scholarly journals Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): impact on bat activity and foraging behaviour along the upper Hudson River, New York

2016 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 217-223
Author(s):  
L.A. Hooton ◽  
Y.A. Dzal ◽  
N. Veselka ◽  
M.B. Fenton
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Polychlorinated Biphenyls ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Hudson River ◽  
Control Site ◽  
Myotis Lucifugus ◽  
Lasiurus Cinereus ◽  
Insect Abundance ◽  
Insect Prey ◽  
Bat Activity

Sediments of the upper Hudson River, New York, USA, contain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Consequently, elevated levels of PCBs have been found in the tissues of bats and their insect prey along this region. However, it is not clear whether bat activity and foraging behaviour have been affected. To assess possible effects of PCBs on bat activity and foraging behaviour, we measured the activity of little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus (LeConte, 1831)) and hoary bats (Lasiurus cinereus (Palisot de Beauvois, 1796)) along the upper Hudson River, as well as abundance of insect prey at the same locations. We also measured foraging duration and distances travelled by radio-tagged M. lucifugus. We found that bat activity and insect abundance did not differ with PCB concentration. We did, however, find that foraging behaviour along the Hudson River differed from a control site. Specifically, M. lucifugus foraging along PCB-contaminated areas of the Hudson River travelled shorter distances from their roosts and spent less time foraging than bats at an uncontaminated site. Our results show that while bats roost and forage in areas historically exposed to PCBs, this exposure has not adversely affected bat activity, foraging behaviour, or abundance of insect prey.

Bat activity over calm and turbulent water

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 219-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatrix von Frenckell ◽  
Robert M. R. Barclay
Keyword(s):  
Water Level ◽  
Frequency Analysis ◽  
Myotis Lucifugus ◽  
Prey Abundance ◽  
Sticky Traps ◽  
Insect Abundance ◽  
Echolocation Calls ◽  
Bat Activity ◽  
Little Brown Bat ◽  
Turbulent Water

A comparison of the activity of the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) over calm pools and fast-flowing riffles was performed in southwestern Alberta. Bat activity was assessed by monitoring echolocation calls using ultrasonic detectors. Activity was higher over pools than riffles. This could be due to differences in prey abundance or accessibility in the two habitats. Alternatively, water noise at turbulent sites may interfere with the bats' echolocation abilities. Sticky traps were used to assess prey abundance, and water noise was recorded for intensity–frequency analysis. Insect abundance at the height where the bats flew (< 1 m above the water) did not differ between sites, but insects close to or at water level at calm pools may be more accessible than at fast-flowing riffles. Further, water noise at riffles may decrease the efficiency with which bats detect targets.

Polychlorinated biphenyls in sediments of the tidal Hudson River, New York

1981 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 210-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard F. Bopp ◽  
H. James. Simpson ◽  
Curtis R. Olsen ◽  
Nadia. Kostyk
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Polychlorinated Biphenyls ◽  
Hudson River

Bats of Kootenay, Glacier, and Mount Revelstoke national parks in Canada: identification by echolocation calls, distribution, and biology

1983 ◽  
Vol 61 (11) ◽  
pp. 2503-2508 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. B. Fenton ◽  
H. G. Merriam ◽  
G. L. Holroyd
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
National Parks ◽  
National Park ◽  
Myotis Lucifugus ◽  
Glacier National Park ◽  
Lasiurus Cinereus ◽  
Echolocation Calls ◽  
Bat Activity ◽  
Lasionycteris Noctivagans ◽  
The Town

We studied the behaviour, echolocation calls, and distribution of bats in Kootenay, Glacier, and Mount Revelstoke national parks in British Columbia, Canada. Presented here are keys for identification of nine species of bats by their echolocation calls as rendered by two different bat-detecting systems. The species involved include Myotis lucifugus, M. evotis, M. volans, M. septentrionalis, M. californicus, Lasionycteris noctivagans, Eptesicus fuscus, Lasiurus cinereus, and L. borealis. The distribution of these species within the three parks was assessed by capturing bats in traps and mist nets and by monitoring of their echolocation calls. Most of the species exploited concentrations of insects around spotlights, providing convenient foci of activity for assessing distribution. Although most species of Myotis were commonly encountered away from the lights, Lasiurus cinereus in Kootenay National Park was only regularly encountered feeding on insects at lights. This species was not detected in Glacier National Park, and although we regularly encountered it in the town of Revelstoke, it was rarely encountered in Mount Revelstoke National Park. Another focus of bat activity was small pools in cedar forest in Mount Revelstoke National Park. This involved high levels of Myotis spp. activity at dusk as the bats came to the pools to drink.

Spatial variation in the echolocation calls of the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus)

2013 ◽  
Vol 91 (11) ◽  
pp. 795-801 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Veselka ◽  
L.P. McGuire ◽  
Y.A. Dzal ◽  
L.A. Hooton ◽  
M.B. Fenton
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Spatial Variation ◽  
Spatial Scale ◽  
Hudson River ◽  
Myotis Lucifugus ◽  
Echolocation Call ◽  
Echolocation Calls ◽  
Call Structure ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Little Brown Bat

We studied spatial variation in echolocation call structure of the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus (LeConte, 1831)) by analysing calls recorded from free-flying individuals at 1 site in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, 1 site in Chautaqua, New York, and 20 sites along the Hudson River, New York. We controlled for factors that are often thought to lead to interspecific variation in echolocation calls (habitat, ontogeny, presence of conspecifics, recording techniques, ambient conditions), which allowed us to focus on the effect of spatial scale on call structure. As predicted, we found that at small scales (up to 1 km), there was significant geographic variation, likely owing to roost-specific signatures and group foraging activities. At intermediate scales (2–500 km), we found no differences in call structure, suggesting that populations within this area are part of a single hibernating and breeding population. Finally, echolocation call structure differed at the continental scale (>1000 km) likely because of little genetic exchange among sampled populations. Our results highlight the importance of considering the magnitude of spatial scale when examining variation in echolocation call structure.

Fluxes of Polychlorinated Biphenyls Volatilizing from the Hudson River, New York Measured Using Micrometeorological Approaches

2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 885-891 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy L. Sandy ◽  
Jia Guo ◽  
Robert J. Miskewitz ◽  
Wade R. McGillis ◽  
Lisa A. Rodenburg
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Polychlorinated Biphenyls ◽  
Hudson River
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