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

atmire.migration.oldid1366
dc.contributor.advisorBarclay, Robert
dc.contributor.authorReimer, Jesika
dc.date.accessioned2013-09-16T20:56:56Z
dc.date.available2013-11-12T08:00:14Z
dc.date.issued2013-09-16
dc.date.submitted2013en
dc.description.abstractNorthern 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.en_US
dc.identifier.citationReimer, J. (2013). Nocturnality under the midnight sun: behavioural adaptations of the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) at 60°N latitude (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/27111en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/27111
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11023/978
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.facultyGraduate Studies
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subjectEcology
dc.subject.classificationChiropteraen_US
dc.subject.classificationMyotis lucifugusen_US
dc.subject.classificationforagingen_US
dc.subject.classificationnorthern latitudesen_US
dc.titleNocturnality under the midnight sun: behavioural adaptations of the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) at 60°N latitude
dc.typemaster thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineBiological Sciences
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (MSc)
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrue
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