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Winter roost-site selection by seminole bats in the lower coastal plain of South Carolina

Informally Refereed

Abstract

The winter roost-site selection of most North American foliage-roosting bats is relatively unknown. We examined winter roost-site selection of Seminole bats (Lasiurus seminolus) in the Lower Coastal Plain of South Carolina during January 2004. Seminole bats used a variety of day-roost structures including the canopy of overstory hardwood trees, hanging vines, pine needle clusters suspended from understory vegetation, and leaf litter on the forest floor. Although reported for red bats (L. borealis), this is the first report of Seminole bats roosting in forest floor leaf litter. Winter roost selection differed from previous observations of summer roosts, which consisted almost exclusively of live overstory pine (Pinus spp.) trees. Roost-site selection in winter likely is related to ambient temperature and optimizing exposure to solar radiation during the day. Management decisions in southeastern forests should consider seasonal changes in roosting behavior to minimize adverse impacts on forest bats.

Citation

Hein, Cris D.; Castleberry, Steven B.; Miller, Karl V. 2005. Winter roost-site selection by seminole bats in the lower coastal plain of South Carolina. Southeastern Naturalist, Vol. 43(3): 473-478
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/25459