Degree
Master of Science
Program
Biology
Supervisor
Dr. Brock Fenton
Abstract
Geographical landmarks may be important features for navigation of migrating bats although spatial and temporal activity may depend on species-specific migration strategies. I predicted that latitudinal migrating bats would have higher activity along north-south oriented linear landscape features, especially during late-seasonal migration periods, compared to bat species that migrate within a regional area. I acoustically sampled four species of bats classified as latitudinal and regional migrants. I monitored twelve sites located in southwestern Ontario at four landscape features between May and October 2011. I found that specific landscape features may have greater importance to specific species rather than their migration strategy. Also, latitudinal migratory bat activity increased during the late-seasonal time period however all species activity increased in the mid-seasonal time period. Information, gained with acoustic monitoring, about seasonal relationships of species at landscape features may help identify critical areas used by migrating bats.
Recommended Citation
Hamilton, Rachel M., "Spatial and Temporal Activity of Migratory Bats at Landscape Features" (2012). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 886.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/886