Roosting records in tree cavities by a forest-dwelling bat species (Histiotus magellanicus) in Andean temperate ecosystems of southern Chile

Altamirano, Tomás A.; Ibarra, José Tomás; Novoa, Fernando; Vermehren, Alejandra; Martin, Kathy; Bonacic, Cristián

doi:10.4067/s0717-92002017000200020

Cited by 14 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…To consider a cavity as 'potentially usable' by vertebrate cavity nesters, it required to have an entrance diameter ≥ 2.5 cm and an internal chamber, surrounded by sound (not fallen) wood, which could eventually work as an incubation chamber for cavity nesters in our study area. These criteria were based on our knowledge of cavities used by cavity-nesting birds, mammals and reptiles in Andean temperate forests (Ibarra et al 2014;Ibarra et al 2017aa;Ibarra et al 2017b;Altamirano et al 2017a;Altamirano et al 2017b;Novoa et al 2019). To verify these criteria, we inspected reachable cavities with a camera system attached to a 15-m extendible pole.…”

Section: Vegetation and Cavity Surveysmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Remaining forest stands showing suitable habitat for cavity-using wildlife, such as sites with large decaying trees and snags, are commonly being degraded and underused by cavity nesters (Vergara & Armesto 2009;Ibarra & Martin 2015). In Andean temperate forests, at least 29 bird species (four primary and 25 secondary cavity nesters), six mammals, three reptiles and one amphibian utilise cavities during their life cycle (Ibarra et al 2014;Altamirano et al 2017a;Altamirano et al 2017b;Novoa et al 2019). These ecosystems show one of the highest reported proportion of cavity-nesting birds (57% of the entire bird community) for any forest system globally (Altamirano et al 2017a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Large trees and decay: Suppliers of a keystone resource for cavity‐using wildlife in old‐growth and secondary Andean temperate forests

et al. 2020

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Tree cavities are a keystone resource for many wildlife species worldwide. In Andean temperate forests of South America, many species of birds, mammals and reptiles use cavities to achieve their life history requirements. However, information on cavity supply and drivers of cavity production in these forests remains largely undocumented. We examined the patterns of tree‐cavity supply in successional native forests, exploring the potential drivers of cavity occurrence and relative abundances in Andean temperate ecosystems of southern Chile. In 10 forest stands, we established 369 vegetation plots and measured 7951 trees. For each tree, we recorded the species and measured the diameter at breast height (DBH), decay class and number of cavities. While tree density was much higher in secondary than in old‐growth forest stands, the density of nonexcavated cavities was higher in old‐growth than in secondary forests. Cavity occurrence and relative abundances (number of cavities per tree) were higher in large decaying and standing dead trees (i.e. habitat legacies) than in young healthy trees. Importantly, DBH and decay had a stronger influence on the supply of nonexcavated than excavated cavities. Our results highlight the importance of old‐growth forest stands, tree decay processes and habitat legacies for securing a continuous supply of a keystone habitat resource for tree cavity‐using wildlife in a global biodiversity hotspot of South America.Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.

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Section: Vegetation and Cavity Surveysmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Large trees and decay: Suppliers of a keystone resource for cavity‐using wildlife in old‐growth and secondary Andean temperate forests

et al. 2020

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“…Indeed, relatively few studies exist that describe the roosts of these species. The most detailed description of H. magellanicus roosts come from Andean temperate forests far to the north (39° S latitude) (Altamirano et al 2017). There, the species was found roosting within cavities in trees that were larger in diameter than surrounding trees, suggesting legacy structures are important to these bats.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Chile (Rodriguez-San Pedro et al 2016;Díaz et al 2019). This species roosts in holes and fissures within the largest decaying trees available in their stands (Altamirano et al 2017), as well as underneath the loose bark of dead trees (Peña & Barria 1972). Myotis chiloensis (forearm: 33-42 mm; weight: 6-10 g) uses both anthropogenic and natural roosts and is often found in buildings (Ossa et al 2010;Ossa & Rodriguez-San Pedro 2015).…”

