Adaptive response to land-use history and roost selection by Rafinesque’s big-eared bats

摘要: Although habitat loss and degradation are major contributors to species declines, some able adapt changes in land use by selecting different habitats or structures disturbed areas than they do more pristine habitats. Bats particularly vulnerable due their dependence on specific types structures. The objective of this study was determine how selection roost trees, niche breadth Rafinesque's big-eared bats (Corynorhinus rafinesquii) varied with land-use history. I examined roosts at 3 bottomland hardwood sites that amount time since timber harvest. Fortynine transects were established as a means searching for trees basal cavity openings surveyed 2–9 times. the most-disturbed exhibited broadest niches, using greater number tree types, although least-disturbed site used broader range volumes. Cavity characteristics primary factors governing bats, but among sites. Probability increased increasing volume all sites, primarily smallest class, whereas largest class. Results suggest bigeared can conditions if large cavities available. However, future studies need long-term viability