Can echolocation calls provide information about group identity in the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus)?

1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (12) ◽  
pp. 2184-2192 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Pearl ◽  
M. B. Fenton
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Group Identity ◽  
Myotis Lucifugus ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Echolocation Calls ◽  
Adult Females ◽  
Structural Differences ◽  
Little Brown Bat ◽  
Site Recognition ◽  
Little Brown Bats

We studied the potential for colony-specific echolocation calls at maternity colonies of little brown bats, Myotis lucifugus, in Chautauqua County, New York. By analyzing echolocation calls recorded from free-flying bats returning to their roosts before dawn and those of known individuals in a captive setting, we tested for structural differences in the echolocation calls among maternity colonies. There were significant differences in the structure of the echolocation calls among the maternity colonies in both data sets, but the nature of these differences may depend on the setting in which the echolocation calls were produced. The echolocation calls of volant juveniles differed from those of adult females. Colony-specific echolocation calls could facilitate group and site recognition in microchiropteran bats.

Variation in the social calls of little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus)

1977 ◽  
Vol 55 (7) ◽  
pp. 1151-1157 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. B. Fenton
Keyword(s):  
Myotis Lucifugus ◽  
Careful Examination ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Echolocation Calls ◽  
Adult Females ◽  
Controlled Conditions ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Calls ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Little Brown Bats

The social calls of 14 Myotis lucifugus (5 adult males; 5 adult females; 2 subadult males; 2 subadult females) produced under controlled conditions were more variable than echolocation calls made by hunting individuals in the wild. The social calls contained lower frequencies and in some cases were of longer duration than the echolocation calls. Careful examination of sound spectrographs of the calls indicated tremendous variability in details of frequency and time. Although several types of calls can be recognized, a discrete classification is not feasible because of the variability. The possible significance of the variation in the calls of these bats is discussed in the context of recognition of individuals by their vocalizations.

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.

scholarly journals Going, going, gone: the impact of white-nose syndrome on the summer activity of the little brown bat ( Myotis lucifugus )

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 392-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvonne Dzal ◽  
Liam P. McGuire ◽  
Nina Veselka ◽  
M. Brock Fenton
Keyword(s):  
Hudson River ◽  
Myotis Lucifugus ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Echolocation Calls ◽  
Bat Activity ◽  
White Nose Syndrome ◽  
Little Brown Bat ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Little Brown Bats

Since its discovery in the winter of 2005–2006, white-nose syndrome (WNS) has killed over one million little brown bats ( Myotis lucifugus ) in the American northeast. Although many studies have reported die-offs of bats at winter hibernacula, it is important to understand how bat mortality linked to WNS at winter hibernacula affects bat activity levels in their summer ranges. In the summer (May–August) of 2007, 2008 and 2009, we recorded echolocation calls to determine bat activity at sites along the Hudson River, NY (within approx. 100 km of where WNS was first reported). We documented a 78 per cent decline in the summer activity of M. lucifugus , coinciding with the arrival and spread of WNS. We suggest that mortality of M. lucifugus in winter hibernacula is reflected by reduced levels of activity in the summer and that WNS affects the entire bat population of an area, and not only individual hibernacula.

Patterns of Acoustical Activity of Bats Prior to and Following White-Nose Syndrome Occurrence

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Mark Ford ◽  
Eric R. Britzke ◽  
Christopher A. Dobony ◽  
Jane L. Rodrigue ◽  
Joshua B. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Myotis Lucifugus ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
White Nose Syndrome ◽  
Little Brown Bats

