Temperate bats exhibit seasonal and sex differences in resource selection and activity patterns that are influenced by ambient conditions. During fall, individuals face energetic trade-offs as they make choices relating to migration, mating, and hibernation that may diverge for populations throughout their range. However, research has largely focused on the summer maternity and winter hibernation seasons, whereas the prehibernation period remains comparatively understudied. Northern Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis) have experienced precipitous population declines from white-nose syndrome (WNS), leading to their protected status in the United States and Canada. Therefore, understanding their ecology throughout the year is paramount to inform conservation. We compared seasonal roosts and documented fall behaviors between study sites and sexes on 3 islands: Long Island (New York), Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket Island (Massachusetts). Between 2017 and 2020, we radio-tracked 54 individuals to analyze activity patterns and characterize fall roosts to compare with previously known summer roosts. Summer tree roosts were of smaller diameter, later stages of decay, and lower canopy closure than those used in fall. Both sexes selected trees of similar diameter and decay stage during fall. Anthropogenic roost use was documented in both seasons but use of anthropogenic structures was greater during fall and increased as the season progressed. Bats made short inter-roost movements with males traveling greater distances than females on average. Activity occurred until late November, with males exhibiting a longer active period than females. We tracked 23% of tagged bats to local hibernacula in subterranean anthropogenic structures, the majority of which were crawlspaces underneath houses. Use of anthropogenic structures for roosts and hibernacula may facilitate survival of this species in coastal regions despite the presence of WNS infections. Timing of restrictions on forest management activities for bat conservation may be mismatched based on prehibernation activity observed in these coastal populations, and the conservation of habitat surrounding anthropogenic roosts or hibernacula may be warranted if the structures themselves cannot be protected.

中文翻译：

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北鼠耳蝠 (Myotis septentrionalis) 沿海种群的季节性栖息特征和坠落行为

温带蝙蝠在受环境条件影响的资源选择和活动模式方面表现出季节性和性别差异。在秋季，个体在做出与迁徙、交配和冬眠有关的选择时面临着激烈的权衡，这些选择可能因整个范围内的种群而异。然而，研究主要集中在夏季产假和冬季冬眠季节，而对冬眠前时期的研究相对较少。北鼠耳草（Myotis septentrionalis）因白鼻综合症（WNS）而经历了种群数量的急剧下降，导致它们在美国和加拿大处于受保护状态。因此，了解它们全年的生态状况对于保护工作至关重要。我们比较了长岛（纽约）、玛莎葡萄园岛和楠塔基特岛（马萨诸塞州）这 3 个岛屿的季节性栖息地并记录了研究地点和性别之间的秋季行为。2017 年至 2020 年间，我们对 54 只个体进行了无线电追踪，以分析其活动模式并描述秋季栖息地的特征，并与之前已知的夏季栖息地进行比较。与秋季相比，夏季树栖的直径较小，腐烂阶段较晚，树冠闭合程度较低。秋季，两性都选择了直径和腐烂阶段相似的树木。两个季节都有人为栖息地的使用记录，但人为结构的使用在秋季较多，并随着季节的进展而增加。蝙蝠在栖息地之间进行短距离运动，平均而言，雄性蝙蝠比雌性蝙蝠移动的距离更长。活动一直持续到11月下旬，雄性的活跃期比雌性更长。我们追踪到 23% 的标记蝙蝠到了地下人类结构中的当地冬眠区，其中大部分是房屋下方的狭小空间。尽管存在 WNS 感染，但使用人类结构作为栖息地和冬眠场所可能会促进该物种在沿海地区的生存。根据在这些沿海种群中观察到的冬眠前活动，对蝙蝠保护的森林管理活动的限制时间可能不匹配，如果结构本身无法得到保护，则可能需要对人类栖息地或冬眠周围的栖息地进行保护。