DOCSLIB.ORG

Washington State Bat Conservation Plan

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Washington State Bat Conservation Plan STATE OF WASHINGTON June 2013 Bat Conservation Plan by Gerald Hayes and Gary J. Wiles Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Wildlife Diversity Division Wildlife Program This is the Washington State Bat Conservation Plan. It gives an overview of bat biology, habitat requirements, relationships to public health, legal and conservation status, conservation and management activities, and known or potential threats to bats. The plan summarizes the historical and current distribution and abundance of each of the 15 bat species found in Washington, with information also provided on identification, taxonomy, habitat, natural history, threats, and conservation measures. The plan also outlines strategies and tasks needed to implement conservation and protection of bats in Washington. The draft conservation plan was reviewed by researchers and technical staff from state and federal agencies, and regional experts. This review was followed by a 30-day public comment period. All comments received were considered in preparation of the final conservation plan. For more information about bats, check the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s web site (http://wdfw.wa.gov/) or email the Department at [email protected]. This report should be cited as: Hayes, G. and G. J. Wiles. 2013. Washington bat conservation plan. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Olympia, Washington. 138+viii pp. Cover photo by Michael Durham Title page and back cover illustrations by Darrell Pruett WASHINGTON STATE BAT CONSERVATION PLAN Gerald Hayes and Gary J. Wiles Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Wildlife Program 600 Capitol Way N Olympia, Washington June 2013 June 2013 ii Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...........................................................................................................v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................vii INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................1 CHAPTER 1: NATURAL HISTORY AND STATUS ..............................................................2 NATURAL HISTORY ................................................................................................................... 2 Reproduction and Longevity .............................................................................................. 2 Echolocation ...................................................................................................................... 3 Foraging Behavior and Diet ............................................................................................... 3 Torpor ................................................................................................................................ 5 Roosting Behavior ............................................................................................................. 6 Movements and Migration ................................................................................................. 8 HABITAT REQUIREMENTS ....................................................................................................... 9 Roosting Habitat ................................................................................................................ 9 Caves and Mines .............................................................................................................9 Cliffs, Talus, and Boulders ...............................................................................................11 Buildings and Bridges .....................................................................................................11 Trees .................................................................................................................................12 Bat Houses and Other Artificial Roosts ...........................................................................17 Foraging and Commuting Habitat ................................................................................... 17 PUBLIC HEALTH ....................................................................................................................... 19 Rabies ............................................................................................................................... 19 Histoplasmosis ................................................................................................................. 19 LEGAL AND CONSERVATION STATUS ................................................................................. 20 Federal .............................................................................................................................. 20 State .................................................................................................................................. 20 CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES .......................................................... 21 Surveys and Research ...................................................................................................... 21 Protection of Species and Habitats .................................................................................. 23 Bat Conservation Organizations and Conservation Planning for Bats ............................ 24 CONSERVATION ISSUES ......................................................................................................... 25 Habitat Loss and Alteration ............................................................................................. 25 Forest Management .........................................................................................................25 Agricultural Land Use .....................................................................................................26 Urbanization ....................................................................................................................28 Mine Closures and Renewed Mining ..............................................................................28 Wind Energy Development .............................................................................................. 28 Human Disturbance of Roosting Bats .............................................................................. 31 White-nose Syndrome ...................................................................................................... 32 Environmental Contaminants ........................................................................................... 