Roost Selection, Population Size and Habitat Use by a Colony of Rafinesque's Big-eared Bats (Corynorhinus rafinesquii)

Abstract The ecology of the harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) is poorly understood, partly because it is a difficult species to monitor. It is commonly associated with reedbeds, where evidence suggests that it experiences strong seasonal fluctuations in abundance. However, it is unknown whether these fluctuations are caused by real changes in population size, or by movement between habitats. This study investigated seasonal changes in population size and habitat use by harvest mice, and other small mammal species, by trapping the reedbed and three associated habitat types: woodland, pasture and arable land. A sampling effort of 9887 trap bouts across nine months, resulted in 70 captures of harvest mice, as well as wood mice (N = 1022), bank voles (N = 252), field voles (N = 9), common shrews (N = 86) and pygmy shrews (N = 7). The reedbed was the habitat with the most captures and highest diversity. Harvest mice were caught exclusively in the reedbed at the beginning of autumn. Wood mice and bank voles experienced fluctuations in population numbers and wood mice also showed seasonal variation in habitat use. Our study supports the idea that harvest mice undergo extreme seasonal fluctuations in abundance in reedbeds, but these do not appear to be related to changes in habitat use.

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Roost Selection by Rafinesque's Big-Eared Bats (Corynorhinus rafinesquii) in a Pristine Habitat at Three Spatial Scales

Acta Chiropterologica ◽

10.3161/15081109acc2015.17.1.011 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 131-141 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jessica S. Lucas ◽

Susan C. Loeb ◽

Patrick G. R. Jodice

Keyword(s):

Spatial Scales ◽

Corynorhinus Rafinesquii ◽

Roost Selection

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Use of Rock-wallaby Faecal Pellets for Detecting and Monitoring Populations and Examining Habitat Use.

Australian Mammalogy ◽

10.1071/am97257 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 257

Author(s):

P.J. Jarman ◽

S.M. Capararo

Keyword(s):

Habitat Use ◽

Population Size ◽

Colony Size ◽

Survey Design ◽

Habitat Preferences ◽

Faecal Pellets ◽

Herbivorous Mammals ◽

Measured Distribution ◽

Absolute Population ◽

Over Time

Counts of faecal pellets are commonly used to measure dispersion of medium to large, herbivorous mammals, including macropods. Rock-wallabies, Genus Petrogale, are relatively difficult to observe in the daytime, so indirect techniques for survey and measurement of dispersion and population size are attractive. Faecal pellets of rock-wallabies are easy to identify and to detect, often being rapidly dried and well preserved on rock substrates. Pellets have been used in surveys to detect past and recent presence of rock-wallabies in refuge habitat. Their measured distribution can also indicate limits to foraging range away from refuge habitat, information that is important for their management. By making careful correction for the expected form of distribution of rock-wallaby foraging away from refuge habitat, pellet sampling can be used to measure their habitat preferences. Pellet sampling can be used, with careful survey design, to monitor change in colony size over time; but it could be used only with difficulty to indicate absolute population size accurately. In some circumstances it will be more efficient to attempt to observe and count the wallabies directly.

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Utilisation du milieu forestier par les chauves-souris (Mammalia: Chiroptera) du canton de Neuchâtel – implications pour la gestion sylvicole | Utilization of woodland resources by bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in the Canton Neuchâtel (Switzerland) – consequences for silviculture

Schweizerische Zeitschrift fur Forstwesen ◽

10.3188/szf.2006.0254 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 157 (7) ◽

pp. 254-259 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Christophe Jaberg ◽

Thierry Bohnenstengel ◽

René Amstutz ◽

Jean-Daniel Blant

Keyword(s):

Habitat Use ◽

Rhinolophus Ferrumequinum ◽

Roost Selection ◽

Dead Trees

We investigated utilization of wooded vs non wooded areas by 22 bat species in Canton Neuchâtel (Switzerland). Diet, habitat use and roost selection were analysed more thoroughly in Barbastella barbastellus, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Myotis bechsteini and Plecotus auritus. Forests appeared to produce more bat occurrences than open habitats. Thermophilous deciduous woodlands were preferred by three species during foraging activities. R. ferrumequinum foraged in semi-open habitats. For roosting, dead trees were used by B. barbastellus and old woodpecker cavities were the main roosts of M. bechsteini. Small defoliating geometrid moths were the main preys of B. barbastellus. Consequences for silviculture are discussed.

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