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Population Characteristics of Big-Brown Bat and Arizona Myotis Using Artificial Oostingr Structures in Northern Arizona

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Population Characteristics of Big-Brown Bat and Arizona Myotis Using Artificial Oostingr Structures in Northern Arizona Western North American Naturalist Volume 75 Number 1 Article 11 5-29-2015 Population characteristics of big-brown bat and Arizona myotis using artificial oostingr structures in northern Arizona Joel M. Diamond Arizona Game and Fish Department, Phoenix, AZ, [email protected] R. Nathan Gwinn Arizona Game and Fish Department, Phoenix, AZ, [email protected] Janet Johnson Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, Bellmont, AZ, [email protected] Hannah Telle Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, Bellmont, AZ, [email protected] Gabrielle F. Diamond Westland Resources, Inc., Tucson, AZ, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/wnan Part of the Anatomy Commons, Botany Commons, Physiology Commons, and the Zoology Commons Recommended Citation Diamond, Joel M.; Gwinn, R. Nathan; Johnson, Janet; Telle, Hannah; and Diamond, Gabrielle F. (2015) "Population characteristics of big-brown bat and Arizona myotis using artificial oostingr structures in northern Arizona," Western North American Naturalist: Vol. 75 : No. 1 , Article 11. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/wnan/vol75/iss1/11 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Western North American Naturalist Publications at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Western North American Naturalist by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Western North American Naturalist 75(1), © 2015, pp. 115–126 POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS OF BIG BROWN BAT AND ARIZONA MYOTIS USING ARTIFICIAL ROOSTING STRUCTURES IN NORTHERN ARIZONA Joel M. Diamond1,4, R. Nathan Gwinn1, Janet Johnson2, Hannah Telle2, and Gabrielle F. Diamond3 ABSTRACT.—Big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) and a close relative of Arizona myotis (Myotis occultus), the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) in the eastern United States, are among those species experiencing unprecedented popula- tion declines related to white-nose syndrome (WNS). Determining population characteristic baselines for big brown bat and Arizona myotis is paramount in detecting population declines before they reach critical levels. We targeted 2 bat species strongly associated with ponderosa pine forests in northern Arizona. Big brown bats and Arizona myotis readily utilize human-made structures and have a cosmopolitan distribution across the ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) ecosystem of northern Arizona (Adams 2003). Between 2005 and 2012 we installed artificial bat roosts at Camp Navajo near Flagstaff, Arizona. We captured bats at these roosting structures and marked them using modified bird bands. We established baseline population characteristics on Camp Navajo by utilizing a 7-year mark-and-recapture data set. We also provide a measure of population status that may be compared across temporal scales within the study area. In essence, this study provides the basis for an early warning system for WNS in Arizona. RESUMEN.—El gran murciélago marrón (Eptesicus fuscus) y un pariente cercano del Myotis de Arizona (Myotis occultus), el pequeño murciélago marrón (Myotis lucifugus) típico de la zona oriental de Estados Unidos, se encuentran entre las especies que experimentan decremento sin precedentes en sus poblaciones relacionado con el síndrome de la nariz blanca (WNS, por sus siglas en inglés). Determinar las características básicas de las poblaciones de estas dos espe- cies es de suma importancia en la detección de la disminución de la población antes de que ésta alcance niveles críticos. Nos centramos en dos especies de murciélago claramente asociadas a los bosques de pino ponderosa en el norte de Ari- zona. El gran murciélago marrón (Eptesicus fuscus) y el Myotis de Arizona (Myotis occultus) utilizan con gran facilidad estructuras construidas por humanos y tienen una distribución cosmopolita a lo largo del ecosistema de pinos ponderosa (Pinus ponderosa) en el norte de Arizona (Adams 2003). Entre el 2005 y 2012, se instalaron refugios artificiales para mur- ciélagos en Camp Navajo cerca de Flagstaff, Arizona. Capturamos murciélagos en estructuras de refugio y los marca- mos, utilizando bandas para aves modificadas. Establecimos las características básicas de la población en Camp Navajo utilizando datos de marca y recaptura de 7 años. También pudimos proporcionar una medida del estado de la población que puede ser comparada con las escalas temporales dentro de la zona de estudio. Básicamente, este estudio propor- ciona la base para un sistema de alerta temprana con respecto a la WNS en Arizona. The ecology of the big