Feasting, not fasting: winter diets of cave hibernating bats in the United States
Abstract Temperate bat species use extended torpor to conserve energy when ambient temperatures are low and food resources are scarce. Previous research suggests that migratory bat species and species known to roost in thermally unstable locations, such as those that roost in trees, are more likely...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Zoology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-021-00434-9 |
| _version_ | 1831768132667047936 |
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| author | Riley F. Bernard Emma V. Willcox Reilly T. Jackson Veronica A. Brown Gary F. McCracken |
| author_facet | Riley F. Bernard Emma V. Willcox Reilly T. Jackson Veronica A. Brown Gary F. McCracken |
| author_sort | Riley F. Bernard |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Temperate bat species use extended torpor to conserve energy when ambient temperatures are low and food resources are scarce. Previous research suggests that migratory bat species and species known to roost in thermally unstable locations, such as those that roost in trees, are more likely to remain active during winter. However, hibernating colonies of cave roosting bats in the southeastern United States may also be active and emerge from caves throughout the hibernation period. We report what bats are eating during these bouts of winter activity. We captured 2,044 bats of 10 species that emerged from six hibernacula over the course of 5 winters (October–April 2012/2013, 2013/2014, 2015/2016, 2016/2017, and 2017/2018). Using Next Generation sequencing of DNA from 284 fecal samples, we determined bats consumed at least 14 Orders of insect prey while active. Dietary composition did not vary among bat species; however, we did record variation in the dominant prey items represented in species’ diets. We recorded Lepidoptera in the diet of 72.2% of individual Corynorhinus rafinesquii and 67.4% of individual Lasiurus borealis. Diptera were recorded in 32.4% of Myotis leibii, 37.4% of M. lucifugus, 35.5% of M. sodalis and 68.8% of Perimyotis subflavus. Our study is the first to use molecular genetic techniques to identify the winter diet of North American hibernating bats. The information from this study is integral to managing the landscape around bat hibernacula for insect prey, particularly in areas where hibernating bat populations are threatened by white-nose syndrome. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T06:55:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6bf882a3ea164c6aa5b8d2910e52a972 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1742-9994 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T06:55:13Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Zoology |
| spelling | doaj.art-6bf882a3ea164c6aa5b8d2910e52a9722022-12-21T18:34:59ZengBMCFrontiers in Zoology1742-99942021-09-0118111310.1186/s12983-021-00434-9Feasting, not fasting: winter diets of cave hibernating bats in the United StatesRiley F. Bernard0Emma V. Willcox1Reilly T. Jackson2Veronica A. Brown3Gary F. McCracken4Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of WyomingDepartment of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of TennesseeDepartment of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of TennesseeCenter for Environmental Biotechnology, University of TennesseeDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of TennesseeAbstract Temperate bat species use extended torpor to conserve energy when ambient temperatures are low and food resources are scarce. Previous research suggests that migratory bat species and species known to roost in thermally unstable locations, such as those that roost in trees, are more likely to remain active during winter. However, hibernating colonies of cave roosting bats in the southeastern United States may also be active and emerge from caves throughout the hibernation period. We report what bats are eating during these bouts of winter activity. We captured 2,044 bats of 10 species that emerged from six hibernacula over the course of 5 winters (October–April 2012/2013, 2013/2014, 2015/2016, 2016/2017, and 2017/2018). Using Next Generation sequencing of DNA from 284 fecal samples, we determined bats consumed at least 14 Orders of insect prey while active. Dietary composition did not vary among bat species; however, we did record variation in the dominant prey items represented in species’ diets. We recorded Lepidoptera in the diet of 72.2% of individual Corynorhinus rafinesquii and 67.4% of individual Lasiurus borealis. Diptera were recorded in 32.4% of Myotis leibii, 37.4% of M. lucifugus, 35.5% of M. sodalis and 68.8% of Perimyotis subflavus. Our study is the first to use molecular genetic techniques to identify the winter diet of North American hibernating bats. The information from this study is integral to managing the landscape around bat hibernacula for insect prey, particularly in areas where hibernating bat populations are threatened by white-nose syndrome.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-021-00434-9ChiropteraForagingIon TorrentHibernationInsectsMiSeq |
| spellingShingle | Riley F. Bernard Emma V. Willcox Reilly T. Jackson Veronica A. Brown Gary F. McCracken Feasting, not fasting: winter diets of cave hibernating bats in the United States Frontiers in Zoology Chiroptera Foraging Ion Torrent Hibernation Insects MiSeq |
| title | Feasting, not fasting: winter diets of cave hibernating bats in the United States |
| title_full | Feasting, not fasting: winter diets of cave hibernating bats in the United States |
| title_fullStr | Feasting, not fasting: winter diets of cave hibernating bats in the United States |
| title_full_unstemmed | Feasting, not fasting: winter diets of cave hibernating bats in the United States |
| title_short | Feasting, not fasting: winter diets of cave hibernating bats in the United States |
| title_sort | feasting not fasting winter diets of cave hibernating bats in the united states |
| topic | Chiroptera Foraging Ion Torrent Hibernation Insects MiSeq |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-021-00434-9 |
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