34 Climate Change ................................................................................................................ 35 CHAPTER 2: SPECIES ACCOUNTS ....................................................................................37 Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) ................................................................................... 38 California Myotis (Myotis californicus) .......................................................................... 42 Canyon Bat (Parastrellus hesperus) ................................................................................ 45 Fringed Myotis (Myotis thysanodes) ............................................................................... 47 Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus) ......................................................................................... 51 June 2013 iii Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Keen’s Myotis (Myotis keenii) ......................................................................................... 55 Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus) .......................................................................... 58 Long-legged Myotis (Myotis volans) ............................................................................... 62 Pallid Bat (Antrozous pallidus) ........................................................................................ 66 Silver-haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans) ................................................................. 70 Spotted Bat (Euderma maculatum) .................................................................................. 74 Townsend’s Big-eared Bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) .................................................. 78 Western Long-eared Myotis (Myotis evotis) .................................................................... 83 Western Small-footed Myotis (Myotis ciliolabrum) ........................................................ 87 Yuma Myotis (Myotis yumanensis) .................................................................................. 90 CHAPTER 3: CONSERVATION STRATEGIES AND TASKS ..........................................93 LITERATURE CITED ............................................................................................................109 PERSONAL COMUNICATIONS ............................................................................................. 128 GLOSSARY OF TERMS ......................................................................................................... 129 Appendix A. North American range maps for bat species that occur in Washington. .............. 131 Appendix B. Washington’s 39 counties. ................................................................................... 134 Appendix C. Washington Administrative Code 232-12-011, Revised Code of Washington 77.15.130, and WDFW Policy 5301. ............................................................................. 135 Appendix
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Salicaceae Cottonwood Cottonwood (The Genus Populus) Is Composed of 35 Species Which Contain the Aspens and Poplars
    Populus spp. Family: Salicaceae Cottonwood Cottonwood (the genus Populus) is composed of 35 species which contain the aspens and poplars. Species in this group are native to Eurasia/north Africa [25], Central America [2] and North America [8]. All species look alike microscopically. The word populus is the classical Latin name for the poplar tree. Populus angustifolia-balsam, bitter cottonwood, black cottonwood, lanceleaf cottonwood, mountain cottonwood, narrowleaf cottonwood, narrow leaved poplar, Rydberg cottonwood, smoothbark cottonwood, willow cottonwood, willowleaf cottonwood Populus balsamifera-balm, balm of Gilead, balm of Gilead poplar, balm cottonwood, balsam, balsam cottonwood, balsam poplar, bam, black balsam poplar, black cottonwood, black poplar, California poplar, Canadian balsam poplar, Canadian poplar, cottonwax, hackmatack, hairy balm of Gilead, heartleaf balsam poplar, northern black cottonwood, Ontario poplar, tacamahac, tacamahac poplar, toughbark poplar, western balsam poplar Populus deltoides*-aspen cottonwood, big cottonwood, Carolina poplar, cotton tree, eastern cottonwood, eastern poplar, fremont cottonwood, great plains cottonwood, Missourian poplar, necklace poplar, northern fremont cottonwood, palmer cottonwood, plains cottonwood, Rio Grande cottonwood, river cottonwood, river poplar, southern cottonwood, Tennessee poplar, Texas cottonwood, valley cottonwood, Vermont poplar, Virginia poplar, water poplar, western cottonwood, whitewood, wislizenus cottonwood, yellow cottonwood Populus fremontii-Arizona cottonwood,
    [Show full text]
  • Conservation and Management of Eastern Big-Eared Bats a Symposium
    Conservation and Management of Eastern Big-eared Bats A Symposium y Edited b Susan C. Loeb, Michael J. Lacki, and Darren A. Miller U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Southern Research Station General Technical Report SRS-145 DISCLAIMER The use of trade or firm names in this publication is for reader information and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture of any product or service. Papers published in these proceedings were submitted by authors in electronic media. Some editing was done to ensure a consistent format. Authors are responsible for content and accuracy of their individual papers and the quality of illustrative materials. Cover photos: Large photo: Craig W. Stihler; small left photo: Joseph S. Johnson; small middle photo: Craig W. Stihler; small right photo: Matthew J. Clement. December 2011 Southern Research Station 200 W.T. Weaver Blvd. Asheville, NC 28804 Conservation and Management of Eastern Big-eared Bats: A Symposium Athens, Georgia March 9–10, 2010 Edited by: Susan C. Loeb U.S Department of Agriculture Forest Service Southern Research Station Michael J. Lacki University of Kentucky Darren A. Miller Weyerhaeuser NR Company Sponsored by: Forest Service Bat Conservation International National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI) Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources Offield Family Foundation ContEntS Preface . v Conservation and Management of Eastern Big-Eared Bats: An Introduction . 1 Susan C. Loeb, Michael J. Lacki, and Darren A. Miller Distribution and Status of Eastern Big-eared Bats (Corynorhinus Spp .) . 13 Mylea L. Bayless, Mary Kay Clark, Richard C. Stark, Barbara S.
