangered species.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Klotz, Tracy Lee, "Roosting Ecology and Survey of Endangered and Species of Special Concern Bats in the Mid-South Prior to the Arrival of White Nose Syndrome" (2012). Student Theses and Dissertations. 876.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/876
