Effects of temperature and availability of insect prey on bat emergence from hibernation in spring

Meyer, Gretchen A.; Senulis, Joseph A.; Reinartz, James A.

doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyw126

Cited by 37 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Based on different life histories, we expected species-specific responses to ambient conditions and distance to caves in temperate environments [25,[45][46][47]. The results corroborate previous research indicating ambient temperatures are positively related to general bat activity across seasons [19,28,43,48,49], and specifically show this relationship exists around hibernacula in the central Appalachians.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

“…However, observations of spring roost sites are limited compared to well-studied summer roosts [18]. Foraging success and prey availability around hibernacula during the spring, when energetic demands are high post-hibernation, are important factors affecting subsequent movement to maternity areas and subsequent reproductive success [9,19]. Spring emergence may not be triggered by prey availability per se, but it is probably linked directly to temperature and pressure changes, photoperiod, reproductive phenology and circannual rhythms [19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Foraging success and prey availability around hibernacula during the spring, when energetic demands are high post-hibernation, are important factors affecting subsequent movement to maternity areas and subsequent reproductive success [9,19]. Spring emergence may not be triggered by prey availability per se, but it is probably linked directly to temperature and pressure changes, photoperiod, reproductive phenology and circannual rhythms [19]. Meyer et al [19] suggested that female bat arrival at colony areas coincides with increasing insect abundance, even if prey availability was low at first emergence.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Spring emergence may not be triggered by prey availability per se, but it is probably linked directly to temperature and pressure changes, photoperiod, reproductive phenology and circannual rhythms [19]. Meyer et al [19] suggested that female bat arrival at colony areas coincides with increasing insect abundance, even if prey availability was low at first emergence.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because energetic demands of migration are high, foraging may be an important activity immediately post-emergence. Foraging success, however, is tied closely to prey availability, which in turn is affected by weather conditions [19,23]. Spatio-temporal assessments of bat activity post-emergence may better allow managers to recognize vital habitat and time periods, thus encouraging conservation actions and habitat management that provide maximum benefit to dwindling bat populations regionally.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Activity Patterns of Cave-Dwelling Bat Species during Pre-Hibernation Swarming and Post-Hibernation Emergence in the Central Appalachians

et al. 2019

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In North America, bat research efforts largely have focused on summer maternity colonies and winter hibernacula, leaving the immediate pre- and post-hibernation ecology for many species unstudied. Understanding these patterns and processes is critical for addressing potential additive impacts to White-nose Syndrome (WNS)-affected bats, as autumn is a time of vital weight gain and fat resources are largely depleted in early spring in surviving individuals. Our study sought to examine autumn and spring bat activity patterns in the central Appalachian Mountains around three hibernacula to better understand spatio-temporal patterns during staging for hibernation and post-hibernation migration in the post-WNS environment. From early September through November 2015 and 2016, and from early March through April 2016 and 2017, we assessed the effects of distance to hibernacula and ambient conditions on nightly bat activity for Myotis spp. and big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) using zero-crossing frequency division bat detectors near cave entrances and 1 km, 2 km, and 3 km distant from caves. Following identification of echolocation calls, we used generalized linear mixed effects models to examine patterns of activity across the landscape over time and relative to weather. Overall bat activity was low at all sample sites during autumn and spring periods except at sites closest to hibernacula. Best-supported models describing bat activity varied, but date and ambient temperatures generally appeared to be major drivers of activity in both seasons. Total activity for all species had largely ceased by mid-November. Spring bat activity was variable across the sampling season, however, some activity was observed as early as mid-March, almost a month earlier than the historically accepted emergence time regionally. Current timing of restrictions on forest management activities that potentially remove day-roosts near hibernacula when bats are active on the landscape may be mismatched with actual spring post-hibernation emergence. Adjustments to the timing of these restrictions during the spring may help to avoid potentially additive negative impacts on WNS-impacted bat species.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Activity Patterns of Cave-Dwelling Bat Species during Pre-Hibernation Swarming and Post-Hibernation Emergence in the Central Appalachians

et al. 2019

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Active season body mass patterns of little brown and northern myotis bats

Balzer

Grottoli

Burns

et al. 2022

Ecology and Evolution

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Animals are expected to adjust their behavioral patterns to improve fitness outcomes, such as fecundity or offspring survival. For long-lived hibernators, decisions made in each annual cycle may reflect considerations not just for concurrent survival and reproduction but also the pressure to maximize overwinter survival and future reproductive success. We examined how these elements manifest themselves in the body mass variation patterns of North American northern latitude temperate bats, whose size and roosting habits present considerable monitoring challenges. We characterized and compared the summer and fall mass variation patterns of little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) and northern myotis (M. septentrionalis) from a historic dataset. In summer, the estimated date of parturition was strongly associated with spring foraging conditions (low wind, low precipitation, and warm temperatures), and mass gain associated with female reproduction conferred considerable differentiation between the mass variation patterns of females and males. In fall, differences were most apparent among species, although adults exhibited a greater capacity for rapid mass gain than juveniles. These results demonstrate how reproductive constraints and interannual survival have important influences on the behavior of temperate bats. Future work should seek to quantify the fitness benefits of patterns identified in this study, such as the rate of prehibernation mass gain.

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Seasonal phenology of the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) at 60° N

Reimer,

Barclay

2024

Ecosphere

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To investigate the impact of short summers and long summer solar periods at high latitudes on the behavior of a nocturnal, hibernating mammal, we recorded the phenology of Myotis lucifugus (little brown myotis) at 60° N in the Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada. In particular, we assessed the timing of spring emergence from, and autumn entry into, hibernation, reproduction, and seasonal mass fluctuations. We used a combination of acoustic monitoring and capture surveys at two hibernacula and two maternity roosts during 2011 and 2012. Myotis spp. were active at the hibernacula from late April to late September/early October, suggesting that the “active” season length is similar to that of populations farther south. At maternity colonies, we detected M. lucifugus activity from early May to early October, with peaks during mid‐July in both years. Lactation, fledging, and weaning all occurred later in the NWT than at more southern locations, and reproductive rates were significantly lower than rates observed farther south. The average mass of individuals fluctuated throughout the season, with an initial decline immediately following emergence from hibernation likely reflecting increased energy expenditure due to flight and decreased use of torpor, coupled with relatively low prey intake due to low prey abundance associated with cool temperatures. Females did not appear to have lower pre‐hibernation masses than those in more southern populations, suggesting that despite the cool spring and autumn temperatures, and short summer nights, bats are able to obtain enough energy for reproduction and mass accumulation for hibernation. However, the lower reproductive rates may indicate that there are limitations to life at the northern limits of the species' range.

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Effects of temperature and availability of insect prey on bat emergence from hibernation in spring

Cited by 37 publications

References 34 publications

Activity Patterns of Cave-Dwelling Bat Species during Pre-Hibernation Swarming and Post-Hibernation Emergence in the Central Appalachians

Activity Patterns of Cave-Dwelling Bat Species during Pre-Hibernation Swarming and Post-Hibernation Emergence in the Central Appalachians

Active season body mass patterns of little brown and northern myotis bats

Seasonal phenology of the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) at 60° N

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