The Effects of the Kenow Wildfire on the Bat Community in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta
Date
2022-01-27
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Abstract
Fire is one of the most important natural disturbances shaping forest communities. Fire impacts bat communities by changing forest structure, foraging opportunities, and roost availability. I examined the effects of the Kenow wildfire on the bat community in Waterton Lakes National Park (WLNP), Alberta. The Kenow wildfire was a severe fire that burned 38% of the park in September 2017. I radio-tracked female and male Myotis lucifugus to examine roosting behaviour and roost-tree availability two- and three-years post-fire. Reproductive female maternity colonies were found exclusively in buildings in the Waterton townsite. Males and non-reproductive females were tracked to tree and rock roosts in both burned and unburned areas. Roost-tree availability does not appear to have changed immediately after the wildfire. WLNP bat activity was examined using acoustic detectors to record bat echolocation calls at thirteen sites for three years before and three years after the wildfire. I analyzed echolocation recordings to examine bat activity changes pre- and post-fire as well as between burned and unburned areas. The Kenow wildfire negatively affected Eptesicus fuscus/Lasionycteris noctivagans, Lasiurus cinereus, and Myotis evotis. 40 kHz Myotis activity, likely predominately M. lucifugus, did not change pre- to post-fire. However, activity increased in burned areas and decreased in unburned areas. Myotis lucifugus are opportunistic and were likely able to adapt quickly to the changes in foraging habitat, insect communities, and roosting opportunities after the wildfire. Eptesicus fuscus/L. noctivagans, L. cinereus, and M. evotis were likely less adaptable to the significant ecological changes caused by the wildfire. However, the results are for the first three years post-fire and it may take time for the positive effects of the Kenow wildfire to be observed.
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post-fire, insectivorous bat, acoustic analysis, roost selection, nightly activity
Citation
Low, E. B. (2022). The Effects of the Kenow Wildfire on the Bat Community in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.