Introduction to Bats - Forestry Natural Resources and Wildlife - Lecture Slides, Slides of Wildlife Ecology

Download Introduction to Bats - Forestry Natural Resources and Wildlife - Lecture Slides and more Slides Wildlife Ecology in PDF only on Docsity! An Introduction to Bats Docsity.com BATS Creepy, blind, blood-sucking RODENTS of the night….right? Docsity.com The Only Way Rodents Can Fly Docsity.com Common Questions about Bats Docsity.com So, What ARE Bats??? • Class Mammalia • Order Chiroptera (“hand-wing”) – Suborder Megachiroptera- flying foxes • 1 Family, ~166 species – Suborder Microchiroptera- micro bats • 16 Families, ~759 species Docsity.com What do Bats Eat? • FRUIT- “frugivory” • FLOWERS- nectar or pollen • CARNIVORES- birds, reptiles, amphibians • FISH- highly specialized carnivores • BLOOD- “sangrivory” • INSECTS- aerial or foliage gleaners Docsity.com How do Bats Fly? • Bats are the only mammals capable of TRUE powered flight Docsity.com Bats Actually Fly With Their Hands, Not Their Arms! Illustration from BCI Educator’s Activity Book Docsity.com Why Are Bats Important? • Bats are important pollinators of many plant species including the agave plant (ie. Tequila), the saguaro cactus and many rainforest plant species • Bats are vital for the control of insect populations Docsity.com Economic Importance of Bats in Agriculture • The story of Mexican free-tailed bats in Central Texas – Bracken Cave: ~20 million Mexican free-tailed bats (single largest aggregation of mammals in the world) – Central Texas caves, including Bracken Cave, are summer maternity roosts for ~ 100 million Mexican free-tailed bats – It is estimated that these bats eat about 2 million lbs of insects every night Photo from www.batcrew.com Docsity.com Tadarida brasiliensis Mexican Free-tailed bat Photo From BCI: www.batcon.org Docsity.com “Bats Aloft” Partners • Dr. Gary F. McCracken, University of Tennessee • Dr. Wayne Wolfe and Dr. John Westbrook of USDA Research Station in College Station, TX • U.S. Weather Service • Bat Conservation International Docsity.com A Problem of Timing • Researchers needed to know if the moths were flying in TX at the same time the bats were feeding • Seemed improbable because the moths were still traveling to TX when the bats emerged in the evening • Plus, other studies had shown that moths were only 30% of the bats diet - EXCEPT….. • Bats forge 2x a night- early evening and early morning • Further investigation showed that in early June, bats only ate 37% moths in the early evening but 96% moths during their dawn feeding! Docsity.com Doppler Radar Images Images From: McCracken, G. F. 1996. BATS 14(3): 7-10 on www.batcon.org Docsity.com Histoplasmosis • Histoplasmosis is caused by a ground fungus Histoplasma capsulatum • It causes flu-like symptoms which, in rare cases, can be quite serious • Severity of disease is related to dosage of exposure (number of spores inhaled) • It is most often associated with bird droppings, but bat and rodent droppings also pose a risk- esp. in hot, humid climates • Keep your home and outbuildings free of fecal material Docsity.com Bats in Georgia: 16 Species Docsity.com Family Vespertilionidae: The Evening Bats Docsity.com Big Brown Bat Eptesicus fuscus • One of the most common bats in urban areas and bat houses • Often roots in buildings- prefers snags in natural habitat • Often return to maternity roost where they were born • Forage in a variety of habitats Photo From BCI: www.batcon.org Docsity.com Eastern Red Bat Lasiurus borealis • Solitary, tree-roosting bat • Hangs by one foot • Will also hibernate in leaf litter on forest floor • Used to form large daytime migratory flocks in 1800’s • 2-5 young (usually 3) Photo From BCI: www.batcon.org Docsity.com Hoary Bat Lasiurus cinereus • Solitary, roots among foliage on forest edges • Can fly 24 miles in one night while foraging • Territorial over foraging sites • Often migrate with bird flocks • One of the most widespread bats in N. America • Hawaii’s only native land mammal Photo From BCI: www.batcon.org Docsity.com Northen Yellow Bat Lasiurus intermedius • Roosts year-round in Spanish moss and palm fronds • Abundant on the coast • Will forage over sand dunes and beaches • Typically have 3 pups Photo From BCI: www.batcon.org Docsity.com Family Molossidae The Free-tailed Bats Docsity.com Mexican Free-tailed Bat Tadarida brasiliensis • Another very common urban and bat house bat • One of most widely distributed mammals in Western Hemisphere • Highly gregarious • Much of the population is migratory Photo From BCI: www.batcon.org Docsity.com Threats to Bat Populations • Habitat destruction/fragmentation • Loss of historical roost sites • Disturbance of roost sites, esp. caves • Ignorance: – General public: negative attitudes – Scientific: Very little is known about the distribution, numbers and specific requirements of most bat species Docsity.com Hot Topics in Bat Research • Phylogeny and evolution • Functional morphology • Echolocation • Conservation Biology – North American Bat Conservation Partnership (NABCP) Strategic Plan Docsity.com Top 5 Conservation Research Goals (NABCP) • Goal 1: Identify key resources- Flyways, roosts, drinking and foraging habitats • Goal 2: Establish baseline populations and trends • Goal 3: ID species requirements and limiting factors • Goal 4: Describe, quantify, and monitor the effects of current land-management practices and other human disturbances on bats. • Goal 5: Quantify the economic and social impacts of North American bats. Docsity.com Bat Management Docsity.com Basic Habitat Requirements for Bats • ROOST SITES: – Including maternity, bachelor and hibernation roosts – Caves, hollow trees, stumps, live trees, abandoned buildings, bridges, culverts, etc. • FORAGING HABITAT: – Waterways, roads, pipelines, forests, edges, clearings, beaches, etc. • WATER SOURCES: – Lakes, rivers, streams, bays, stock tanks, swimming pools, etc. Docsity.com General Practices that Benefit Bats • Protection of known or potential roosts, including: snags, hollow trees, abandoned buildings, caves, bridges, etc. • Creating artificial roosts • Maintaining water quality (BMP’s) • Wise use of insecticides • Keep cats indoors! • Leave known bat populations undisturbed Docsity.com Bat House Placement • Full all day sun is best- minimum is 6 hours of sun exposure a day • Place near water if possible • Mount house on a pole 15-20 ft. high • Make sure entrance is unobstructed Photo From BCI: www.batcon.org Photo From BCI: www.batcon.org Docsity.com Bats That Will Use Bat Houses In Georgia • Little brown myotis • Southeastern myotis • Eastern pipistrelle • Big brown bat • Evening bat • Mexican free-tailed bat Docsity.com Recommended Steps for Bat Management • Conduct bat surveys • Identify roosts- esp. maternity roosts • Provide artificial roosts (bat boxes) • Incorporate bat management practices into your overall management plan • Work with neighboring landowners to provide as much habitat as possible • Discourage human disturbance of bat roosts • Monitor bat populations and make the data available to researchers Docsity.com