Poster Details
VARIATIONS IN BAT ACTIVITY LINKED WITH RIPARIAN ECOSYSTEM FACTORS
Bat activity is driven by number of biotic and abiotic components such as climate, cover, and food availability. Understanding the influence of these factors allows for greater predictability of bat responses to development and climate change. This work shows results of a month long observation (Sept-Oct 2017) of variations in bat activity, predatory arthropod abundance, local climate, and other factors in riparian ecosystems of an agricultural region of Northwest Ohio. No correlation was found between warmer temperatures and the number of recordings. In addition, there was no apparent indirect relationship between spider abundance and bat activity. However, a positive relationship between bat activity and availability of cover was noted, as recording locations lacking in tree cover yielded almost no calls. Another correlation was found with time of day, as recording intervals falling after 8:00pm caught significantly more bat calls than intervals falling before 8:00pm. Hence, sunset likely plays a role in bat stimulation, and suggests when researchers should carry out recording sessions. We also discuss relationships with rates of insect emergence and stream geomorphology and the potential for bat foraging on emergent insects to influence agricultural pests.
John Woloschuk (Primary Presenter/Author), Bowling Green State University, jrw101@francis.edu;
Kevin McCluney (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Bowling Green State University, kmcclun@bgsu.edu;