    [Show full text]
  • Corynorhinus Townsendii): a Technical Conservation Assessment
    Townsend’s Big-eared Bat (Corynorhinus townsendii): A Technical Conservation Assessment Prepared for the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Species Conservation Project October 25, 2006 Jeffery C. Gruver1 and Douglas A. Keinath2 with life cycle model by Dave McDonald3 and Takeshi Ise3 1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada 2Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, Old Biochemistry Bldg, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82070 3Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, P.O. Box 3166, Laramie, WY 82071 Peer Review Administered by Society for Conservation Biology Gruver, J.C. and D.A. Keinath (2006, October 25). Townsend’s Big-eared Bat (Corynorhinus townsendii): a technical conservation assessment. [Online]. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Available: http:// www.fs.fed.us/r2/projects/scp/assessments/townsendsbigearedbat.pdf [date of access]. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors would like to acknowledge the modeling expertise of Dr. Dave McDonald and Takeshi Ise, who constructed the life-cycle analysis. Additional thanks are extended to the staff of the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database for technical assistance with GIS and general support. Finally, we extend sincere thanks to Gary Patton for his editorial guidance and patience. AUTHORS’ BIOGRAPHIES Jeff Gruver, formerly with the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Biological Sciences program at the University of Calgary where he is investigating the physiological ecology of bats in northern arid climates. He has been involved in bat research for over 8 years in the Pacific Northwest, the Rocky Mountains, and the Badlands of southern Alberta. He earned a B.S. in Economics (1993) from Penn State University and an M.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Poplar Chap 1.Indd
    Populus: A Premier Pioneer System for Plant Genomics 1 1 Populus: A Premier Pioneer System for Plant Genomics Stephen P. DiFazio,1,a,* Gancho T. Slavov 1,b and Chandrashekhar P. Joshi 2 ABSTRACT The genus Populus has emerged as one of the premier systems for studying multiple aspects of tree biology, combining diverse ecological characteristics, a suite of hybridization complexes in natural systems, an extensive toolbox of genetic and genomic tools, and biological characteristics that facilitate experimental manipulation. Here we review some of the salient biological characteristics that have made this genus such a popular object of study. We begin with the taxonomic status of Populus, which is now a subject of ongoing debate, though it is becoming increasingly clear that molecular phylogenies are accumulating. We also cover some of the life history traits that characterize the genus, including the pioneer habit, long-distance pollen and seed dispersal, and extensive vegetative propagation. In keeping with the focus of this book, we highlight the genetic diversity of the genus, including patterns of differentiation among populations, inbreeding, nucleotide diversity, and linkage disequilibrium for species from the major commercially- important sections of the genus. We conclude with an overview of the extent and rapid spread of global Populus culture, which is a testimony to the growing economic importance of this fascinating genus. Keywords: Populus, SNP, population structure, linkage disequilibrium, taxonomy, hybridization 1Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506-6057, USA; ae-mail: [email protected] be-mail: [email protected] 2 School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931, USA; e-mail: [email protected] *Corresponding author 2 Genetics, Genomics and Breeding of Poplar 1.1 Introduction The genus Populus is full of contrasts and surprises, which combine to make it one of the most interesting and widely-studied model organisms.
