Seeing the Forest through the Trees: Considering Roost-Site Selection at Multiple Spatial Scales.

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Wildlife Conservation
• Forest Science

Background:

• Bat conservation in North America faces challenges due to limited ecological knowledge.
• Summer day-roost availability is critical for bat survival and social structure outside hibernation.
• Previous conservation focused on individual roost sites, neglecting broader habitat influences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate roost-site selection by Indiana bats (Myotis sodalis) at Fort Drum, NY.
• To analyze selection patterns across landscape, forest stand, and individual tree scales.
• To inform conservation strategies by identifying key habitat attributes for roosting bats.

Main Methods:

• Radiotracking of 33 Indiana bats (10 males, 23 females) from 2007-2011.
• Identification of 348 roosting events in 116 unique roost trees.
• Analysis of roost selection at landscape, stand, and tree levels.

Main Results:

• Landscape scale: Roost selection associated with northern mixed forests, increased slope, and distance from development.
• Stand scale: Larger stands with higher basal area, larger tree diameter, and sugar maple favored.
• Tree scale: Roosts typically in large-diameter American elm or sugar maple with moderate decay and loose bark.

Conclusions:

• Indiana bat roost selection is influenced by factors across multiple spatial scales.
• Individual roost tree attributes (size, decay) are important, alongside larger landscape and stand characteristics.
• Conservation efforts must integrate multi-scale habitat considerations for effective bat management.