Upload
lyquynh
View
214
Download
1
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters Winter Meeting
2/13/15
1
The Natural History and Conservation of the Northern Long‐eared myotis
(Myotis septentrionalis)
D. Scott Reynolds St. Paul’s SchoolConcord, NH
Society of American ForestersFebruary 2015
Origin and Evolution of BatsVertebrate Evolution of Active Flightpterosaurs (Class Reptilia)birds (Class Aves)bats (Class Mammalia)
When did bats evolve?
mid‐Eocene Epoch (60 ‐ 70 mybp)
Icarynycteris index
Paleochiropteryx tupaiodon
Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters Winter Meeting
2/13/15
2
The Northern long‐eared myotisWHAT WE KNOW
• Basic Biology of Bats• Bats of the Northeast• Life Cycle of Hibernating Bats• White‐Nose Syndrome
• The northern long‐eared myotis
HOW WE KNOW IT
• Research Techniques in the Study of Bats
WHAT WE DON’T KNOW
• Cumulative Impacts on bats
• Impact of climate change on bats
The Northern long‐eared myotisWHAT WE KNOW
• Basic Biology of Bats• Bats of the Northeast• Life Cycle of Hibernating Bats• White‐Nose Syndrome
• The northern long‐eared myotis
HOW WE KNOW IT
• Research Techniques in the Study of Bats
WHAT WE DON’T KNOW
• Cumulative Impacts on bats
• Impact of climate change on bats
Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters Winter Meeting
2/13/15
3
Characteristics of Bats
General Mammalian Characteristicspossession of a pelage or furmammary glandsdentary‐squamosal jointthree ear ossicles (malleus, incus, stapes)replaceable milk teethhomeothermyviviparity
General Chiropteran Characteristicslarge interdigitary skin membraneoften have interfemoral and tail skin membranefused radio‐ulna bonereduced radial rotation at the wristelongation of phalangesreduction in size of hindlimbenlarged ears and accessory structures (tragus, antitragus)facial foliations (nose leafs, chin leafs)femur rotation to 180 from terrestrial orientationtendon‐locking mechanism
flight
echolocation
hanging
Bat Anatomy
echolocation
maneuverability
birthing and insect capture
Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters Winter Meeting
2/13/15
4
Biogeographic Distribution
Distribution of the Vespertilionidae
The Northern long‐eared myotisWHAT WE KNOW
• Basic Biology of Bats• Bats of the Northeast• Life Cycle of Hibernating Bats• White‐Nose Syndrome
• The northern long‐eared myotis
HOW WE KNOW IT
• Research Techniques in the Study of Bats
WHAT WE DON’T KNOW
• Cumulative Impacts on bats
• Impact of climate change on bats
Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters Winter Meeting
2/13/15
5
Bats of the Northeast, 2010
Big Brown Batcommensalhabitat generalistCommon
Hoary Battree roosts, coniferousopen areasRare but stable
State SOC
Red Batleaf clusters, deciduousopen areas, lightsCommon
State SOC
Little Brown Myotiscommensalhabitat generalistCommon
Northern Long‐eared Myotistree roosts, commensalforest edges, waterCommon
Silver‐haired battree roostsopen areasRare but stable
State SOC
Small‐footed Myotisrock outcropsforest interiorsRare but stableState Endangered
Tri‐colored Battrees, commensalForests, fieldsRare but stable
Indiana battree roostswetlands, forests
Not in NHFederal Endangered
Bats of the Northeast, 2015
Big Brown Batcommensalhabitat generalistCommon
Hoary Battree roosts, coniferousopen areasRare but stable
State SOC
Red Batleaf clusters, deciduousopen areas, lightsCommon
State SOC
Little Brown Myotiscommensalhabitat generalist
REGIONALLY EXTIRPATED
Northern Long‐eared Myotistree roosts, commensalforest edges, water
REGIONALLY EXTIRPATED
Silver‐haired battree roostsopen areasRare but stable
State SOC
Small‐footed Myotisrock outcropsforest interiors
COMMONState Endangered
Tri‐colored Battrees, commensalForests, fields
REGIONALLY EXTIRPATED
Indiana battree roostswetlands, forests
Not in NHFederal EndangeredREGIONALLY EXTIRPATED
Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters Winter Meeting
2/13/15
6
The Northern long‐eared myotisWHAT WE KNOW
• Basic Biology of Bats• Bats of the Northeast• Life Cycle of Hibernating Bats• White‐Nose Syndrome
• The northern long‐eared myotis
HOW WE KNOW IT
• Research Techniques in the Study of Bats
WHAT WE DON’T KNOW
• Cumulative Impacts on bats
• Impact of climate change on bats
