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1 March 2011 Day-Roosts of Myotis leibii in the Appalachian Ridge and Valley of West Virginia
Joseph S. Johnson, James D. Kiser, Kristen S. Watrous, Trevor S. Peterson
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Abstract

Currently there is little known about day-roosts used by Myotis leibii (Eastern Small-footed Myotis) in the Central Appalachians. To provide insights on this species' day-roosting habits, we successfully radiotracked 5 lactating females and 5 non-reproductive males to 57 day-roosts during June and July 2008. Eastern Small-footed Myotis used ground-level rock roosts in talus slopes and rock fields (n = 53), and roosts in vertical cliff faces (n = 4). Ground-level roosts had low canopy cover (males: fi01_95.gif = 14.1 ± 2.1 [SE] %, females: fi01_95.gif = 19.6 ± 3.1%), but were located close to vegetation (males: fi01_95.gif = 3.6 ± 0.4 m, females: fi01_95.gif = 4.8 ± 0.8 m). Males switched roosts every 1.1 ± 0.04 days, traveled 41.2 ± 7.8 m between consecutive roosts, and roosted 415 ± 49.0 m from capture locations. Females switched roosts every 1.1 ± 0.06 days, traveled 66.5 ± 14.6 m between consecutive roosts, and roosted 368 ± 24.0 m from capture locations. Ground-level roosts used by females were closer to ephemeral water sources (fi01_95.gif = 226 ± 31.2 m, n = 25) than those used by males (fi01_95.gif = 458 ± 16.7 m, n = 28; W = 401, P < 0.01). These data illustrate the importance of rock habitat with high solar exposure near protective cover and water in day-roost selection by Eastern Small-footed Myotis.

Joseph S. Johnson, James D. Kiser, Kristen S. Watrous, and Trevor S. Peterson "Day-Roosts of Myotis leibii in the Appalachian Ridge and Valley of West Virginia," Northeastern Naturalist 18(1), 95-106, (1 March 2011). https://doi.org/10.1656/045.018.0109
Published: 1 March 2011
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