Ecology of the Big Brown Bat (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Northeastern Kansas

Phillips, Gary L.

doi:10.2307/2423489

Cited by 62 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Some North American bats (E. fuscus) completed new fur growth as early as June (Phillips 1966), while others (Brazilian free-tailed bats, Tadarida brasiliensis (I. Geoffroy, 1824)) continued into late September (Constantine 1957). The period of new fur growth varied from as little as 2 weeks in female L. cinereus (Cryan et al 2004) to more than 4 months in M. s. blepotis (Dwyer 1963(Dwyer , 1968.…”

Section: What Are the General Patterns?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Among species with a juvenile moult cycle, fur replacement was complete for all individuals by winter in some species (Phillips 1966;Alagaili et al 2011), and not until the following summer in others (Davis 1963;Davis and Barbour 1970;Young 1975). Timing of the juvenile moult cycle in P. subflavus varied across latitudes, with individuals at southern latitudes completing the new fur growth before hibernation, whereas those at more northern latitudes did not (Davis 1963).…”

Section: What Are the General Patterns?mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Moulting matters: the importance of understanding moulting cycles in bats when using fur for endogenous marker analysis

2013

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Endogenous markers are a valuable indicator of individual animal ecology, but data interpretation requires a detailed understanding of the timing of tissue formation. Fur is commonly used in bat research using endogenous markers, but the moulting cycles of most bat species are not well documented. In this review, we (i) describe methods of investigating bat moulting; (ii) summarize the current literature on bat moulting cycles, highlighting broad trends; (iii) discuss knowledge gaps; and (iv) make recommendations for optimal fur sampling protocols. Three characteristics may indicate moulting in bats: changing skin pigmentation; visible fur growth and colour changes; and endogenous markers. Most studies reported new fur growth once annually during summer-fall, although there were exceptions. The timing of new fur growth varies among species, sexes, and age classes. Individuals commonly experience asynchronous new fur growth, with dorsal fur growth occurring before ventral. Specific moult progressions vary among species. Knowledge gaps include moulting cycles in tropical species and in subadult and yearling bats; migration during new fur growth; and the timing of fur growth compared with shedding. We recommend that fur samples taken dorsally from adult males are the most likely to be representative of the bat's site of summer residency.Résumé : Si les marqueurs endogènes constituent un indicateur utile de l'écologie individuelle des animaux, l'interprétation de ces données nécessite une compréhension détaillée du moment de la formation des tissus. Bien que le poil soit couramment utilisé dans la recherche sur les chauves-souris axée sur des marqueurs endogènes, les cycles de mue de la plupart des espèces de chauves-souris ne sont pas bien documentés. Dans le présent article, nous (i) décrivons des méthodes permettant d'étudier la mue des chauves-souris, (ii) présentons une synthèse des travaux existants sur les cycles de mue des chauves-souris pour en faire ressortir de grandes tendances, (iii) abordons les lacunes sur le plan des connaissances et (iv) formulons des recommandations relatives à des protocoles optimaux d'échantillonnage du poil. Trois caractéristiques pourraient indiquer qu'une chauve-souris est en mue, à savoir : un changement de la pigmentation de la peau, la croissance et des changements de couleur visibles des poils, ainsi que des marqueurs endogènes. Bien qu'il existe des exceptions, la plupart des études font état d'une croissance de nouveaux poils une fois l'an, à l'été-l'automne. Le moment de la croissance de nouveaux poils varie selon l'espèce, le sexe et la classe d'âge. Les individus présentent souvent une croissance non synchrone de nouveaux poils, la croissance des poils dorsaux étant plus hâtive que celle des poils ventraux. La progression de la mue varie également selon l'espèce. Les lacunes sur le plan des connaissances touchent notamment aux cycles de mue des espèces tropicales et des chauves-souris subadultes et d'un an, à la migration durant la croissance de nouveaux poils et au mo...