Life History of Hibernating Bats
OvulationHibernation
BirthMating
PREGNANCYLACTATION(anoestrus)
Oestrussperm storage
delayed fertilization
Post‐Lactation
Spring WinterAutumnSummer
MoultLinear Growth
Volancy
Fat Deposition
Migration
Moult
Eating
ADULT FEMALES
YOUNG
ADULT MALES
Sexual Maturity
HibernatingPost‐Natal Growth
Fetal Growth
Hibernating
Migration
Mating
Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters Winter Meeting
2/13/15
7
Summer RoostsTYPES OF ROOSTS
Tree Roosts under bark Crevice Roosts mines, caves
in foliage rock walls
talus slopes
Commensal Roosts barns
sheds
bat houses
SOCIAL GROUPINGS PURPOSES
Solitary: most males Weather Protection
Small groups: foliage‐roosters Reduced Commuting Costs
Small Colonies: tree‐roosters Information Transfer
crevice‐roosters Predator Avoidance
commensal species Thermoregulatory Advantage
Large Colonies: cave roosters
commensal species
Before Hibernation
‐ pre‐hibernal Fattening
‐ bats will gain 5‐6g of body fat
(30% ‐ 70% of total body mass)
‐ migration to hibernaculum
During Hibernation
Arousals – periodic episodes of homeothermy
‐ for urination and drinking
‐ recalibrating endogenous clock
‐ no food from October ‐March
After Hibernation
Migration to Summer Range
Winter Roosts
Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters Winter Meeting
2/13/15
8
Before Hibernation
‐ pre‐hibernal Fattening
‐ bats will gain 5‐6g of body fat
(30% ‐ 70% of total body mass)
‐ migration to hibernaculum
During Hibernation
Arousals – periodic episodes of homeothermy
‐ for urination and drinking
‐ recalibrating endogenous clock
‐ no food from October ‐March
After Hibernation
Migration to Summer Range
Winter Roosts
The Northern long‐eared myotisWHAT WE KNOW
• Basic Biology of Bats• Bats of the Northeast• Life Cycle of Hibernating Bats• White‐Nose Syndrome
• The northern long‐eared myotis
HOW WE KNOW IT
• Research Techniques in the Study of Bats
WHAT WE DON’T KNOW
• Cumulative Impacts on bats
• Impact of climate change on bats
Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters Winter Meeting
2/13/15
9
White‐Nose Syndrome
• 2006 ‐ first seen in Howe’s Cave (Albany, NY)
• 2007 – four caves west of Albany
• 2008 – all hibernacula within 80 miles of ‘epicenter’
• 2009 –40 counties in 9 states (over 400 miles)
Pseudogymnoascus destructans
• psychophilic fungus that grows at 5oC ‐ 14oC
• fungal hyphae create visible white growth on bats
• Pd penetrates dermis without immune response
• disrupts electrolyte balance
• fungal conidia (spores) with long‐term viability
1Meteyer, et al. 2009. J. Vet. Diagn Invest. 21: 411-4141.
White‐Nose Syndrome
Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters Winter Meeting
2/13/15
10
Winter Survey Data, NH
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1986 1988 1990 1993 1999 2007 2009
Unknown
E. fuscus
P. subflavus
M. leibii
M. lucifugus
M. septentrionalis
Unknown
E. fuscus
P. subflavus
M. leibii
M. lucifugus
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
1989 2008 2009
Unknown
E. fuscus
P. subflavus
M. leibii
M. lucifugus
M. septentrionalis
Kearsarge Lead Mine
Bristol Mine
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1986 1987 1988 1991 1999 2008 2009
Unknown
E. fuscus
P. subflavus
M. leibii
M. lucifugus
M. septentrionalis
Paddock Copper Mine
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
1986 1987 1991 1999 2008 2009
Unknown
E. fuscus
P. subflavus
M. leibii
M. lucifugus
M. septentrionalis
Red Mine
Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters Winter Meeting
2/13/15
11
Population Growth of M. lucifugus ‐mean growth rate (λ) over last 30 years = 1.07 (0.98 ‐ 1.20)‐mean growth rate (λ) over next 50 years estimated at 1.007
Peterborough Colony
growth rate over 15 years: 1.008
Frick et al., 2010b
Frick et al., 2010 Science 329: 679‐682.
Impact of WNS Decline on Extinction Risk in M. lucifugus
assumes 66% of hibernacula in region are infected
Frick et al., 2010b
Frick et al., 2010 Science 329: 679‐682.
Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters Winter Meeting
2/13/15
12
Impact of WNS Decline on Extinction Risk in M. lucifugus
assumes 70% of individuals are impacted by WNS
Frick et al., 2010b
Frick et al., 2010 Science 329: 679‐682.
