As bat (Chiroptera) populations continue to decline in the eastern United States due to threats such as white-nose syndrome and interactions with wind facilities, capturing already rare species such as the federally endangered Indiana bat Myotis sodalis to assess health and demographics has become increasingly difficult. Mist-nets are a standard method for capturing and studying bats, but bats have the ability to escape from or avoid mist-nets. Past research has shown that the use of acoustic lures may increase mist-net capture success. Using prerecorded Indiana bat social calls, we tested the effectiveness of acoustic lures on capture rates across 24 nights at 37 sites in summers 2013 and 2014 in north-central Kentucky. Each site consisted of two nets (treatment and control) placed >35 m apart: we placed an acoustic lure set 1 m in front of the treatment net, whereas the control net received no lure. At the species level, we recorded significantly more captures in treatment nets (n = 262) than in control nets [n = 128; t(36) = 5.08, P < 0.001]. However, although we found a trend toward higher Indiana bat captures, the only species' with significant positive responses were evening bats Nycticeius humeralis [t(15) = 6.25, P < 0.001] and eastern red bats Lasiurus borealis [t(36) = 3.60, P < 0.001]. Further study is required to determine whether modifications to lure settings or call types result in increased Indiana bat captures.
Surface mining transforms landscapes and ecosystem functions through the removal of vegetation and soil. Losses of vegetation correlate with declines, displacement, and transformations of songbird communities. Mine reclamation is a legislative requirement that can influence wildlife communities. The purpose of this study was to examine the avian community responses to mine reclamation practices and, as a proxy, assess the potential benefits and limitations of current reclamation approaches. Avian point counts were carried out at 202 plots on mined and surrounding non-mined areas throughout the Shale Hills Region of Alabama. These mines were reclaimed across a 26 year time-frame and using a variety of reclamation techniques. Six of the thirty-six bird species observed in high enough densities for detailed analysis showed differences of interest between reclaimed and random non-mined sites. Two species showed negative density responses: Carolina Chickadees (Poecile carolinensis), Hooded Warblers (Setophaga citrina). Conversely, densities of Field Sparrows (Spizella pusilla), Gray Catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis), Pine Warblers (Setophaga pinus), and Prairie Warblers (Setophaga discolor) responded positively to mine reclamation. We found that most mine reclamation in the Shale Hills Region of Alabama tended to shift habitat towards open canopy, edge, and grassland habitats. Though our study area tended to have fairly open forest structures (average basal areas around 13 m 2 /ha and average canopy closures around 50%), species that responded negatively were often associated with older sites with more closed canopies. Reclamation techniques should incorporate diverse canopy vegetation and thick mid-story cover to promote more complex vertical forest structure.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.