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Section: What Are the General Patterns?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: What Are the General Patterns?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Moulting matters: the importance of understanding moulting cycles in bats when using fur for endogenous marker analysis

2013

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“…Despite mating in autumn, fertilization does not occur until spring and females give birth to one to two young in June. Big brown bats also undergo molt in early summer (Phillips 1966). After mating, pregnant females congregate to form maternal colonies where they roost together in barns, bridges, and other crevices.…”

Section: Study Species and Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

Tissue mercury concentrations and adrenocortical responses of female big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) near a contaminated river

et al. 2010

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Much of the research on mercury (Hg) in wild vertebrates has focused on piscivores and other animals at high trophic levels. However, recent studies indicated that insectivorous terrestrial vertebrates may also be at risk. In the present study, we examined blood and fur Hg concentrations as well as the adrenocortical responses of insectivorous big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) near the Hg-contaminated South River, VA and a nearby reference area. Baseline glucocorticoids and adrenocortical responses to handling have been widely used to assess the influence of environmental stressors because plasma glucocorticoids rise in response to various physical, psychological, and physiological challenges. Female bats captured at the contaminated site had 2.6 times higher blood and fur Hg concentrations than those captured at the reference site (blood: 0.11 vs. 0.04 μg/g wet weight; fur: 28.0 vs. 10.9 μg/g fresh weight). Fur Hg concentrations at the contaminated site were higher than most wild omnivorous and carnivorous mammals reported in the literature. Although fur and blood Hg concentrations were tightly correlated, fur Hg concentrations averaged 260 times higher than concentrations in blood. This suggests that fur may be an important depuration route for bats, just as it is in other mammals. Despite the high Hg concentrations in bat tissue, we did not observe any site difference in adrenocortical responses. Our results suggest that the bats at the contaminated site were exposed to Hg concentrations below those causing adverse effects on their adrenal axis.

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“…The food habits of three of these species have been well documented in other parts of North America. Eptesicus fuscus has been studied in Arizona and Mexico (Ross, 1967); in Indiana (Whitaker and Mumford, 1971;Whitaker, 1972;Belwood, 1979); in New Mexico and Utah (Black, 1972(Black, , 1974; in Oregon (Whitaker et aI., 1977); in Kansas (Phillips, 1966); and in West Virginia (Hamilton, 1933). The food habits of M. lucifugus have been documented in the eastern United States (Hamilton, 1943); in Georgia, Massachusetts, and New York (Gould, 1955); in Indiana (Whitaker, 1972;Belwood, 1979); in New Hampshire (Anthony and Kunz, 1977); in New York (Buchler, 1976); in New York, Nova Scotia, and Ontario (Belwood and Fenton, 1976); and in Oregon (Whitaker et aI., 1977).…”

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confidence: 99%

Food Habits of Cave-Dwelling Bats in the Central Appalachians

Griffith

Gates

1985

Journal of Mammalogy

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The food habits of four species of cave-dwelling bats, Eptesicus fuscus, Myotis keenii, M. lucifugus, and Pipistrellus subflavus, were investigated in the central Appalachians. Information was based primarily on analysis of fecal pellets; however, some stomachs also were examined for food items for comparison with the first procedure. Coleopterans and hemipterans occurred in more than 70% of the adult male E. fuscus samples. All of the hemipterans were green stink bugs, Acrosternum hilare. More than 50% of the adult male M. keenii samples contained coleopteran, lepidopteran, and neuropteran fragments. The neuropterans were represented by the Hemerobiidae (brown lacewings). Coleoptera, Diptera, and Lepidoptera occurred in more than 50% of the adult male M. IUcifugus samples. Fifty percent of the Diptera were midges (Chironomidae). Coleopterans and homopterans were present in more than 50% of the adult male P. subflavus samples. Other important prey items for P. subflavus were dipterans, hymenopterans, and lepidopterans. Adult male M. keenii, M. lucifugus, and P. subflavus captured concurrently differed in their food habits. More male M. keenii samples contained Hemerobiidae and Lepidoptera than did M. IUcifugus or P. subflavus samples, whereas adult male M. lucifugus and P. subflavus took prey from the same insect orders and in approximately the same proportion. In general, adult male E. fuscus appeared to be dietary specialists, whereas adult male M. keenii, M. lucifugus, and P. subflavus appeared more generalized in their diets.

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Ecology of the Big Brown Bat (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Northeastern Kansas

Cited by 62 publications

References 36 publications

Moulting matters: the importance of understanding moulting cycles in bats when using fur for endogenous marker analysis

Moulting matters: the importance of understanding moulting cycles in bats when using fur for endogenous marker analysis

Tissue mercury concentrations and adrenocortical responses of female big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) near a contaminated river

Food Habits of Cave-Dwelling Bats in the Central Appalachians

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