EFFECT OF ELEVATION ON DISTRIBUTION OF FEMALE BATS IN THE BLACK HILLS, SOUTH DAKOTA

摘要: Presumably, reproductive female bats are more constrained by thermoregulatory and energy needs than males nonreproductive females. Constraints imposed on females may limit their geographic distribution relative to other bats. Such constraints likely increase with latitude elevation. Males of 11 bat species that inhabit the Black Hills were captured frequently females, typically encountered at low-elevational sites. To investigate relationship between elevation, we fitted a logistic regression model evaluate probability reproductive-female capture as function Mist-net data from 1,197 captures 7 revealed 75% all males. We found significant inverse elevation abundance Relative decreased increased. Reproductive be roosting foraging in high-elevational habitats impose costs decrease efficiency. Failure account for sex differences distributional patterns along elevational gradients significantly bias estimates population size.