Roost tree selection by northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis) maternity colonies following prescribed fire in a Central Appalachian Mountains hardwood forest

Johnson, Joshua B.; Edwards, John W.; Ford, W. Mark; Gates, J. Edward

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2009.04.008

Cited by 62 publications

(117 citation statements)

References 61 publications

(105 reference statements)

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“…We predicted that Indiana myotis would select roost trees within forest gaps created by fire, and that roost-switching frequency would be higher and distances travelled to new roosts shorter in forest stands subjected to fire (Boyles and Aubrey 2006;Johnson et al 2009), which is consistent with other bat species in the region and existing ecological observations of the Indiana myotis.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 74%

“…Roost trees were surrounded by trees that were in more advanced stages of decay, possibly providing additional roosting structure. Also, the forced senescence of roost trees and surrounding trees resulted in an enlarged canopy gap, allowing more solar radiation to reach the roost trees (Johnson et al 2009). In burned areas, canopy gaps were larger than those in unburned areas.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For each roost tree, we averaged each variable for these four nearest trees irrespective of species. We measured percent canopy gap either with a densiometer at four cardinal directions surrounding the tree, or through photographic methods (Johnson et al 2009). We recorded aspect with a compass, percent slope with a clinometer at the plot (11.3-m radius centered on the roost tree), and stand basal area with a 20-factor prism (m 2 /ha).…”

Section: Habitat Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Random trees were identified as any tree (.10 cm dbh) that had exfoliating bark that possibly could be used by an Indiana myotis as described by Menzel et al (2001). We used a subset of random trees meeting Indiana myotis roosting requirements (e.g., exfoliating bark) from a separate study (Johnson et al 2009). Therefore, we could not match random trees with roost trees in terms of sample size.…”

Section: Habitat Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Depending upon season, severity, and microsite conditions, fire can result in an increased abundance of dead and dying trees, which typically has positive implications for tree-dwelling wildlife species, including bats (Tucker et al 2004;Blake 2005;Boyles and Aubrey 2006;Hayes and Loeb 2007). Recent research indicates that prescribed fires alter forest structure in a way that is favorable to bats that roost in tree cavities or under exfoliating bark (Boyles and Aubrey 2006;Johnson et al 2009;Lacki et al 2009). Whereas empirical data exist indicating that fire positively affects roosting habitat of common species such as evening bats Nycticeius humeralis and northern myotis Myotis septentrionalis, no work has specifically examined this condition relative to roost selection and habitat of Indiana myotis M. sodalis, a species listed as endangered pursuant to the U.S.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Roost Selection by Male Indiana Myotis Following Forest Fires in Central Appalachian Hardwoods Forests

Johnson

Ford

Rodrigue

et al. 2010

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management

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Despite the potential for prescribed fire and natural wildfire to increase snag abundance in hardwood forests, few studies have investigated effects of fire on bat roosting habitat, particularly that of the endangered Indiana myotis Myotis sodalis. From 2001 to 2009, we examined roost selection of Indiana myotis in burned and unburned forests in Tucker County, West Virginia. We radiotracked 15 male Indiana myotis to 50 roost trees; 16 in burned stands and 34 in unburned stands. Indiana myotis roosted in stands that had initially been burned 1-3 y prior to our observations. In burned stands, Indiana myotis roosted exclusively in fire-killed maples (Acer spp.). In unburned stands, they roosted in live trees, predominately hickories (Carya spp.), oaks (Quercus spp.), and maples. Roost trees in burned stands were surrounded by less basal area and by trees in advanced stages of decay, creating larger canopy gaps than at random trees in burned stands or actual roost trees located in unburned stands. Compared to random trees in unburned stands, roost trees in unburned stands were less decayed, had higher percent bark coverage, and were surrounded by less basal area, also resulting in larger canopy gaps. Roost-switching frequency and distances moved by Indiana myotis among roost trees were similar between burned and unburned stands. Our research indicates that use of fire for forest management purposes, at minimum provoked no response from Indiana myotis in terms of roost tree selection, and may create additional roost resources, depending on spatial context.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 74%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Habitat Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Habitat Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Roost Selection by Male Indiana Myotis Following Forest Fires in Central Appalachian Hardwoods Forests

