Barclay, RobertReimer, Jesika2013-09-162013-11-122013-09-162013http://hdl.handle.net/11023/978Northern 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.engUniversity 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.EcologyChiropteraMyotis lucifugusforagingnorthern latitudesmaster thesis10.11575/PRISM/27111