Nocturnality under the midnight sun: behavioural adaptations of the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) at 60°N latitude

Northern environments are highly dynamic with pronounced seasons and a large annual range in photoperiod. As latitude increases, summer ambient temperature is cooler and summer days lengthen. The goal of my research was to investigate how a hibernating, nocturnal mammal behaves at northern latitudes...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Reimer, Jesika
Other Authors: Barclay, Robert
Format: Master Thesis
Language:English
Published: Graduate Studies 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11023/978
https://doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/27111
Description
Summary:Northern environments are highly dynamic with pronounced seasons and a large annual range in photoperiod. As latitude increases, summer ambient temperature is cooler and summer days lengthen. The goal of my research was to investigate how a hibernating, nocturnal mammal behaves at northern latitudes with the combination of short summers and short summer nights. I investigated the behaviour of Myotis lucifugus at 60°N in the Northwest Territories, Canada. I assessed the effects of cool ambient temperatures on the timing of hibernation and reproduction, nightly activity, and foraging efficiency compared to southern populations. I found that M. lucifugus exit hibernation at cool ambient temperatures, exhibit delayed parturition, adjust their foraging behaviour to capitalize on reduced night length, and have higher foraging rates (i.e. reduced prey search time) which allow them to gain sufficient pre-hibernation mass. I suggest these adaptations allow populations to persist at northern latitudes.