Abstract White-nose Syndrome (WNS), a wildlife health concern that has decimated cave-hibernating bat populations in eastern North America since 2006, began affecting source-caves for summer bat populations at Fort Drum, a U.S. Army installation in New York in the winter of 2007–2008. As regional die-offs of bats became evident, and Fort Drum's known populations began showing declines, we examined whether WNS-induced change in abundance patterns and seasonal timing of bat activity could be quantified using acoustical surveys, 2003–2010, at structurally uncluttered riparian–water habitats (i.e., streams, ponds, and wet meadows). As predicted, we observed significant declines in overall summer activity between pre-WNS and post-WNS years for little brown bats Myotis lucifugus, northern bats M. septentrionalis, and Indiana bats M. sodalis. We did not observe any significant change in activity patterns between pre-WNS and post-WNS years for big brown bats Eptesicus fuscus, eastern red bats Lasiurus borealis, or the small number of tri-colored bats Perimyotis subflavus. Activity of silver-haired bats Lasionycteris noctivagans increased from pre-WNS to post-WNS years. Activity levels of hoary bats Lasiurus cinereus significantly declined between pre- and post-WNS years. As a nonhibernating, migratory species, hoary bat declines might be correlated with wind-energy development impacts occurring in the same time frame rather than WNS. Intraseason activity patterns also were affected by WNS, though the results were highly variable among species. Little brown bats showed an overall increase in activity from early to late summer pre-WNS, presumably due to detections of newly volant young added to the local population. However, the opposite occurred post-WNS, indicating that reproduction among surviving little brown bats may be declining. Our data suggest that acoustical monitoring during the summer season can provide insights into species' relative abundance on the landscape as affected by the occurrence of WNS.

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.

Analysis of Archival Specimens Confirms White-Nose Syndrome in Little Brown Bats (Myotis lucifugus) from New York, USA, in Spring 2007

2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saskia Keller ◽  
Jeffrey M. Lorch ◽  
Brenda M. Berlowski-Zier ◽  
Anne Ballman ◽  
David S. Blehert
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Myotis Lucifugus ◽  
White Nose Syndrome ◽  
Archival Specimens ◽  
Little Brown Bats

scholarly journals First records of the Northern Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis) from Labrador and summer distribution records and biology of Little Brown Bats (Myotis lucifugus) in southern Labrador

2013 ◽  
Vol 127 (3) ◽  
pp. 266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugh G. Broders ◽  
Lynne E. Burns ◽  
Sara C. McCarthy
Keyword(s):  
Adult Female ◽  
Adult Male ◽  
Newfoundland And Labrador ◽  
Word Of Mouth ◽  
Myotis Lucifugus ◽  
Regional Survey ◽  
Myotis Septentrionalis ◽  
Little Brown Bat ◽  
Summer Distribution ◽  
Little Brown Bats

We conducted the first regional survey of bats in Labrador (Newfoundland and Labrador) to provide information on the distribution and biology of bats in this region. Our approach was to locate maternity roosts of Myotis lucifugus (Little Brown Bat) via word of mouth and then capture Little Brown Bats as they emerged from their day-roosts. We also surveyed for free-flying forest-dwelling bats using mist nets and a harp trap along forested trails and roads in southern Labrador. We captured 355 M. lucifugus at nine maternity roosts and one non-reproductive adult female M. lucifugus at a forested site. We captured two adult male Myotis septentrionalis (Northern Myotis) at two of the three forested sites (Gull Island and Grand Lake Road). These are the first confirmed records of this species from Labrador. Maternity roosts of M. lucifugus often had several hundred individuals. The proportion of female M. lucifugus captured at a roost that were either pregnant or lactating ranged from 35% to 96%; the estimated average date of parturition in 2012 was 10 July.

scholarly journals Another Record of Foliage Roosting in the Little Brown Bat, Myotis lucifugus, in Canada

2009 ◽  
Vol 123 (3) ◽  
pp. 265
Author(s):  
Howard M. Huynh
Keyword(s):  
Myotis Lucifugus ◽  
Atlantic Canada ◽  
Little Brown Bat ◽  
Little Brown Bats

Another record of foliage-roosting behaviour in little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) is reported. This is only the second such observation ever recorded for this species and the first for Atlantic Canada.

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