(14) Bat Utilization of Forested Habitat on the Cumberland Plateau, Tennessee

Previous work has found that forest management, including the use of prescribed fire and thinning, increases bat activity for some species by altering forest structure. Therefore, developing an understanding of the bat habitat... [ view full abstract ]

Previous work has found that forest management, including the use of prescribed fire and thinning, increases bat activity for some species by altering forest structure. Therefore, developing an understanding of the bat habitat associations and responses to management are critical to making informed management decisions. The objectives of our study were to 1) compare bat activity and diversity among forest types, including managed and untreated upland areas of the Southern Cumberland Plateau; 2) evaluate the effects of forest clutter on bat activity and diversity among the forest habitat types; and 3) compare bat activity and diversity on upland sites with lower elevation and untreated areas. In Summer 2017, we used acoustic recording of bat echolocation call sequences (Wildlife Acoustics SM4BAT ZC) to compare bat activity in 4 forest types including closed canopy, recently thinned, >1 yr post thinning with burning regime, and cove habitat. All monitors were placed at each sites for equal time periods. We recorded 150,989 calls, of these 11,766 were No ID and 103,650 were Noise, and we recorded a total of 12 species. Species with similar call characteristics were combined to minimize error and included: LABO/NYHU (eastern red bat [Lasiurus borealis] and evening bat [Nycticeius humeralis]), EPFU/LANO (big brown bat [Eptesicus fuscus] and silver-haired bat [Lasionycteris noctivagans], LACI- hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), PESU - tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus), CORA- Rafinesque’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii), and MYOT (Myotis spp.). Preliminary data from these sites indicated that unmanaged upland forest habitat had the least amount of bat activity and diversity with 1,515 calls recorded over the survey period. Upland sites that were thinned to 50ft²/acre and burned three times had the most calls (17,456). Data collection and analysis is ongoing and when complete, management recommendations will focus on forestry practices to enhance bat habitat in select areas of Sewanee’s forested property.