    [Show full text]
  • Zoogeography of the Holarctic Species of the Noctuidae (Lepidoptera): Importance of the Bering Ian Refuge
    © Entomologica Fennica. 8.XI.l991 Zoogeography of the Holarctic species of the Noctuidae (Lepidoptera): importance of the Bering ian refuge Kauri Mikkola, J, D. Lafontaine & V. S. Kononenko Mikkola, K., Lafontaine, J.D. & Kononenko, V. S. 1991 : Zoogeography of the Holarctic species of the Noctuidae (Lepidoptera): importance of the Beringian refuge. - En to mol. Fennica 2: 157- 173. As a result of published and unpublished revisionary work, literature compi­ lation and expeditions to the Beringian area, 98 species of the Noctuidae are listed as Holarctic and grouped according to their taxonomic and distributional history. Of the 44 species considered to be "naturall y" Holarctic before this study, 27 (61 %) are confirmed as Holarctic; 16 species are added on account of range extensions and 29 because of changes in their taxonomic status; 17 taxa are deleted from the Holarctic list. This brings the total of the group to 72 species. Thirteen species are considered to be introduced by man from Europe, a further eight to have been transported by man in the subtropical areas, and five migrant species, three of them of Neotropical origin, may have been assisted by man. The m~jority of the "naturally" Holarctic species are associated with tundra habitats. The species of dry tundra are frequently endemic to Beringia. In the taiga zone, most Holarctic connections consist of Palaearctic/ Nearctic species pairs. The proportion ofHolarctic species decreases from 100 % in the High Arctic to between 40 and 75 % in Beringia and the northern taiga zone, and from between 10 and 20 % in Newfoundland and Finland to between 2 and 4 % in southern Ontario, Central Europe, Spain and Primorye.
    [Show full text]
  • Bat Rabies and Other Lyssavirus Infections
    Prepared by the USGS National Wildlife Health Center Bat Rabies and Other Lyssavirus Infections Circular 1329 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Front cover photo (D.G. Constantine) A Townsend’s big-eared bat. Bat Rabies and Other Lyssavirus Infections By Denny G. Constantine Edited by David S. Blehert Circular 1329 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior KEN SALAZAR, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Suzette M. Kimball, Acting Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2009 For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod To order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. Suggested citation: Constantine, D.G., 2009, Bat rabies and other lyssavirus infections: Reston, Va., U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1329, 68 p. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Constantine, Denny G., 1925– Bat rabies and other lyssavirus infections / by Denny G. Constantine. p. cm. - - (Geological circular ; 1329) ISBN 978–1–4113–2259–2 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Populus Balsamifera L. Balsam Poplar Salicaceae Willow Family John C
    Populus balsamifera L. Balsam Poplar Salicaceae Willow family John C. Zasada and Howard M. Phipps Balsam poplar (Populus bdsamiferu) is the north- Tanana drainage. The highest precipitation, 140 cm ernmost American hardwood. It grows transcontinen- (55 in), occurs in the Maritime Provinces of eastern tally on upland and flood plain sites but attains the Canada. Distribution of precipitation varies best development on flood plains. It is a hardy, fast- throughout the range, but prolonged summer growing tree which is generally short lived, with droughts are uncommon. Annual snowfall is lowest some trees reaching 200 years. Other names are in interior Alaska (100 to 200 cm; 40 to 80 in) and balm-of-gilead, barn, tacamahac, cottonwood, or highest in Newfoundland (400 cm; 160 in). Maximum heartleaf balsam poplar. Many kinds of animals use summer daylength varies from 16 to 24 hours. Min- the twigs for food. The light, soft wood is used for imum daylength in winter drops to zero above the pulp and construction. Arctic Circle. The frost-free period varies from 75 to 160 days, The longest growing seasons are in the southern part of the range and the shortest in the Habitat north, but growing seasons can be 120 days in parts of Alaska. Native Range Soils and Topography The range of balsam poplar (fig. 1) spans about 110” in longitude (55” to 165” W.) and 26” in latitude (42” to 68” N.). It extends across North America Maximum development of balsam poplar stands along the northern limit of trees from Newfoundland, occurs on the river flood plains in Alaska, Yukon Labrador, and Quebec west to Hudson Bay and Territory and Northwest Territories, British Colum- northwest to Mackenzie Bay From northwest Alas- bia, and Alberta.
