NIGHTLY, SEASONAL, AND YEARLY PATTERNS OF BAT ACTIVITY AT NIGHT ROOSTS IN THE CENTRAL APPALACHIANS

• DOI: 10.1644/05-mamm-a-012r1.1
• Publication Date: 2005-12-21T22:47:39Z
• Authors: Salvatore J. Agosta; David Morton; Brian D. Marsh; Kellie M. Kuhn
• Keywords: Eptesicus fuscus; Seasonality

This study presents data from 2 years of extensive sampling July to October at 7 caves and mines used by bats in the Appalachian Mountains region western Maryland southwestern Pennsylvania. In total, 2,860 individuals species were captured. We examined composition roosts compared our a survey conducted 5 same decades ago; up 6 species, has remained stable. addition, we roost fidelity via mark recapture (at 1 cave); population structure; nightly, seasonal, yearly patterns use. Bats exhibited very low rate (2.8%). Few captured exiting before or during 1st hour after sunset; peaks nightly captures generally occurred 3–5 h sunset, with few differences between sex age classes. These indicative frequent use these as night large numbers individuals. For 4 most abundant (Myotis lucifugus, M. septentrionalis, Pipistrellus subflavus, Eptesicus fuscus), adults juveniles both sexes. Adult ratios skewed toward males, whereas juvenile approached 1:1 for each species. Nightly ambient temperatures explained little variation capture times (2%) success (10%). seasonal activity similar years, but there among Overall, bat was highest late August years.