Bats and trees in a managed forest
Advisor: Dr. Joy O'Keefe
Global change and the emergence of white-nose syndrome, a deadly fungal disease, are major threats to the conservation of bat species in the Midwest, including the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis; Endangered), northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis; Endangered), and, to a lesser extent, the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus; Unlisted). While we know these species use forests for roosting and foraging, there are still substantial gaps in our understanding of the resources needed to support their populations, especially in managed hardwood forests. Therefore, my research evaluated the longevity of live and dead roost trees used by endangered bats and explored the roosting and foraging ecology of big brown bats in two managed forests. Our results confirm that snag roosts are an ephemeral resource with longevities dependent upon species decay resistance and emphasize the importance of preserving cavity-bearing trees and heterogeneity in managed forests for bat conservation.
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