![]() This behavior begins in late summer, peaks in mid-autumn, and ceases in mid-October to early November when bats enter hibernation ( Šuba et al. Most typically associated with Myotis bats, swarming is known to occur in seven genera of Microchiropteran bats ( Parsons et al. Evidence suggests males in poorer body condition often spend more time in swarming activities than presumably healthier males in better condition ( Lowe 2012).Īutumn swarming is associated with rapid flight, chasing behavior, and vocalizations of large numbers of bats in and around the entrances to caves ( Fenton 1969 Thomas et al. Accumulation of fat reserves for hibernation is slowed by the energy expended in mating behaviors and flight ( Piksa 2008 Šuba et al. ![]() ![]() Estimates suggest little brown bats Myotis lucifugus need to add up to 2.3 g of fat to sustain hibernation periods that can last up to 9 mo at more northern latitudes ( Kunz et al. During autumn swarming, bats must build fat stores to sustain them through winter hibernation. Winter hibernation is preceded by autumn swarming, when breeding occurs and when bats accumulate fat reserves, and is followed by spring staging, when bats disperse to summer activity areas and maternity sites. These conditions lead to reduced availability of insect prey and higher metabolic costs of thermoregulation, forcing species to choose between migration in autumn to warmer climates ( Fleming and Eby 2003 Cryan and Veilleux 2007) or moving shorter distances at the completion of the breeding season to roosting sites nearby and entering periods of deep torpor or hibernation ( Speakman and Thomas 2003). We suggest this variation is likely to have implications for the relative vulnerability of species to WNS infection across the distribution of the Pseudogymnoascus fungus.īats in the northern temperate zone face energetic stressors in winter months because of cold ambient temperatures. These data indicate significant intraspecific variation in body condition of cave-hibernating bat species, both among years and between the seasons of autumn swarming and spring staging. Most species demonstrated highest body mass and body mass index values in late swarming compared with other sampling periods, with tri-colored bats showing the greatest percent increase in body mass (42.5%) and body mass index (42.9%) prior to entering hibernation. Little brown bats and northern long-eared bats demonstrated significant increases in mean body mass index in 2014 this pattern likely reflected a relatively better body condition in bats that survived exposure to the WNS fungus. septentrionalis, and tri-colored bats Perimyotis subflavus, but not Indiana bats M. Significant temporal variation in body mass and body mass index was observed for little brown bats Myotis lucifugus, northern long-eared bats M. Capture success was substantially reduced in 2014, following the second winter after arrival of the WNS fungus. ![]() Sex ratios of all species were male-biased. We evaluated seasonal and annual changes in body mass and body condition of bats entering and leaving the cave. We sampled bats at the entrance to a cave in Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, during swarming and staging, prior to (20), concurrent with (2013), and following (2014) the arrival of the WNS fungus. Studies of the physiological ecology of cave-hibernating bats during the spring staging and autumn swarming seasons are few, and an understanding of patterns in body condition of bats associated with entry into and emergence from hibernation is incomplete. They did have some of the best stuffies in their gift shop also.The rapid colonization of the Pseudogymnoascus destructans fungus across cave systems in eastern North America and the associated bat mortalities (white-nose syndrome WNS), necessitates studies of cave-hibernating bats that remain unaffected by, or in close proximity to, the leading edge of the fungal distribution to provide baseline predisturbance data from which to assess changes due to fungal effects. So take the family, cool off in a cave, and have an ice cream□ afterwards. The nature trail view is beautiful, there were a few cactus blooming but only got to see a small lizard no mountain lions or snakes this trip. I absolutely loved the combination of history and geology wrapped into one. But know those stairs are mostly spread out and not all at once. Maybe it was because I tried to see if there truly were 343(?) stairs and hiking and counting tripped me up. But I was a goofball show off who got burned. And Saida gifted me some water to help me out. The last trek back up the stairs, we initially went down, were a little tough. We enjoyed the tour and it wasn’t too long or hard for my weak lungs. There were no promises of Bats but it would’ve been nice to awaken them. She was very upbeat the entire time, informative and had a few cool tricks up her sleeve.
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