Spatial and Temporal Activity of Migratory Bats at Landscape Features

Geographical landmarks may be important features for navigation of migrating bats although spatial and temporal activity may depend on species-specific migration strategies. I predicted that latitudinal migrating bats would have higher activity along north-south oriented linear landscape features, especially during late-seasonal migration periods, compared to bat species that migrate within a regional area. I acoustically sampled four species of bats classified as latitudinal and regional migrants. I monitored twelve sites located in southwestern Ontario at four landscape features between May and October 2011. I found that specific landscape features may have greater importance to specific species rather than their migration strategy. Also, latitudinal migratory bat activity increased during the late-seasonal time period however all species activity increased in the mid-seasonal time period. Information, gained with acoustic monitoring, about seasonal relationships of species at landscape features may help identify critical areas used by migrating bats.

Name thesis:degree_name

M Sc

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Grantor dc:publisher

The University of Western Ontario

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Hamilton, Rachel M

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Fenton, M. Brock

• migratory bats
• landscape features
• acoustic monitoring

Language dc:language.iso

en_ca

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/32441

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/32441