Roost site selection and roosting ecology of forest dwelling bats in southern British Columbia

We used radiotelemetry to examine the roost-site preferences of four species of tree-roosting bats (Eptesicus fuscus, Lasionycteris noctivagans, Myotis evotis, and M. volans) in southern British Columbia, Canada, by radio-tracking bats to their day roosts. We found a total of 21 roost trees: 14 roosts were beneath loose bark, 5 were in cavities excavated by woodpeckers, and 2 were in natural cavities. Entrance height increased with tree height, but roost entrances tended to be situated below the level of the canopy. Of the 22 tree and site variables examined, only 3 significantly discriminated between roost trees and available trees: tree height, distance to the nearest available tree, and percent canopy closure. Bats preferred tall trees associated with low percent canopy closure and a short distance to the nearest available tree. Bats roosted in western white pine, and to a lesser extent ponderosa pine and western larch, in intermediate stages of decay more often than would be expected at random. Bats switched roosts frequently. The distance between Subsequent roost trees was short, suggesting a degree of fidelity to a particular group of trees or area of forest. The number of days of rain during the roosting period significantly influenced the number of days spent in a particular roost, and thus ambient conditions may restrict the frequency with which bats can switch roosts

A non-commensal maternity roost of the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus)

There is no abstrac

Habitat Selection by Bats in Fragmented and Unfragmented Aspen Mixedwood Stands of Different Ages

To determine if bats prefer certain ages of aspen mixedwood forest for roosting and foraging, and to predict the impacts of logging on bats, we compared the relative abundances and foraging activities of bats in young, mature, and old stands in and , using bat detectors. In , we also assessed post-logging bat abundances in two of the mature and two of the old stands. We tracked radio-tagged Myotis lucifugus and Lasionyc- teris noctivagans to roost trees, which we measured and compared to a random sample of wildlife trees. Mean total activity of all bats was signifi- cantly greater in old than in young or mature stands. It also appeared greater in unfragmented than fragmented stands, but not significantly so. All roost trees were in old forests. Bats preferred tall (mean: . m), newly dead Populus spp. with heart rot and low leaf cover (mean: %). Tree-roosting colonies were small (– bats) and transient. Bats likely select trees large enough to house colonies and provide suitable tempera- tures, and these trees are only available in old stands. Roost preference likely explains observed activity patterns. To sustain bat populations in these forests, old stands must be retained and roost sites preserved by managing the forest at the stand level

Influence of urbanization on demography of little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) in the prairies of North America

10.1371/journal.pone.0020483PLoS ONE65e2048