Johnson

Ford

Rodrigue

et al. 2010

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management

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Bats in a changing landscape: Linking occupancy and traits of a diverse montane bat community to fire regime

Blakey

Webb

Kesler

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Wildfires are increasing in incidence and severity across coniferous forests of the western United States, leading to changes in forest structure and wildlife habitats. Knowledge of how species respond to fire‐driven habitat changes in these landscapes is limited and generally disconnected from our understanding of adaptations that underpin responses to fire. We aimed to investigate drivers of occupancy of a diverse bat community in a fire‐altered landscape, while identifying functional traits that underpinned these relationships. We recorded bats acoustically at 83 sites ( n = 249 recording nights) across the Plumas National Forest in the northern Sierra Nevada over 3 summers (2015–2017). We investigated relationships between fire regime, physiographic variables, forest structure and probability of bat occupancy for nine frequently detected species. We used fourth‐corner regression and RLQ analysis to identify ecomorphological traits driving species–environment relationships across 17 bat species. Traits included body mass; call frequency, bandwidth, and duration; and foraging strategy based on vegetation structure (open, edge, or clutter). Relationships between bat traits and fire regime were underpinned by adaptations to diverse forest structure. Bats with traits adapting them to foraging in open habitats, including emitting longer duration and narrow bandwidth calls, were associated with higher severity and more frequent fires, whereas bats with traits consistent with clutter tolerance were negatively associated with fire frequency and burn severity. Relationships between edge‐adapted bat species and fire were variable and may be influenced by prey preference or habitat configuration at a landscape scale. Predicted increases in fire frequency and severity in western US coniferous forests are likely to shift dominance in the bat community to open‐adapted species and those able to exploit postfire resource pulses (aquatic insects, beetles, and snags). Managing for pyrodiversity within the western United States is likely important for maintaining bat community diversity, as well as diversity of other biotic communities.

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Tree roosts of northern long‐eared bats following white‐nose syndrome

Thalken

Lacki

2017

J Wildl Manag

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Spring emergence and summer maternity seasons are critical to long‐term survival of cave‐hibernating bats inhabiting geographic regions affected by white‐nose syndrome (WNS). White‐nose syndrome reached cave‐hibernating populations of bats in Mammoth Cave National Park (MCNP), Kentucky, USA, in 2013, with significant declines in several species of bats that hibernate in MCNP during winter 2014–2015, including the northern long‐eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis). To assess behavior and roost selection of individuals surviving to spring emergence and the summer maternity season, we radio‐tracked 26 northern long‐eared bats captured at various locations with differing habitat conditions in MCNP during 2015 and 2016. We tracked bats daily to identify roosting sites and patterns in use of roosts, describe habitat conditions associated with roosting sites, and quantify variation in size of colonies occupying roost trees. The average number of bats emerging from roost trees (3.58 ± 0.57 [SE]) was low compared with estimates for the species in studies completed pre‐WNS. Adult female bats selected trees within 6 roost areas with no overlap in use of roost areas between non‐reproductive females in spring and pregnant and lactating females in summer. Variation in roost tree and surrounding forest characteristics occurred across sex and reproductive condition classes, with males and pregnant and lactating females roosting at higher landscape positions than non‐reproductive females. Comparisons of roosting habitat models demonstrated the torpor model (decay class, stem diameter, canopy cover) to be parsimonious, regardless of sex and reproductive condition class, suggesting importance for choosing roost trees that facilitate use of daytime torpor. Such a strategy would promote energy savings and be consistent with behaviors anticipated for bats vulnerable to WNS effects during winter hibernation because these bats are potentially compromised in health and physiologic condition upon emergence from hibernation in spring. We encourage land managers responsible for roost trees of northern long‐eared bats to consider seasonal and landscape‐level variation in roosting habitat needs of these bats. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.

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Roost tree selection by northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis) maternity colonies following prescribed fire in a Central Appalachian Mountains hardwood forest

Cited by 62 publications

References 61 publications

Roost Selection by Male Indiana Myotis Following Forest Fires in Central Appalachian Hardwoods Forests

Roost Selection by Male Indiana Myotis Following Forest Fires in Central Appalachian Hardwoods Forests

Bats in a changing landscape: Linking occupancy and traits of a diverse montane bat community to fire regime

Tree roosts of northern long‐eared bats following white‐nose syndrome

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