Social vocalizations and their implications for group dynamics of pallid bats (Antrozous pallidus)

Pallid bats (Antrozous pallidus) are unusual among vespertilionids (the most common and diverse family of bats in temperate regions of the world) in that they often emit a loud, partially audible social call several times in rapid succession while in flight. This social call appears to function as a contact call in that it is frequently given when bats return from foraging and perform circular flights before entering a crevice roost. In this dissertation, I examine the functional and social significance of this calling behavior by free-flying pallid bats in central Oregon using a combination of observations, audio recordings, audio playbacks, acoustic analysis, and genetic marker analysis. In chapter 1, I found that bats respond to the calls of conspecifics and that call structure is unique to individuals and stable through time, which makes these calls well-suited for roostmate recognition. In chapter 2, I found significant genetic structure among colonies based on sequence variation at the mitochondrial DNA control region but very little structure among colonies for nuclear microsatellites. These data are indicative of female philopatry with male-mediated gene flow and highlight the potential that calls may function in the maintenance of multigenerational social groups. Finally, in chapter 3, I utilized genetic markers to investigate relatedness among individuals sharing a roost and the extent to which call variation encodes information about relatedness to examine whether calling behavior may assist in maintaining social bonds as individuals switch roosts. I found that while average colony relatedness was low, bats roost with a greater proportion of relatives than expected by chance. In addition, I found that contact call structure encodes information about matrilineal relationship and relatedness as well as individual identity. Overall, these results suggest that calling behavior in pallid bats is important in maintaining social structure at maternity roosts. Given the high roost lability and nocturnal environment of pallid bats, this study offers important insight into how animals in fluid societies mediate interactions with groupmates using acoustic signals

2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Built Environment Considerations To Reduce Transmission.

With the rapid spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that results in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), corporate entities, federal, state, county, and city governments, universities, school districts, places of worship, prisons, health care facilities, assisted living organizations, daycares, homeowners, and other building owners and occupants have an opportunity to reduce the potential for transmission through built environment (BE)-mediated pathways. Over the last decade, substantial research into the presence, abundance, diversity, function, and transmission of microbes in the BE has taken place and revealed common pathogen exchange pathways and mechanisms. In this paper, we synthesize this microbiology of the BE research and the known information about SARS-CoV-2 to provide actionable and achievable guidance to BE decision makers, building operators, and all indoor occupants attempting to minimize infectious disease transmission through environmentally mediated pathways. We believe this information is useful to corporate and public administrators and individuals responsible for building operations and environmental services in their decision-making process about the degree and duration of social-distancing measures during viral epidemics and pandemics

Use of Highway Culverts, Box Bridges, and Caves by Winter-Roosting Bats in Mississippi

White-nose Syndrome (WNS) has caused declines in bat populations in many areas of North America. To understand bat use and fungus presence in caves and culverts in Mississippi, I recorded bat species and abundance in these sites, roosting site characteristics, and incidence of WNS in selected caves and culverts used by bats. Sixteen caves and 214 culverts were surveyed from November-March 2010-2015. Five bat species were detected, and tricolor bats (Perimyotis subflavus) and southeastern myotis (Myotis austroriparius) were most abundant. Over five years, 3,789 roosting bats were recorded in caves and 16,812 were detected in culverts. I found significant relationships between bat numbers in culverts and microclimate conditions, dimensions, and proximity to public lands (P \u3c 0.03). This study can help biologists with prioritization of protection and monitoring of culvert and cave roost sites and provide a greater understanding WNS incidence in these sites

Masticophis taeniatus

Number of Pages: 6Integrative BiologyGeological Science

Use of Bridges as Day Roosts by Bats in Southern Illinois

From May through July 2001, and June through August 2002 we surveyed 232 bridges in 9 southern Illinois counties for the presence of roosting bats. Fifteen bridges (6.5%) had bats roosting at the time they were surveyed. We encountered big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) most frequently. Eastern pipestrelles (Pipestrellus subflavus), little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus), and northern long-eared bats (M. septentrionalis) also were found roosting under bridges. The number of bats per bridge ranged from 1 to \u3e100. Bats occurred in four of the five types of bridge designs surveyed. Of the 15 bridges with bats, 11 were rechecked at a later date to determine continuity of use. Seven of the 11 (63.6%) were being used by bats when rechecked. From this, we derived an estimated usage rate of 23.6 bridges (15/0.636) during the study, or about 10% of the 232 bridges surveyed. We could not determine relationships between bat presence and habitat features around bridges

Distributional Limits of Bats in Alaska

Bats in temperate regions are relatively well studied, yet little research has focused on the northern limit of their distribution. We document the northwestern extent of bats in North America using museum holdings, literature records, and field research in Alaska. Six bat species are confirmed from Alaska: Myotis lucifugus, M. keenii, M. californicus, M. volans, Lasionycteris noctivagans, and Eptesicus fuscus. M. lucifugus occurs throughout much of Alaska south of the Arctic Circle, whereas four other species occur only in Southeast Alaska. Climate, roost availability, extent of forested habitat, geographic barriers, length of night, and prey abundance appear to influence the distribution of bats in Alaska, although the relative contribution of these factors is unknown.Si, dans les régions tempérées, les chauves-souris ont fait l'objet d'études relativement approfondies, on a par contre mené peu de recherches sur la limite septentrionale de leur répartition. Cet article décrit l'extension nord-ouest de l'aire des chauves-souris en Amérique du Nord en faisant appel à des pièces muséologiques, des documents comportant des relevés, et des recherches sur le terrain en Alaska. On confirme que six espèces de chauves-souris se retrouvent en Alaska: Myotis lucifugus, M. keenii, M. californicus, M. volans, Lasionycteris noctivagans et Eptesicus fuscus. M. lucifugus est répandue presque partout en Alaska au sud du cercle polaire, tandis que quatre autres espèces ne se retrouvent que dans le sud-est de l'Alaska. Il semble que le climat, la disponibilité des sites de reproduction, l'étendue de l'habitat forestier, les barrières géographiques, la longueur de la nuit et l'abondance des proies influencent la distribution des chauves-souris en Alaska, bien qu'on ne connaisse pas la contribution relative de ces facteurs

Food Habits of the Hoary Bat in an Agricultural Landscape

Information on diets is fundamental to ecological studies. Prey use by the solitary, tree-roosting hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus) in agricultural landscapes is not known. We examined the stomach contents and fecal material from carcasses of hoary bats collected during a mortality study at wind turbine sites in southwestern Minnesota. We compared diet of hoary bats to availability of prey to determine whether bats were opportunistic or selective. Food of the hoary bats primarily consisted of lepidopterans (moths; 49-50 %) and coleopterans (beetles; 28-40 %). The abundance of insects in the diet of hoary bats was not proportional to the estimated availability of prey. Hoary bats selected large, soft-bodied insects (e.g., lepidopterans and neuropterans) and avoided small or hard-bodied insects (e.g., coleopterans, dipterans, and hemipterans). We suggest that hoary bats do not select prey based on availability, but rather, select prey that are large and soft-bodied