Assessment of the Population Status of the Gray Bat (Myotis grisescens); Status Review, DoD Initiatives, and Results of a Multi-Agency Effort to Survey Wintering Populations at Major Hibernacula, 2005-2007

Martin, Chester O.

doi:10.21236/ada473199

Cited by 10 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Indian Cave, Grassy Creek Cave, and Oaks Cave are sites for summer maternity colonies, while Sensabaugh Cave is a summer bachelor colony (Martin, 2007). Martin (2007) included Mudflats Cave and Blowing Hole Cave as Priority 4 sites, but the species has not been observed at these caves in recent years (this study). Gray Bats have not been reported previously from Christian Cave or Phantom Insurgence Cave.…”

Section: Genus Myotis Myotis Grisescensmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…Populations throughout Tennessee are well-monitored because large colonies are only found in approximately eight caves nationally (Martin 2007). Indian Cave, Grassy Creek Cave, and Oaks Cave are sites for summer maternity colonies, while Sensabaugh Cave is a summer bachelor colony (Martin, 2007). Martin (2007) included Mudflats Cave and Blowing Hole Cave as Priority 4 sites, but the species has not been observed at these caves in recent years (this study).…”

Section: Genus Myotis Myotis Grisescensmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Genus Myotis Myotis Grisescensmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Vertebrate fauna in caves of eastern Tennessee within the Appalachians karst region, USA

Niemiller

Zigler

Stephen

et al. 2016

JCKS

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More than one-fifth of the documented caves in the United States occur in Tennessee. The obligate subterranean biota of Tennessee is rich and diverse, with 200 troglobionts reported from over 660 caves. Fifty troglobionts are known from just 75 of the 1,469 caves in the Appalachian Valley and Ridge physiographic province of eastern Tennessee. Tennessee's Valley and Ridge has been under-sampled relative to other karst areas in the state, limiting our knowledge of cave and karst species diversity and distributions and compromising our ability to identify habitats and species potentially at risk from anthropogenic threats, such as urban sprawl near the metropolitan area of Knoxville. Knowledge of nontroglobiontic species inhabiting caves, including vertebrates, is particularly sparse in this region. Although caves have long been recognized as critical habitats for several bat species, the importance of caves for other vertebrate taxa has received less attention. Caves are important habitats for many other nontroglobiontic vertebrates and should be considered in the management and conservation of these species. Our decade-long study bioinventoried 56 caves in 15 counties and begins to address knowledge gaps in distributions and cave use by vertebrates in

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Section: Genus Myotis Myotis Grisescensmentioning

confidence: 89%

Section: Genus Myotis Myotis Grisescensmentioning

confidence: 93%

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Vertebrate fauna in caves of eastern Tennessee within the Appalachians karst region, USA

Niemiller

Zigler

Stephen

et al. 2016

JCKS

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“…During the past century, gray bat populations declined dramatically, and by the 1970s, almost all individuals of the species were overwintering in only 9 caves (Tuttle 1979). In recent years, populations have increased throughout much of their geographic range, presumably because of increased protection of caves from human disturbance, the main reason for their initial listing under the Endangered Species Act (Martin 2007, Sasse et al 2007). Recent population increases, in addition to its apparent high tolerance to WNS (Cheng et al 2021), have led to a more optimistic outlook for the species (USFWS 2009); however, its populations are especially vulnerable in winter, as relatively few caves provide the cold, stable conditions needed for hibernation (Tuttle 1979).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A decade of hibernating bat communities along the periphery of a region of white‐nose syndrome

Perea,

Ferrall,

Morris

et al. 2023

J Wildl Manag

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Long‐term monitoring programs are necessary to assess populations for conservation planning and management decisions. Hibernating bats in North America have declined because of numerous natural and human‐induced disturbances. White‐nose syndrome (WNS) has become the most serious threat to North American cave‐dwelling bats, leading to significant population declines in several species. We examined trends in hibernating bat populations at 11 hibernacula in northern Georgia and Alabama, USA, from 2013–2022, beginning when WNS was first detected in the region. Although we observed interannual variation in numbers of the federally endangered gray bat (Myotis grisescens), mean counts remained stable over time. In contrast, the tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus) and the federally endangered northern long‐eared bat (M. septentrionalis) declined by >90% in the first 5 years after WNS detection in the region. Although no northern long‐eared bats have been reported since 2019, tricolored bat counts stabilized following initial declines. Understanding changes in bat populations as WNS continues to spread, and determining the extent of population declines, is necessary for making appropriate management decisions. Our findings elucidate the status of cave‐dwelling bat species along the periphery of the white‐nose syndrome endemic region and highlight the importance of monitoring bat communities on a regional scale to develop effective conservation strategies.

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“…Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Southeastern Cave Conservancy, Inc. (SCCi). The largest colony of Gray Bats (Myotis grisescens) hibernates in sections of Fern Cave [2]. The 80.5 hectare Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1981 to protect this federally endangered species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fern Cave: A Hotspot of Subterranean Biodiversity in the Interior Low Plateau Karst Region of Alabama in the Southeastern United States

Niemiller,

Slay,

Inebnit

et al. 2023

Diversity

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The Fern Cave System, developed in the western escarpment of the Southern Cumberland Plateau of the Interior Low Plateau karst region in Northeastern Alabama, USA, is a global hotspot of cave-limited biodiversity as well as home to the largest winter hibernaculum for the federally endangered Gray Bat (Myotis grisescens). We combined the existing literature, museum accessions, and database occurrences with new observations from bioinventory efforts conducted in 2018–2022 to generate an updated list of troglobiotic and stygobiotic species for the Fern Cave System. Our list of cave-limited fauna totals twenty-seven species, including nineteen troglobionts and eight stygobionts. Two pseudoscorpions are endemic to the Fern Cave System: Tyrannochthonius torodei and Alabamocreagris mortis. The exceptional diversity at Fern Cave is likely associated with several factors, such as the high dispersal potential of cave fauna associated with expansive karst exposures along the Southern Cumberland Plateau, high surface productivity, organic input from a large bat colony, favorable climate throughout the Pleistocene, and location within a larger regional hotspot of subterranean biodiversity. Nine species are of conservation concern, including the recently discovered Alabama cave shrimp Palaemonias alabamae, because of their small range sizes, few occurrences, and several potential threats.

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Assessment of the Population Status of the Gray Bat (Myotis grisescens); Status Review, DoD Initiatives, and Results of a Multi-Agency Effort to Survey Wintering Populations at Major Hibernacula, 2005-2007

Abstract: Abstract:The gray bat (Myotis grisescens) is a federally listed endangered species known to occur on several U

Cited by 10 publications

References 27 publications

Vertebrate fauna in caves of eastern Tennessee within the Appalachians karst region, USA

Vertebrate fauna in caves of eastern Tennessee within the Appalachians karst region, USA

A decade of hibernating bat communities along the periphery of a region of white‐nose syndrome

Fern Cave: A Hotspot of Subterranean Biodiversity in the Interior Low Plateau Karst Region of Alabama in the Southeastern United States

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