    [Show full text]
  • Index of Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Vol. 9. Bats
    Index of Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Vol. 9. Bats A agnella, Kerivoula 901 Anchieta’s Bat 814 aquilus, Glischropus 763 Aba Leaf-nosed Bat 247 aladdin, Pipistrellus pipistrellus 771 Anchieta’s Broad-faced Fruit Bat 94 aquilus, Platyrrhinus 567 Aba Roundleaf Bat 247 alascensis, Myotis lucifugus 927 Anchieta’s Pipistrelle 814 Arabian Barbastelle 861 abae, Hipposideros 247 alaschanicus, Hypsugo 810 anchietae, Plerotes 94 Arabian Horseshoe Bat 296 abae, Rhinolophus fumigatus 290 Alashanian Pipistrelle 810 ancricola, Myotis 957 Arabian Mouse-tailed Bat 164, 170, 176 abbotti, Myotis hasseltii 970 alba, Ectophylla 466, 480, 569 Andaman Horseshoe Bat 314 Arabian Pipistrelle 810 abditum, Megaderma spasma 191 albatus, Myopterus daubentonii 663 Andaman Intermediate Horseshoe Arabian Trident Bat 229 Abo Bat 725, 832 Alberico’s Broad-nosed Bat 565 Bat 321 Arabian Trident Leaf-nosed Bat 229 Abo Butterfly Bat 725, 832 albericoi, Platyrrhinus 565 andamanensis, Rhinolophus 321 arabica, Asellia 229 abramus, Pipistrellus 777 albescens, Myotis 940 Andean Fruit Bat 547 arabicus, Hypsugo 810 abrasus, Cynomops 604, 640 albicollis, Megaerops 64 Andersen’s Bare-backed Fruit Bat 109 arabicus, Rousettus aegyptiacus 87 Abruzzi’s Wrinkle-lipped Bat 645 albipinnis, Taphozous longimanus 353 Andersen’s Flying Fox 158 arabium, Rhinopoma cystops 176 Abyssinian Horseshoe Bat 290 albiventer, Nyctimene 36, 118 Andersen’s Fruit-eating Bat 578 Arafura Large-footed Bat 969 Acerodon albiventris, Noctilio 405, 411 Andersen’s Leaf-nosed Bat 254 Arata Yellow-shouldered Bat 543 Sulawesi 134 albofuscus, Scotoecus 762 Andersen’s Little Fruit-eating Bat 578 Arata-Thomas Yellow-shouldered Talaud 134 alboguttata, Glauconycteris 833 Andersen’s Naked-backed Fruit Bat 109 Bat 543 Acerodon 134 albus, Diclidurus 339, 367 Andersen’s Roundleaf Bat 254 aratathomasi, Sturnira 543 Acerodon mackloti (see A.
    [Show full text]
  • Papallacta, San Isidro & Wild Sumaco, 2019
    Ecuador, September 2019 Michael Kessler In September 2019 I attended a conference in Quito, Ecuador. I spent 6 days prior to the conference vising some sites that I did not yet know, looking for birds and mammals. Mammal- wise, my main targets were Mountain Tapir and Dusky Shrew-Opossum, which would be a new family for me. Both were found, as was my 1000th mammal species, which due to some creative accounting ended up being a monkey rather than a rodent . Itinerary 10.09.: Arrival in Quito at 13:30, rent car and drive to San Isidro (4 hours due to stops at landslides). 11.09.: Full day at San Isidro, with night walks from 3:00 to dawn and for a few hours after dinner. Strong rain later at night precluded further walks. 12:09.: Drive to Wild Sumaco. Heavy rain until 16:00. Six hours night walks around the lodge. 13.09.: Most of the day in the forest; started raining in the evening again, so little night work. 14.09.: Drive to Guango Lodge, with a 7 hour wait due to a landslide in Cordillera Guacamayos. Night walk above Papallacta, followed by night walk in Guango. 15.09.: Predawn walk at Guango, started raining again at 7:00, so that the planned visit to Cayambe-Coca did not work out. Drove on to Quito. 18.9.: Botanical day trip to Cayambe Coca NP with participants of the conference, with 4 mammal species recorded on the side. The lodges are all well known, so I only give some updates.
