Home-range Size and Habitat Used by the Northern Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis)

Abstract We examined home range size and habitat use of nine female northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis) within an intensively managed forest in the central Appalachians of West Virginia. Using the 95% adaptive kernel method, we calculated a mean home range of 65 ha. Northern myotis used recent diameter-limit harvests and road corridors more than expected based on availability of these habitats. Intact forest stands and more open deferment harvested stands were used less than expected based on the availability of these habitats, although intact forest stands still constituted the overall majority of habitat used. Partial timber harvests that leave a relatively closed canopy appear to promote or improve northern myotis foraging habitat in heavily forested landscapes. However, the long-term ecological impacts on bats and other biota from this silviculturally unacceptable practice are unclear.

[1]  Jennifer M. Menzel,et al.  Bat Activity in Harvested and Intact Forest - Stands in the Allegheny Mountains , 2004 .

[2]  Jennifer M. Menzel,et al.  FOOD HABITS OF SEVEN SPECIES OF BATS IN THE ALLEGHENY PLATEAU AND RIDGE AND VALLEY OF WEST VIRGINIA , 2003 .

[3]  A. Kurta,et al.  PHILOPATRY AND MIGRATION OF BANDED INDIANA BATS (MYOTIS SODALIS) AND EFFECTS OF RADIO TRANSMITTERS , 2002 .

[4]  P. Wood,et al.  Roost tree selection by northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) maternity colonies in an industrial forest of the central Appalachian mountains , 2002 .

[5]  Jennifer M. Menzel,et al.  Summer Roost-Tree Selection by a Male Indiana Bat on the Fernow Experimental Forest , 2002 .

[6]  M. Lacki,et al.  Day-roost characteristics of northern bats in mixed mesophytic forest , 2001 .

[7]  Jennifer M. Menzel,et al.  Home Range and Habitat Use of Male Rafinesque's Big-eared Bats (Corynorhinus rafinesquii) , 2001 .

[8]  J. Whitaker,et al.  Foods of the northern myotis, Myotis septentrionalis, from Missouri and Indiana, with notes on foraging , 2001 .

[9]  I. Thompson,et al.  Habitat Selection by Forest Bats in Relation to Mixed-Wood Stand Types and Structure in Central Ontario , 1999 .

[10]  M. Lacki,et al.  Roost Selection, Population Size and Habitat Use by a Colony of Rafinesque's Big-eared Bats (Corynorhinus rafinesquii) , 1999 .

[11]  M. Lacki,et al.  Occurrence of moths among habitats in a mixed mesophytic forest : Implications for management of forest bats , 1999 .

[12]  Gary C. White,et al.  Autocorrelation of location estimates and the analysis of radiotracking data , 1999 .

[13]  A. Kurta,et al.  Roosting ecology of the Northern bat (Myotis septentrionalis) and comparisons with the endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) , 1999 .

[14]  W. Zielinski,et al.  Bat Use of Remnant Old‐Growth Redwood Stands , 1999 .

[15]  Shawn T. Grushecky,et al.  THE EFFECTS OF HARVESTING PRACTICES ON WEST VIRGINIA'S WOOD SUPPLY , 1998 .

[16]  M. Yamasaki,et al.  Bat habitat use in White Mountain National Forest , 1996 .

[17]  Ralph D. Nyland,et al.  Silviculture: Concepts and Applications , 1996 .

[18]  J. J. de.  Habitat use and species richness of bats in a patchy landscape , 1995 .

[19]  Nicholas J. Aebischer,et al.  Compositional Analysis of Habitat Use From Animal Radio-Tracking Data , 1993 .

[20]  J. S. Findley.  Bats: A Community Perspective , 1993 .

[21]  L. Ruggiero,et al.  Wildlife and Vegetation of Unmanaged Douglas-Fir Forests , 1992 .

[22]  M. Brock Fenton,et al.  The foraging behaviour and ecology of animal-eating bats , 1990 .

[23]  H. Aldridge,et al.  Load Carrying and Maneuverability in an Insectivorous Bat: a Test of the 5% “Rule” of Radio-Telemetry , 1988 .

[24]  Donald W. Thomas.  THE DISTRIBUTION OF BATS IN DIFFERENT AGES OF DOUGLAS-FIR FORESTS , 1988 .

[25]  D. K. Rosenberg,et al.  Use and Characteristics of Snags in Young and Old Forest Stands in Southwest Virginia , 1988, Forest Science.

[26]  K. McGarigal,et al.  The effect of forest stand age on owl distribution in southwestern Virginia , 1984 .

[27]  Roger W. Barbour,et al.  Bats of America , 1979 .

[28]  J. Kochenderfer,et al.  Area in Skidroads, Truck Roads, and Landings in the Central Appalachians , 1977 .

[29]  T. Kunz.  Resource Utilization: Temporal and Spatial Components of Bat Activity in Central Iowa , 1973 .

[30]  T. Lewis.  Patterns of distribution of insects near a windbreak of tall trees , 1970 .

[31]  C. C. Sanborn.  Bats of the United States. , 1954, Public health reports.