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Article

Eastern Red Bat Responses to Fire during Winter Torpor

1
Department of Biology, Missouri State University, 901 S, National Avenue, Springfield, MO 65897, USA
2
Stantec Consulting Services Inc., 6800 College Boulevard, Suite 750, Overland Park, KS 66211, USA
3
Department of Biology, Laboratory Building LB109, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada
4
U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services, 140 Locust Grove Rd, Pittstown, NJ 08867, USA
5
Environmental Solutions & Innovations Inc., 3851 S Jefferson Avenue, Springfield, MO 65807, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Forests 2021, 12(10), 1347; https://doi.org/10.3390/f12101347
Submission received: 25 August 2021 / Revised: 17 September 2021 / Accepted: 26 September 2021 / Published: 2 October 2021

Abstract

Prescribed fires are a forest management tool used to improve natural areas for a variety of benefits including increased plant diversity, reduced competition for desired species, decreased fuel loads, and improved wildlife habitat. The post-fire results in landscapes have shown positive benefits for bat populations. However, prescribed fires set in the winter may cause direct mortality of eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis) populations that use leaf litter for roosting during periods of colder (<10 °C) temperatures. Therefore, we used controlled laboratory techniques to explore if eastern red bats arouse from torpor when exposed to cues associated with fire (i.e., smoke and the sound of fire). Through subsequent field trials, we confirmed latencies of first response (i.e., movement or increased respiration), arousal, and flight behaviors to the stimuli of fire. We provide evidence of smoke influencing eastern red bat first response and arousal through laboratory and field trial results. Latencies of all behaviors were negatively correlated with temperatures and wind speeds prior to and during field trials. We recommend prescribing winter fires on days when temperatures are >10 °C to provide eastern red bats with a better chance to passively rewarm and react to an approaching fire.
Keywords: Lasiurus borealis; eastern red bat; prescribed fire; winter; torpor; forest management; Missouri Lasiurus borealis; eastern red bat; prescribed fire; winter; torpor; forest management; Missouri

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MDPI and ACS Style

Layne, J.T.; Green, D.; Scesny, A.; Robbins, L.W. Eastern Red Bat Responses to Fire during Winter Torpor. Forests 2021, 12, 1347. https://doi.org/10.3390/f12101347

AMA Style

Layne JT, Green D, Scesny A, Robbins LW. Eastern Red Bat Responses to Fire during Winter Torpor. Forests. 2021; 12(10):1347. https://doi.org/10.3390/f12101347

Chicago/Turabian Style

Layne, Jason T., Dana Green, Anna Scesny, and Lynn W. Robbins. 2021. "Eastern Red Bat Responses to Fire during Winter Torpor" Forests 12, no. 10: 1347. https://doi.org/10.3390/f12101347

APA Style

Layne, J. T., Green, D., Scesny, A., & Robbins, L. W. (2021). Eastern Red Bat Responses to Fire during Winter Torpor. Forests, 12(10), 1347. https://doi.org/10.3390/f12101347

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