SPECIES ASSESSMENT FOR FRINGED MYOTIS (MYOTIS THYSANODES ) IN WYOMING prepared by DOUGLAS A. KEINATH Zoology Program Manager, Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave, Dept. 3381, Laramie, Wyoming 82071; 307-766-3013; [email protected] prepared for United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Wyoming State Office Cheyenne, Wyoming December 2003 Keinath - Myotis thysanodes December 2003 Table of Contents SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................................... 3 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 3 NATURAL HISTORY ........................................................................................................................... 5 Morphological Description ...................................................................................................... 5 Taxonomy and Distribution ..................................................................................................... 6 Taxonomy .......................................................................................................................................6 Range...............................................................................................................................................7 Abundance.......................................................................................................................................8 Population Trend.............................................................................................................................9 Habitat Requirements............................................................................................................. 9 General ............................................................................................................................................9 Seasonal and Life History Shifts...................................................................................................16 Area Requirements........................................................................................................................17 Landscape Context ........................................................................................................................18 Movement and ActivityPatterns .............................................................................................19 Seasonal Movements.....................................................................................................................19 Daily Activity and Energy Budgets...............................................................................................20 Reproduction and Survivorship..............................................................................................22 Breeding Phenology ......................................................................................................................22 Breeding Behavior.........................................................................................................................24 Fecundity and Survivorship ..........................................................................................................25 Population Demography ........................................................................................................26 Food Habits...........................................................................................................................26 Diet 26 Foraging ........................................................................................................................................27 Water.............................................................................................................................................29 Community Ecology...............................................................................................................30 Predators and Competitors ............................................................................................................30 Parasites and Disease ....................................................................................................................31 Symbiotic and Mutualistic Interactions.........................................................................................31 CONSERVATION .............................................................................................................................. 32 Conservation Status ..............................................................................................................32 Federal Endangered Species Act...................................................................................................32 Bureau of Land Management........................................................................................................32 Forest Service................................................................................................................................33 State Wildlife Agencies.................................................................................................................33 Natural Heritage Ranks .................................................................................................................34 Western Bat Working Group.........................................................................................................34 Biological Conservation Issues..............................................................................................35 Extrinsic Threats ...........................................................................................................................35 Roost Disturbance...................................................................................................................35 Habitat Alteration ...................................................................................................................36 Chemicals ...............................................................................................................................37 Abundance and Abundance Trends...............................................................................................40 Distribution Trends .......................................................................................................................41 Page 1 of 71 Keinath - Myotis thysanodes December 2003 Habitat Trends...............................................................................................................................42 Intrinsic Vulnerability ...................................................................................................................45 CONSERVATION ACTION ................................................................................................................ 46 Existing or Future Conservation Plans...................................................................................46 Conservation Elements..........................................................................................................47 Implications and Potential Conservation Elements.......................................................................47 Inventory and Monitoring .............................................................................................................49 Population and Habitat Management ............................................................................................51 Captive Propagation and Reintroduction ......................................................................................53 Targeted Areas ..............................................................................................................................53 INFORMATION NEEDS ..................................................................................................................... 54 TABLES AND FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... 56 Table 1: Reported morphometric measurements of M. thysanodes . ............................................56 Table 2: Selected occurrence reports of M. thysanodes across its range.......................................57 Table 3: Potential effects of exogenous factors on activity of free-ranging bats .........................58 Fig. 1: Photographs of M. thysanodes showing general appearance and the uropatagial fringe..59 Fig. 2: Example of a Myotis thysanodes echolocation call from California, recorded and displayed via Anabat ©............................................................................................................60 Fig. 3a: North American range of Myotis thysanodes ..................................................................61 Fig. 3b: Potential distribution of M. thysanodes in and near Wyoming.......................................62 Fig. 4: Regional Conservation Priority of Myotis thysanodes throughout its range as defined by the Western Bat Working group............................................................................................63 LITERATURE CITED ........................................................................................................................ 64 ADDITIONAL REFERENCES ............................................................................................................. 71 Page 2 of 71 Keinath