Recruitment in a Colorado population of big brown bats: breeding probabilities, litter size, and first-year survival

Product Type: Journal Article

Year: 2010

Author(s): O’Shea, T.J., L.E. Ellison, D.J. Neubaum, M.A. Neubaum, C.A. Reynolds, and R.A. Bowen

Suggested Citation:
O’Shea, T.J., L.E. Ellison, D.J. Neubaum, M.A. Neubaum, C.A. Reynolds, and R.A. Bowen. 2010. Recruitment in a Colorado population of big brown bats: breeding probabilities, litter size, and first-year survival. Journal of Mammalogy 91(2): 418-428.

Abstract

We used mark-recapture estimation techniques and radiography to test hypotheses about 3 important aspects of a recruitment in big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) in Fort Collins, Colorado: adult breeding probabilities, litter size, and 1st-year survival of young. We marked 2,968 females with passive integrated transponder (PIT)tags at multiple sites during 2001-2005 and based our assessments on direct recaptures (breeding probabilities) and passive detection with automated PIT tag readers (1st-year survival). We interpreted our data in relation to hypotheses regarding demographic influences of bat age, roost, and effects of years with unusual environmental conditions…