Roosts and home ranges of spotted bats (Euderma maculatum) in northern Arizona

Abstract

Roosting ecology and foraging behavior of spotted bats (Euderma maculatum (J.A. Allen, 1891)) are poorly known. We captured 47 spotted bats at three locations in northern Arizona and attached radio transmitters to 16 bats to identify roosts and home ranges. We identified 14 roosts for 12 bats. Female roosts faced south; males did not select a roost aspect. Bats used a mean of 1.4 roosts during 10 days. Mean distances from capture site and nearest perennial water source to roosts were 15.1 and 5.8 km, respectively. Maximum and minimum distances from capture to roost site were 36.3 and 2.3 km, respectively. Home ranges (95% use, minimum convex polygon method) for bats averaged 297 km 2 , which was much larger than reported for spotted bats elsewhere in their range and other insectivorous bats. Maximum flight speed was 53 km/h. Most foraging locations were in desert scrub vegetation, but bats also used woodlands and forests, perhaps seeking seasonal prey or cooler sites to reduce water stress. Maternity roosts were remote, difficult to access, and within protected areas in northern Arizona. Foraging areas and ponds used for drinking, however, included private and public lands managed for a variety of uses.Résumé : On connaît mal l'écologie de l'utilisation des perchoirs et le comportement de recherche de nourriture chez les chauves-souris tachetées (Euderma maculatum (J.A. Allen, 1891)). Nous avons capturé 47 chauves-souris tachetées à trois sites dans le nord de l'Arizona et fixé des émetteurs radio à 16 des chauves-souris afin d'identifier les sites des perchoirs et les domaines vitaux. Nous avons identifié 14 sites de perchoirs pour 12 chauves-souris. Les perchoirs des femelles font face au sud; les mâles ne choisissent pas d'orientation particulière pour se percher. Sur une période de 10 jours, les chauvessouris utilisent en moyenne 1,4 perchoir. Les distances moyennes du point de capture sont de 15,1 km et du point permanent d'eau le plus proche de 5,8 km. Les distances maximale et minimale entre les points de capture et les sites des perchoirs sont respectivement de 36,3 et 2,3 km. Les aires vitales (95 % d'utilisation, méthode des polygones convexes minimaux) des chauves-souris sont de 297 m 2 , beaucoup plus qu'il n'est signalé chez les chauves-souris tachetées ailleurs dans leur aire de répartition et chez les autres chauves-souris insectivores. La vitesse maximale de vol est de 53 km à l'heure. La plupart des sites d'alimentation sont dans la végétation arbustive de désert; les chauves-souris utilisent aussi les terrains boisés et les forêts, y recherchant peut-être des proies saisonnières ou des sites plus frais pour réduire leur stress hydrique. Les perchoirs de maternité sont éloignés, difficiles d'accès et situés dans des zones protégées dans le nord de l'Arizona. Les zones d'alimentation et les étangs utilisés pour boire se retrouvent sur des terres privées et publiques gérées pour une variété d'utilisations.[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Relationships between bat occupancy and habitat and landscape structure along a savanna, woodland, forest gradient in the Missouri Ozarks

“…Bats can use large areas and different resources for foraging and roosting, so it is not surprising to us that land‐cover composition was important at this scale. Big brown bats travel up to 11 km to reach foraging sites (Arbuthnott and Brigham ); and other insectivorous bats, such as the spotted bat ( Euderma maculatum ) and Virginia big‐eared bat ( Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus ), travel up to 36.3 km and 8.4 km, respectively (Adam et al , Chambers et al ). Yates and Muzika () found support for effects of landscape factors on site occupancy of eastern red bats and northern long‐eared bats, but not tri‐colored bats.…”

Will climate change leave some desert bat species thirstier than others?

“…Less-maneuverable bats are typically large in body size, which likely allows them to maintain better water balance than smaller species (Carpenter 1969). Larger bats with fast flight can also more efficiently cover longer distances to locate suitable water sources while expending less energy than smaller bats (Chambers et al 2011;Robinson and Stebbings 1997). Also, some larger bats can consume larger prey items that provide greater water content than can smaller-bodied, more agile species (Barclay and Brigham 1991).…”

Montana bat and white‐nose syndrome surveillance plan and protocols 2012 ‐2016 /

“…5 Average one-way travel distances between day roosts and foraging areas was 3.2 km +/-0.5 SD for males and 1.3 km +/-0.2 SD for females in coastal California; maximum distance traveled from the day roost was 10.5 km. 72 8 Nightly round trip commutes of >77 km between day roosts, foraging areas, and night roosts that differed in elevation by ca. 2,000 meters in northern Arizona.…”