Long-term patterns of cave-exiting activity of hibernating bats in western North America

Whiting, Jericho C.; Doering, Bill; Aho, Ken; Rich, Jason

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-87605-0

Long-term patterns of cave-exiting activity of hibernating bats in western North America

Journal Article · Wed Apr 14 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · Scientific Reports

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-87605-0· OSTI ID:1816732

Whiting, Jericho C. ^[1]; Doering, Bill ^[2]; Aho, Ken ^[3]; Rich, Jason ^[4]

Brigham Young Univ.-Idaho, Rexburg, ID (United States). Dept. of Biology; OSTI
Wastren Advantage Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Idaho State Univ., Pocatello, ID (United States)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Idaho Falls, ID (United States). Air Resources Lab. Field Research Division

Understanding frequency and variation of cave-exiting activity after arousal from torpor of hibernating bats is important for bat ecology and conservation, especially considering white-nose syndrome. In winter from 2011 to 2018, we acoustically monitored, and counted in hibernacula, two species of conservation concern—western small-footed myotis (Myotis ciliolabrum) and Townsend’s big-eared bats (Corynorhinus townsendii)—in 9 caves located in important habitat for these species in western North America. We investigated if cave-exiting activity differed by species, cave, number of hibernating bats, moon phase, and weather variables. Both species exited hibernacula during all winter months, but most activity occurred in March followed by November. Although we counted almost 15 times more Townsend’s big-eared bats during hibernacula surveys, we documented western small-footed myotis exiting caves 3 times more than Townsend’s big-eared bats. Cave-exiting activity increased with increasing number of hibernating bats, but more so for western small-footed myotis. Both species of bats were active during warm weather and low wind speeds. Western small-footed myotis were more active during colder temperatures, higher wind speeds, and greater change in barometric pressure than Townsend’s big-eared bats. Our results provide a long-term dataset of cave-exiting activity after arousal from torpor during hibernation for these species before the arrival of white-nose syndrome.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC)

Grant/Contract Number:: NE0008477

OSTI ID:: 1816732

Journal Information:: Scientific Reports, Journal Name: Scientific Reports Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 11; ISSN 2045-2322

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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