Response of Northern bats (Myotis septentrionalis) to Prescribed Fires in Eastern Kentucky Forests

摘要: Prescribed fire is becoming a common management tool for restoring forests of North America; however, effects prescribed on forest-dwelling bats remain unclear. During 2006 and 2007, we monitored prey availability, diet, foraging behavior, roost selection adult female northern (Myotis septentrionalis) before after 2 fires in dissected terrain the Red River Gorge Daniel Boone National Forest eastern Kentucky. Size home ranges core areas did not vary between radiotracked fires. Bats foraged more often vicinity pine stands than hardwood or mixed stands, along ridges midslopes lower slopes, regardless burn condition. Home were closer to burned habitats following unburned habitats. Abundance coleopterans, dipterans, all insects combined captured blacklight traps increased Fecal samples demonstrated lepidopterans, dipterans be 3 most important groups insect prey, with consumption increasing burning. chose roosts that taller height earlier stages decay random snags, trees greater number cavities higher percentage bark coverage. More observed (74.3%; n 5 26) (25.7%; 9). The results this work suggest are tolerant landscape pattern scale study. Northern responded habitat alterations resulting from through shifts location as tracked changes by occupying snags possessing potential roosting microsites.