Influence of climate and reproductive timing on demography of little brown myotis Myotis lucifugus

Abstract

Summary1. Estimating variation in demographic rates, such as survival and fecundity, is important for testing life-history theory and identifying conservation and management goals. 2. We used 16 years (1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008) of mark-recapture data to estimate age-specific survival and breeding probabilities of the little brown myotis Myotis lucifugus LeConte in southern New Hampshire, USA. Using Kendall & Nichols' (1995) full-likelihood approach of the robust design to account for temporary emigration, we tested whether survival and breeding propensity is influenced by regional weather patterns and timing of reproduction.3. Our results demonstrate that adult female survival of M. lucifugus ranged from 0AE63 (95% CL = 0AE56, 0AE68) to 0AE90 (95% CL = 0AE77, 0AE94), and was highest in wet years with high cumulative summer precipitation. First-year survival [range: 0AE23 (95% CL = 0AE14, 0AE35) to 0AE46 (95% CL = 0AE34, 0AE57)] was considerably lower than adult survival and depended on pup date of birth, such that young born earlier in the summer (c. late May) had a significantly higher probability of surviving their first year than young born later in the summer (c. mid-July). Similarly, the probability of young females returning to the maternity colony to breed in the summer following their birth year was higher for individuals born earlier in the summer [range: 0AE23 (95% CL = 0AE08, 0AE50) to 0AE53 (95% CL = 0AE30, 0AE75)]. 4. The positive influence of early parturition on 1st-year survival and breeding propensity demonstrates significant fitness benefits to reproductive timing in this temperate insectivorous bat. 5. Climatic factors can have important consequences for population dynamics of temperate bats, which may be negatively affected by summer drying patterns associated with global climate change. 6. Understanding long-term demographic trends will be important in the face of a novel disease phenomenon (White-Nose Syndrome) that is associated with massive mortalities in hibernating bat species, including M. lucifugus, in the northeastern United States.

Roosting behaviour and phenology of the Lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) in a breeding colony in Sintra, Portugal

“…Partially in result of this, about of 51% of all chiropteran species are listed as either critically endangered, data-deficient, vulnerable, or near threatened (Frick et al 2010, Hutson et al 2001.…”

First records of the Northern Myotis (<em>Myotis septentrionalis</em>) from Labrador and summer distribution records and biology of Little Brown Bats (<em>Myotis lucifugus</em>) in southern Labrador

“…the average parturition date of 10 July for Myotis lucifugus in Labrador is among the latest recorded for the species, although individual parturition dates can vary by more than four weeks at any given location (Davis and Hitchcock 1965;Broders et al 2006;Frick et al 2010b). Despite this, the proportion of females that was pregnant in some roosts was quite high (up to 96%).…”

Comparison of Radio-Telemetric Home-Range Analysis and Acoustic Detection for Little Brown Bat Habitat Evaluation

“…Adult survival rate was 63-90% from 1993-2008(Frick et al 2010a). The oldest recorded wild, free-ranging little brown myotis was 31 years when last captured ).…”

“…First year survival of female little brown myotis ranges from 23-46% and is higher for young born earlier in the summer (Frick et al 2010a). Adult survival rate was 63-90% from 1993-2008(Frick et al 2010a).…”

“…These colonies range in size from tens to hundreds of individuals. Roost fidelity of females to summer roosts tends to be high with adult females typically returning to their natal roosts (Frick et al 2010a;Reynolds 1998). Warm microclimates in maternity roosts help optimize gestation and postnatal growth of offspring (Baptista et al 2000;Davis and Hitchcock 1965;Fenton 1970;Humphrey and Cope 1976;Kunz and Anthony 1982).…”