brown bat (Eptesi- brown bats readily switch roosts and use dif- cus fuscus) is well understood because of its ferent roosts across reproductive periods strong association with man-made structures (Lausen and Barclay 2002, Ellison et al. 2007). (barns, bridges, etc.) (Adams 2003, Neubaum This species requires surface water, drinking et al. 2005, Ellison et al. 2007, Neubaum et al. only after the first foraging bout (Findley et 2007, O’Shea et al. 2010). Big brown bats are al. 1975). Big brown bats breed in the fall and beetle specialists but have also been observed are gravid through the spring. Gravid females opportunistically eating a wide variety of in - have been observed into June and lactating sects (Agosta 2002). Vegetation and nonflying females detected as late as August in the west- insects have also been detected in the stomach ern United States (Adams 2003, O’Shea et al. contents of this species, indicating gleaning 2010). Western big brown bat popu lations foraging (Whitaker 1972). In Arizona, big are characterized by singular births, unlike brown bats are associated with habitats from eastern U.S. populations, which generally are ponderosa pine forests to lowland desert characterized by twin births (Adams 2003, scrub (Hoffmeister 1986, Adams 2003). Big O’Shea et al. 2010). Big brown bats form 1Arizona Game and Fish Department, Wildlife Contracts Branch, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086. 2Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, Arizona Army National Guard: Camp Navajo, Bellmont, AZ 86015. 3Westland Resources, Inc., 4001 E. Paradise Falls Drive, Tucson, AZ 85712. 4E-mail: [email protected] 115 116 WESTERN NORTH AMERICAN NATURALIST [Volume 75 maternity colonies ranging from tens to hun- (Warner 1985, Hoffmeister 1986, Rabe et al. dreds in the warm season (Wilson and Ruff 1998). The big brown bat and a close relative 1999, Neubaum et al. 2007). These mater - of Arizona myotis, the little brown bat in the nity colonies are characterized by congrega- eastern United States, are among those tions of females and juveniles. Although the species experiencing the most profound popu- summer ecology of this species is well under- lation declines related to white-nose syn- stood, little is known about the winter ecology drome (WNS; Blehert et al. 2009). Although of this species in the west. Big brown bats are this psychrophilic fungus has yet to reach known to hibernate in small colonies or sin- the western United States, determining popu- gularly in caves, mines, and synthetic roosting lation characteristic baselines for big brown structures, but few natural hibernacula are bat and Arizona myotis is paramount in de - known (Kurta and Baker 1990, Neubaum et tecting the presence of population declines. In al. 2006). Thus, any catastrophic mortality the eastern United States, many hibernacula event impacting big brown bat populations for these species are known, and detection of in northern Arizona during the hibernation WNS occurs through repeated surveys at the period would go undetected until the warm hibernacula. Management agencies in Arizona season. have yet to discover any hibernacula for these Until recently, the Arizona myotis (Myotis 2 species. Therefore, detection of WNS in the occultus) was classified as a subspecies of the populations of these 2 species in Arizona will little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) (Piaggio et likely come through a change in the popula- al. 2002). Arizona myotis use open water for tion characteristics of these species during the foraging and feeding (Findley et al. 1975). warm season. However, the population char- Prey include mayflies, caddisflies, midges, acteristics for these species have yet to be and mosquitoes (Adams 2003). Arizona myotis determined. Our objectives for this study were forage over water, among trees, and in forest twofold. The first objective was to establish clearings. This species, like the big brown baseline population characteristics on Camp bat, utilizes a high diversity of roosting Navajo, a National Guard installation in north- types, from buildings and bridges to mines ern Arizona, by utilizing a 7-year mark-and- and caves (Wilson and Ruff 1999). Arizona recapture data set. The second objective was myotis breed in the fall and are gravid through to provide a measure of population status that spring, giving birth from May to July (Adams may be compared across temporal scales at 2003). Females continue to feed the young the military installation. after volancy from July to September (Fenton and Barclay 1980). Although little is known STUDY AREA about the wintering ecology of the Arizona myotis, we can infer several factors from its Our study area was along the southern por- former conspecific, the little brown bat. Lit- tion of the Colorado Plateau and primarily tle brown bats hibernate during the winter located west and
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