    [Show full text]
  • BAT-WATCHING SITES of TEXAS Welcome! Texas Happens to Be the Battiest State in the Country
    BAT-WATCHING SITES OF TEXAS Welcome! Texas happens to be the battiest state in the country. It is home to 32 of the 47 species of bats found in the United States. Not only does it hold the distinction of having the most kinds of bats, it also boasts the largest known bat colony in the world, Bracken Cave Preserve, near San Antonio, and the largest urban bat colony, Congress Avenue Bridge, in Austin. Visitors from around the world flock BAT ANATOMY to Texas to enjoy public bat-viewing at several locations throughout the state. This guide offers you a brief summary of what each site has to offer as well as directions and contact information. It also includes a list of the bat species currently known to occur within Texas at the end of this publication. Second Finger We encourage you to visit some of these amazing sites and experience the Third Finger wonder of a Texas bat emergence! Fourth Finger Thumb Fifth Finger A Year in the Life Knee of a Mexican Free-tailed Bat Upper Arm Foot Forearm Mexican free-tailed bats (also in mammary glands found under each Tail known as Brazilian free-tailed bats) of her wings. Wrist are the most common bat found The Mexican free-tailed bats’ milk is throughout Texas. In most parts of so rich that the pups grow fast and are Tail Membrane the state, Mexican free-tailed bats ready to fly within four to five weeks of Ear are migratory and spend the winters birth. It is estimated that baby Mexican in caves in Mexico.
    [Show full text]
  • Chiropterology Division BC Arizona Trial Event 1 1. DESCRIPTION: Participants Will Be Assessed on Their Knowledge of Bats, With
    Chiropterology Division BC Arizona Trial Event 1. DESCRIPTION: Participants will be assessed on their knowledge of bats, with an emphasis on North American Bats, South American Microbats, and African MegaBats. A TEAM OF UP TO: 2 APPROXIMATE TIME: 50 minutes 2. EVENT PARAMETERS: a. Each team may bring one 2” or smaller three-ring binder, as measured by the interior diameter of the rings, containing information in any form and from any source. Sheet protectors, lamination, tabs and labels are permitted in the binder. b. If the event features a rotation through a series of stations where the participants interact with samples, specimens or displays; no material may be removed from the binder throughout the event. c. In addition to the binder, each team may bring one unmodified and unannotated copy of either the National Bat List or an Official State Bat list which does not have to be secured in the binder. 3. THE COMPETITION: a. The competition may be run as timed stations and/or as timed slides/PowerPoint presentation. b. Specimens/Pictures will be lettered or numbered at each station. The event may include preserved specimens, skeletal material, and slides or pictures of specimens. c. Each team will be given an answer sheet on which they will record answers to each question. d. No more than 50% of the competition will require giving common or scientific names. e. Participants should be able to do a basic identification to the level indicated on the Official List. States may have a modified or regional list. See your state website.
    [Show full text]
  • Increased Cave Use by Butterflies and Moths
    International Journal of Speleology 50 (1) 15-24 Tampa, FL (USA) January 2021 Available online at scholarcommons.usf.edu/ijs International Journal of Speleology Off icial Journal of Union Internationale de Spéléologie Increased cave use by butterflies and moths: a response to climate warming? Otto Moog 1, Erhard Christian 2*, and Rudolf Eis3 1Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor Mendel 33 Str., 1180 Vienna, Austria 2 Institute of Zoology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor Mendel 33 Str., 1180 Vienna, Austria 3Waldegg 9a, 2754 Waldegg, Austria Abstract: Between 2015 and 2019, the list of Lepidoptera from “cave” habitats (i.e., proper caves, rock shelters and artificial subterranean structures) in Austria grew from 17 to 62 species, although the effort of data collection remained nearly constant from the late 1970s onwards. The newly recorded moths and butterflies were resting in caves during daytime in the the warm season, three species were also overwintering there. We observed Catocala elocata at 28 cave inspections, followed by Mormo maura (18), Catocala nupta (7), Peribatodes rhomboidaria, and Euplagia quadripunctaria (6). More than half of the species have been repeatedly observed in caves in Austria or abroad, so their relationship with such sites is apparently not completely random. Since the increase of records in Austria coincided with a considerable rise in the annual number of hot days (maximum temperatures ≥30°C) from 2015 onwards, we interpret the growing inclination of certain Lepidoptera towards daytime sheltering in caves as a behavioral reaction to climate warming. Keywords: Lepidoptera, cave use, diurnal retreat, refuge-site preference, climate change Received 22 October 2020; Revised 26 December 2020; Accepted 29 December 2020 Citation: Moog O., Christian E.
    [Show full text]