Section: Study Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A secondary objective was to describe the roosts used by each species, as there are no descriptions of their daytime habitats in the sub-Antarctic forests. Because both species have been found to roost in tree crevices and under bark (Mann 1978;Altamirano et al 2017), we hypothesized that M. chiloensis and H. magellanicus would be found roosting in trees with similar habitat characteristics. Our data provide insights into the ecologies of the southernmost bats that are an important foundation for conservation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Roosting ecology of the southernmost bats,Myotis chiloensisandHistiotus magellanicus, in southern Tierra del Fuego, Chile

Ossa¹,

Lilley

Waag

et al. 2020

Preprint

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There are few studies of day-roosting ecology of bats inhabiting the southernmost forests of South America, where cool summer temperatures and land management practices pose several challenges. The goal of the present study was to describe day-roosting habitats and patterns of thermoregulation in two bat species occurring on Tierra del Fuego, Myotis chiloensis (Chilean myotis) and Histiotus magellanicus (southern big-eared brown bat), during late spring. To do so, we tagged 17 bats with temperature-sensitive radio-transmitters, located 17 day-roosts, and collected 81 days of skin temperature data. We concurrently recorded ambient air temperature to determine its effect on torpor use. Both species were found roosting in large diameter (77.8 ± 6 cm), typically live, Nothofagus pumilio trees (lenga) located on the edges of forest gaps or within stands primarily composed of smaller, younger trees. Bats of both species frequently used torpor, with skin temperatures dropping below a torpor threshold on 89% of days (n = 72) and daily minimum skin temperatures averaging 16.5 °C over the course of our study. Average daily air temperature was a significant predictor of torpor use, with lower skin temperatures and more time spent in torpor observed on colder days. Minimum skin temperature and time spent torpid did not vary between bat species, nor did the characteristics of day-roosts. These data show that spring temperatures in Tierra del Fuego pose an energetic challenge that bats meet through frequent use of torpor, and likely, habitat selection. We recommend local conservation efforts keep these thermal challenges in mind by retaining large trees, which may provide warmer microclimates or room for social groups.

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The Klingon batbugs: Morphological adaptations in the primitive bat bugs, Bucimex chilensis and Primicimex cavernis, including updated phylogeny of Cimicidae

Ossa¹,

Johnson

Puisto

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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The Cimicidae is a family of blood‐dependent ectoparasites in which dispersion capacity is greatly associated with host movements. Bats are the ancestral and most prevalent hosts for cimicids. Cimicids have a worldwide distribution matching that of their hosts, but the global classification is incomplete, especially for species outside the most common Cimicidae taxa. In this study, we place a little‐studied cimicid species, Bucimex chilensis , within a comprehensive molecular phylogeny of Cimicidae by sequencing the genomic regions of this and other closely related species. For this study, we collected B. chilensis females from Myotis chiloensis in Tierra del Fuego, 1,300 km further south than previously known southernmost distribution boundary. We also sequenced COI regions from Primicimex cavernis , a species which together with B. chilensis comprise the entire subfamily Primiciminae. Using Bayesian posterior probability and maximum‐likelihood approaches, we found that B. chilensis and P. cavernis clustered close to each other in the molecular analyses, receiving support from similar morphological features, agreeing with the morphology‐based taxonomic placement of the two species within the subfamily Primiciminae. We also describe a previously unrecognized morphological adaptation of the tarsal structure, which allows the austral bat ectoparasite, B. chilensis , to cling on to the pelage of its known host, the Chilean myotis ( Myotis chiloensis ). Through a morphological study and behavioral observation, we elucidate how this tarsal structure operates, and we hypothesize that by clinging in the host pelage, B. chilensis is able to disperse effectively to new areas despite low host density. This is a unique feature shared by P. cavernis , the only other species in Primiciminae.

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Roosting records in tree cavities by a forest-dwelling bat species (Histiotus magellanicus) in Andean temperate ecosystems of southern Chile

Cited by 14 publications

References 13 publications

Large trees and decay: Suppliers of a keystone resource for cavity‐using wildlife in old‐growth and secondary Andean temperate forests

Large trees and decay: Suppliers of a keystone resource for cavity‐using wildlife in old‐growth and secondary Andean temperate forests

Roosting ecology of the southernmost bats,Myotis chiloensisandHistiotus magellanicus, in southern Tierra del Fuego, Chile

The Klingon batbugs: Morphological adaptations in the primitive bat bugs, Bucimex chilensis and Primicimex cavernis, including updated phylogeny of Cimicidae

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