Population Trends of Wintering Bats in Vermont

Trombulak, Stephen C.; Higuera, Philip E.; DesMeules, Mark

doi:10.2307/3858262

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…Although N e has not been quantified for M. lucifugus , we expect it to be quite large (at least prior to WNS) based on large historical hibernating population estimates (Trombulak et al. ; Frick et al. ; Turner et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic connectivity among swarming sites in the wide ranging and recently declining little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus)

Burns

Frasier

Broders

2014

Ecology and Evolution

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Characterizing movement dynamics and spatial aspects of gene flow within a species permits inference on population structuring. As patterns of structuring are products of historical and current demographics and gene flow, assessment of structure through time can yield an understanding of evolutionary dynamics acting on populations that are necessary to inform management. Recent dramatic population declines in hibernating bats in eastern North America from white-nose syndrome have prompted the need for information on movement dynamics for multiple bat species. We characterized population genetic structure of the little brown bat, Myotis lucifugus, at swarming sites in southeastern Canada using 9 nuclear microsatellites and a 292-bp region of the mitochondrial genome. Analyses of FST, ΦST, and Bayesian clustering (STRUCTURE) found weak levels of genetic structure among swarming sites for the nuclear and mitochondrial genome (Global FST = 0.001, P < 0.05, Global ΦST = 0.045, P < 0.01, STRUCTURE K = 1) suggesting high contemporary gene flow. Hierarchical AMOVA also suggests little structuring at a regional (provincial) level. Metrics of nuclear genetic structure were not found to differ between males and females suggesting weak asymmetries in gene flow between the sexes. However, a greater degree of mitochondrial structuring does support male-biased dispersal long term. Demographic analyses were consistent with past population growth and suggest a population expansion occurred from approximately 1250 to 12,500 BP, following Pleistocene deglaciation in the region. Our study suggests high gene flow and thus a high degree of connectivity among bats that visit swarming sites whereby mainland areas of the region may be best considered as one large gene pool for management and conservation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic connectivity among swarming sites in the wide ranging and recently declining little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus)

Burns

Frasier

Broders

2014

Ecology and Evolution

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“…The hibernating population at the upper Chester Mine before the winter of 2008/2009 was estimated to be 8,000-10,000 individuals, but has since declined to just 116 bats by mid winter in 2009. The population at Aeolus Cave before it was infected with Gd may have been as high as 300,000 individuals (Trombulak et al 2001) but the majority of the bats hibernating in the accessible portions of this site had died by late January 2009 (S. Darling, personal communication). We can further illustrate the decline at these colonies using the Schnabel Method (1938) for estimating population size based on mark-recapture data of adult female bats.…”

Section: Maternity Colonies Corroborate Wns-related Population Declinesmentioning

confidence: 96%

Free-Ranging Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus) Heal from Wing Damage Associated with White-Nose Syndrome

et al. 2011

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White-nose syndrome (WNS) is having an unprecedented impact on hibernating bat populations in the eastern United States. While most studies have focused on widespread mortality observed at winter hibernacula, few have examined the consequences of wing damage that has been observed among those bats that survive hibernation. Given that WNS-related wing damage may lead to life-threatening changes in wing function, we tested the hypothesis that reduced abundance of free-ranging little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) with severe wing damage as the summer progresses is due to healing of wing tissue. Photographs of captured and recaptured adult females were examined for wing damage and healing rates were calculated for each category of wing damage index (WDI = 0-3). We found that free-ranging bats with severe wing damage were able to heal to a lower WDI score within 2 weeks. Bats with the most severe wing damage had faster healing rates than did individuals with less damage. We also found a significant relationship between body condition and WDI for adult females captured in the early weeks of the active season. Our results support the hypothesis that some bats can heal from severe wing damage during the active season, and thus may not experience increased mortality associated with reduced functions of wings. We urge researchers and wildlife managers to use caution when interpreting data on WDI to assess the impact of WNS on bat populations, especially during the later months of the active season.

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“…Females may roost alone or in colonies, while males roost singly [12], [18]. In autumn, P. subflavus engage in swarming behavior, after which they hibernate in caves, abandoned mines and occasionally human-made structures [14], [15], [20]–[25]. There is little information about their movements among summering grounds, swarming sites, and hibernacula [26], but they are currently believed to be a short-distance regional migrant [12], [27], [28].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence of Latitudinal Migration in Tri-colored Bats, Perimyotis subflavus

et al. 2012

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BackgroundAnnual movements of tri-colored bats (Perimyotis subflavus) are poorly understood. While this species has been considered a regional migrant, some evidence suggests that it may undertake annual latitudinal migrations, similar to other long distance North American migratory bat species.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe investigated migration in P. subflavus by conducting stable hydrogen isotope analyses of 184 museum specimen fur samples and comparing these results (δDfur) to published interpolated δD values of collection site growing season precipitation (δDprecip). Results suggest that the male molt period occurred between June 23 and October 16 and 33% of males collected during the presumed non-molt period were south of their location of fur growth. For the same time period, 16% of females were south of their location of fur growth and in general, had not travelled as far as migratory males. There were strong correlations between δDfur from the presumed molt period and both growing season δDprecip (males – r 2 = 0.86; p<0.01; females – r 2 = 0.75; p<0.01), and latitude of collection (males – r 2 = 0.85; p<0.01; females – r 2 = 0.73; p<0.01). Most migrants were collected at the northern (>40°N; males and females) and southern (<35°N; males only) extents of the species' range.Conclusions/SignificanceThese results indicate a different pattern of migration for this species than previously documented, suggesting that some P. subflavus engage in annual latitudinal migrations and that migratory tendency varies with latitude and between sexes. We suggest that this species' hibernation ecology makes it particularly susceptible to long winters, making migration from the northern extent of the species' range to more southern hibernacula preferable for some individuals. Fur δD values for some of the northern individuals may indicate an increase in the currently accepted northern range of this species. Sex-biased differences in migration may be the result of differences in reproductive pressures.

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Population Trends of Wintering Bats in Vermont

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

Genetic connectivity among swarming sites in the wide ranging and recently declining little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus)

Genetic connectivity among swarming sites in the wide ranging and recently declining little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus)

Free-Ranging Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus) Heal from Wing Damage Associated with White-Nose Syndrome

Evidence of Latitudinal Migration in Tri-colored Bats, Perimyotis subflavus

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