Bats increased foraging activity at experimental prey patches near hibernacula
Abstract Emerging infectious diseases in wildlife can threaten vulnerable host populations. Actions targeting habitat improvements to aid population resilience and recovery may be beneficial long‐term strategies, yet testing the efficacy of such strategies before major conservation investments are m...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Ecological Solutions and Evidence |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12217 |
| _version_ | 1797858597199151104 |
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| author | Winifred F. Frick Yvonne A. Dzal Kristin A. Jonasson Michael D. Whitby Amanda M. Adams Christen Long John E. Depue Christian M. Newman Craig K. R. Willis Tina L. Cheng |
| author_facet | Winifred F. Frick Yvonne A. Dzal Kristin A. Jonasson Michael D. Whitby Amanda M. Adams Christen Long John E. Depue Christian M. Newman Craig K. R. Willis Tina L. Cheng |
| author_sort | Winifred F. Frick |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Emerging infectious diseases in wildlife can threaten vulnerable host populations. Actions targeting habitat improvements to aid population resilience and recovery may be beneficial long‐term strategies, yet testing the efficacy of such strategies before major conservation investments are made can be challenging. The disease white‐nose syndrome (WNS) has caused severe declines in several species of North American hibernating bats. We tested a novel conservation approach targeted at improving foraging conditions near bat hibernacula by experimentally manipulating insect density in the pre‐hibernation fattening period and spring emergence recovery period. We measured foraging (feeding buzzes) and echolocation activity of little brown bats Myotis lucifugus at ultraviolet (UV) light lures to determine behavioural response to augmented foraging conditions and characterized insect availability at UV light lures. In the fall, bat foraging activity was three times greater (95% CI: 1.5–5.8; p = 0.002) when UV lights were on, but there was no statistical support for differences in echolocation activity response when our experimental design alternated between nights with lights on and off. In the spring, we allowed UV light lures to run consistently each night and compared with a control location in similar habitat. Bat foraging activity was 8.5 times greater (95% CI: 4.5–16.0; p < 0.0001) and echolocation activity was 4.4 times higher (95% CI: 3.0–6.5; p < 0.0001) at UV light lures in the spring experiment. In both the fall and spring, UV light lures resulted in concentrated insect availability, attracting primarily moths (Order: Lepidoptera). In both seasons, nightly temperature had a strong influence on bat foraging, echolocation and insect activity. We show that a bat species threatened by WNS used enhanced foraging habitats near hibernacula during the critical pre‐ and post‐hibernation phases of their annual cycle. While light lures are unlikely to be a long‐term management strategy, our experiment provides initial evidence that bats behaviourally respond with increased foraging activity in areas with augmented insect prey availability. Our experimental results support developing management strategies focused on habitat protection, including restoration and enhancement of foraging habitats, in the immediate vicinity of bat hibernacula. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:15:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-18dee83bba3446bd89ffecfb4d49010d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2688-8319 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:15:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Solutions and Evidence |
| spelling | doaj.art-18dee83bba3446bd89ffecfb4d49010d2023-03-28T08:12:30ZengWileyEcological Solutions and Evidence2688-83192023-01-0141n/an/a10.1002/2688-8319.12217Bats increased foraging activity at experimental prey patches near hibernaculaWinifred F. Frick0Yvonne A. Dzal1Kristin A. Jonasson2Michael D. Whitby3Amanda M. Adams4Christen Long5John E. Depue6Christian M. Newman7Craig K. R. Willis8Tina L. Cheng9Bat Conservation International Austin Texas USABat Conservation International Austin Texas USABat Conservation International Austin Texas USABat Conservation International Austin Texas USABat Conservation International Austin Texas USABat Conservation International Austin Texas USAMichigan Department of Natural Resources Baraga Michigan USAElectric Power Research Institute Palo Alto California USADepartment of Biology and Centre for Forest Interdisciplinary Research University of Winnipeg Winnipeg Manitoba CanadaBat Conservation International Austin Texas USAAbstract Emerging infectious diseases in wildlife can threaten vulnerable host populations. Actions targeting habitat improvements to aid population resilience and recovery may be beneficial long‐term strategies, yet testing the efficacy of such strategies before major conservation investments are made can be challenging. The disease white‐nose syndrome (WNS) has caused severe declines in several species of North American hibernating bats. We tested a novel conservation approach targeted at improving foraging conditions near bat hibernacula by experimentally manipulating insect density in the pre‐hibernation fattening period and spring emergence recovery period. We measured foraging (feeding buzzes) and echolocation activity of little brown bats Myotis lucifugus at ultraviolet (UV) light lures to determine behavioural response to augmented foraging conditions and characterized insect availability at UV light lures. In the fall, bat foraging activity was three times greater (95% CI: 1.5–5.8; p = 0.002) when UV lights were on, but there was no statistical support for differences in echolocation activity response when our experimental design alternated between nights with lights on and off. In the spring, we allowed UV light lures to run consistently each night and compared with a control location in similar habitat. Bat foraging activity was 8.5 times greater (95% CI: 4.5–16.0; p < 0.0001) and echolocation activity was 4.4 times higher (95% CI: 3.0–6.5; p < 0.0001) at UV light lures in the spring experiment. In both the fall and spring, UV light lures resulted in concentrated insect availability, attracting primarily moths (Order: Lepidoptera). In both seasons, nightly temperature had a strong influence on bat foraging, echolocation and insect activity. We show that a bat species threatened by WNS used enhanced foraging habitats near hibernacula during the critical pre‐ and post‐hibernation phases of their annual cycle. While light lures are unlikely to be a long‐term management strategy, our experiment provides initial evidence that bats behaviourally respond with increased foraging activity in areas with augmented insect prey availability. Our experimental results support developing management strategies focused on habitat protection, including restoration and enhancement of foraging habitats, in the immediate vicinity of bat hibernacula.https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12217batsconservation evidenceforaging behaviourhabitat protectionhabitat restorationinsect prey |
| spellingShingle | Winifred F. Frick Yvonne A. Dzal Kristin A. Jonasson Michael D. Whitby Amanda M. Adams Christen Long John E. Depue Christian M. Newman Craig K. R. Willis Tina L. Cheng Bats increased foraging activity at experimental prey patches near hibernacula Ecological Solutions and Evidence bats conservation evidence foraging behaviour habitat protection habitat restoration insect prey |
| title | Bats increased foraging activity at experimental prey patches near hibernacula |
| title_full | Bats increased foraging activity at experimental prey patches near hibernacula |
| title_fullStr | Bats increased foraging activity at experimental prey patches near hibernacula |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bats increased foraging activity at experimental prey patches near hibernacula |
| title_short | Bats increased foraging activity at experimental prey patches near hibernacula |
| title_sort | bats increased foraging activity at experimental prey patches near hibernacula |
| topic | bats conservation evidence foraging behaviour habitat protection habitat restoration insect prey |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12217 |
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