The Northern long‐eared myotisWHAT WE KNOW
• Basic Biology of Bats• Bats of the Northeast• Life Cycle of Hibernating Bats• White‐Nose Syndrome
• The northern long‐eared myotis
HOW WE KNOW IT
• Research Techniques in the Study of Bats
WHAT WE DON’T KNOW
• Cumulative Impacts on bats
• Impact of climate change on bats
Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters Winter Meeting
2/13/15
13
Klinkenberg, Brian. (Editor) 2014. E‐Fauna BC: Electronic Atlas of the Fauna of British Columbia [efauna.bc.ca]. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. [Accessed: 2/10/2015 8:04:18 PM]
Physical Description and Taxonomy
HIGH FREQUENCY
LOW INTENSITY
AERIAL HAWKING
GLEANING
CLUTTER ADAPTED
Echolocation and Ecomorphology
Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters Winter Meeting
2/13/15
14
Species Range
• low level of genetic differentiation among subpopulations (Arnold, 2007)
• Home range size 65 ha (mixture of forest and diameter‐limited forest)
• ‘tends’ to forage at low elevation habitat and roost at mid‐ and high‐elevation habitat
• Hibernates with other bat species –often in small crevices
• males tend to migrate shorter distances between seasons than females
Our ‘Forest Bat’Roosting Habitat Species Preferences Roost Characteristics
‘large diameter hardwoods in early decay’ locust (black, cherry ‐WV) exfoliating bark (males)
30‐65 cm mean dbh at 38‐43 snags/ha maple (red, sugar, silver – NH) tree cavities
high use of early‐stage snags oak (red, pin ‐MO) bat houses
multiple roosts within 2 km shagbark hickory (MO) 4.9 days/roost; 3.1 roosts/bat
roost in upland forests and riparian habitat softwoods (hemlock, pine – NH)
mean canopy cover of 44% beech and birch (NH)
Foraging Habitat Reference
most abundant species in interior forest habitat Carroll et al., 2002
roosts always within 2 km of water Larson et al., 2003
‘never found near center of cutblocks, strong preference for edge’ Hogberg et al., 2002
‘strong avoidance of clearcuts – tends to forage on forested hillside and ridges’ Owen et al., 2003
‘most likely to choose high elevation roosting habitat’ Lacki & Cox, 2009
population size related to total forest area and area of deciduous stands Henderson et al., 2008
bat activity increased after prescribed burn Lacki et al., 2009
Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters Winter Meeting
2/13/15
15
The Northern long‐eared myotisWHAT WE KNOW
• Basic Biology of Bats• Bats of the Northeast• Life Cycle of Hibernating Bats• White‐Nose Syndrome
• The northern long‐eared myotis
HOW WE KNOW IT
• Research Techniques in the Study of Bats
WHAT WE DON’T KNOW
• Cumulative Impacts on bats
• Impact of climate change on bats
Mist Nets
Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters Winter Meeting
2/13/15
16
Marking Methods
Acoustic Monitoring
Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters Winter Meeting
2/13/15
17
Transect Acoustic Monitoring
big brown batsMyotis spp.
Northern myotis
Hoary bat
Red bat
Silver-haired bats
Pipistrelle bats
unidentified
26 Augn=42
02 Septn=48
09 Septn=6
Transect Acoustic Monitoring
Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters Winter Meeting
2/13/15
18
The Northern long‐eared myotisWHAT WE KNOW
• Basic Biology of Bats• Bats of the Northeast• Life Cycle of Hibernating Bats• White‐Nose Syndrome
• The northern long‐eared myotis
HOW WE KNOW IT
• Research Techniques in the Study of Bats
WHAT WE DON’T KNOW
• Cumulative Impacts on bats
• Impact of climate change on bats
Cumulative Threats to Bats
WIND
WNS
WOOD
Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters Winter Meeting
2/13/15
19
The Northern long‐eared myotisWHAT WE KNOW
• Basic Biology of Bats• Bats of the Northeast• Life Cycle of Hibernating Bats• White‐Nose Syndrome
• The northern long‐eared myotis
HOW WE KNOW IT
• Research Techniques in the Study of Bats
WHAT WE DON’T KNOW
• Cumulative Impacts on bats
• Impact of climate change on bats
New England Climate Change
+2°C by 2050
+4°C by 2100
IPCC‐AR4low emission scenario
later birth period (lower survivorship, delayed maturation)
fewer female offspring, lowering effective population size
Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters Winter Meeting
2/13/15
20
Survivorship, S ‐Adult survivorship varied annually‐ Strongly dependent on cumulative precipitation (Apr – Oct)
‐No influence of temperature but low annual variation
Range: 0.63 – 0.90
Frick et al., 2009
Reproductive Timing
WARMDRY
COOLWET
Linear model, 95% CI using R 3.0.1
Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters Winter Meeting
2/13/15
21
Reproductive Timing Frick et al., 2009
USFWS Listing for Myotis septentrionalis• January 21, 2010 – CBD petitions listing of northern myotis and eastern small‐footed myotis
• October 02, 2013 – Not Warranted finding for small‐footed myotis• USFWS proposes listing northern myotis
• June 30, 2014 – six month extension of public comment
• November 18, 2014 – one month extension of public comment• 103,000 comments
• January 15, 2015 ‐ Proposed 4(d) Rule• only applies if M. septentrionalis is listed as Threatened
• allows ‘take’ exceptions for forest management, transportation and utility right‐of‐ways, hazard tree removal, and physical exclusion
• no exceptions within 0.25 miles of known hibernacula
• no summer tree removal of known roosts or clearcutting within 0.25 miles of known roost
• April 02, 2015 – Final Determination will be made