Annual and Temporal Population Characteristics of Tadarida brasiliensis and Myotis velifer at the Old Tunnel Wildlife Management Area, Kendall County, Texas
Date
2004-12
Authors
Shelton, Stephanie L.
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Abstract
The Old Tunnel Wildlife Management Area (OTWMA) bat population is considered a pseudomatemal colony and very little is known about this type of roost. Two species reside at OTWMA, the Mexican free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) and the cave myotis (Myotis velifer). A harp net was used to capture bats. In 2003, my objectives were to 1) observe and document the netting night (annual) and time of netting night (temporal) activity patterns of this pseudomatemal colony of Tadarida brasiliensis and Myotis velifer, 2) measure and document changes in weights, gender, reproductive status, and age of T brasiliensis and M velifer throughout the night and time of night, and 3) observe and approximate the timing of parturition and arrival of juvenile T. brasiliensis from nearby maternity colonies. Gender, age, reproductive status, and weight were analyzed. Preliminary capture data showed a skewed sex ratio for almost all trapping efforts with females outnumbering males 2:1 in both species. Results showed no correlations of the dependent variables to the regressions. Dependent variables included weight, bats per second, and the ratio of reproductive to non-reproductive adults. A two factor ANOVA was used for two categories, netting night and netting time class. Both categories were analyzed with the dependent variables and blocked for either gender or reproductive class accordingly. Finally, temporal autocorrelations were conducted to determine appropriate regression model statements, with or without time series correlations.
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Keywords
Tadarida brasiliensis, Myotis velifer, population biology
Citation
Shelton, S. L. (2004). Annual and temporal population characteristics of Tadarida brasiliensis and Myotis velifer at the Old Tunnel Wildlife Management Area, Kendall County, Texas (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University-San Marcos, San Marcos, Texas.