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ImportanceInherent complexities in the composition of microbiomes can often preclude investigations of microbe-associated diseases. Instead of single organisms being associated with disease, community characteristics may be more relevant. Longitudinal microbiome studies of the same individual bats as pathogens arrive and infect a population are the ideal experiment but remain logistically challenging; therefore, investigations like our approach that are able to correlate invasive pathogens to alterations within a microbiome may be the next best alternative. The results of this study potentially suggest that microbiome-host interactions may determine the likelihood of infection. However, the contrasting relationship between Pd and the bacterial microbiomes of Myotis lucifugus and Perimyotis subflavus indicate that we are just beginning to understand how the bat microbiome interacts with a fungal invader such as Pd.

The skin microbiome is an essential line of host defense against pathogens, yet our understanding of microbial communities and how they change when hosts become infected is limited. We investigated skin microbial composition in three North American bat species (Myotis lucifugus, Eptesicus fuscus, and Perimyotis subflavus) that have been impacted by the infectious disease, white-nose syndrome, caused by an invasive fungal pathogen, Pseudogymnoascus destructans. We compared bacterial and fungal composition from 154 skin swab samples and 70 environmental samples using a targeted 16S rRNA and internal transcribed spacer amplicon approach. We found that for M. lucifugus, a species that experiences high mortality from white-nose syndrome, bacterial microbiome diversity was dramatically lower when P. destructans was present. Key bacterial families—including those potentially involved in pathogen defense—significantly differed in abundance in bats infected with P. destructans compared to uninfected bats. However, skin bacterial diversity was not lower in E. fuscus or P. subflavus when P. destructans was present despite populations of the latter species declining sharply from white-nose syndrome. The fungal species present on bats substantially overlapped with the fungal taxa present in the environment at the site where the bat was sampled, but fungal community composition was unaffected by the presence of P. destructans for any of the three bat species. This species-specific alteration in bat skin bacterial microbiomes after pathogen invasion may suggest a mechanism for the severity of white-nose syndrome in M. lucifugus but not for other bat species impacted by the disease. IMPORTANCE Inherent complexities in the composition of microbiomes can often preclude investigations of microbe-associated diseases. Instead of single organisms being associated with disease, community characteristics may be more relevant. Longitudinal microbiome studies of the same individual bats as p

Acoustic data are often used to describe bat activity, including habitat use within the summer reproductive period. These data inform management activities that potentially impact bats, currently a taxa of high conservation concern. To understand the relationship between acoustic and reproductive timing, we sampled big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) and eastern red bats (Lasiurus borealis) on 482 mist-netting and 35,410 passive acoustic sampling nights within the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, 2015-2018. We documented the proportion of female, pregnant, lactating, and juvenile big brown and eastern red bats within each mist-net sampling event and calculated locally estimated non-parametric scatterplot smoothing (LOESS) lines for each reproductive and acoustic dataset. We compared the peak in acoustic activity with the peaks of each reproductive condition. We determined that the highest levels of acoustic activity within the maternity season were most associated with the period wherein we captured the highest proportions of lactating bats, not juvenile bats, as often assumed.

During winter, many mammals hibernate and lower their body temperature and metabolic rate (MR) in prolonged periods of torpor. Hibernators will use energetically expensive arousals (i.e., restore body temperature and MR) presumably to re-establish water balance. Some hibernating mammals however will huddle in groups, possibly to decrease energetic costs and total evaporative water loss (EWL), although the benefit is not fully understood. Research on the relationship between behaviour, physiology, water loss, and energy expenditure of bats during hibernation is especially important because of a fungal disease called white-nose syndrome (WNS). To date, 12 North American bat species are affected by WNS, however big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) appear resistant, although the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. The overall objective of my thesis was to understand the influence of humidity and huddling on the behavioural and physiological responses of hibernating big brown bats. To test my hypotheses, I used a captive colony of hibernating big brown bats (n = 20). Specifically, for Chapter 2, I first tested the hypothesis that big brown bats adjust huddling and drinking behaviour depending on humidity, to maintain a consistent pattern of periodic arousals, and therefore energy balance during hibernation. I found that bats hibernating in a dry environment did not differ in arousal/torpor bout frequency, or torpor bout duration throughout hibernation but drank at twice the rate as bats in a humid environment. Bats in the dry treatment also had shorter arousals, and huddled in a denser huddle, potentially to reduce rates of total EWL. During late hibernation, for Chapter 3, I used open-flow respirometry to test two additional hypotheses, first that phenotypic flexibility in total EWL helps explain the tolerance of hibernating big brown bats for a wide range of humidity relative to other bat species. I found that dry-acclimated bats had lower rates of total EWL, compa

During winter, many mammals hibernate and lower their body temperature and metabolic rate (MR) in prolonged periods of torpor. Hibernators will use energetically expensive arousals (i.e., restore body temperature and MR) presumably to re-establish water balance. Some hibernating mammals however will huddle in groups, possibly to decrease energetic costs and total evaporative water loss (EWL), although the benefit is not fully understood. Research on the relationship between behaviour, physiology, water loss, and energy expenditure of bats during hibernation is especially important because of a fungal disease called white-nose syndrome (WNS). To date, 12 North American bat species are affected by WNS, however big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) appear resistant, although the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. The overall objective of my thesis was to understand the influence of humidity and huddling on the behavioural and physiological responses of hibernating big brown bats. To test my hypotheses, I used a captive colony of hibernating big brown bats (n = 20). Specifically, for Chapter 2, I first tested the hypothesis that big brown bats adjust huddling and drinking behaviour depending on humidity, to maintain a consistent pattern of periodic arousals, and therefore energy balance during hibernation. I found that bats hibernating in a dry environment did not differ in arousal/torpor bout frequency, or torpor bout duration throughout hibernation but drank at twice the rate as bats in a humid environment. Bats in the dry treatment also had shorter arousals, and huddled in a denser huddle, potentially to reduce rates of total EWL. During late hibernation, for Chapter 3, I used open-flow respirometry to test two additional hypotheses, first that phenotypic flexibility in total EWL helps explain the tolerance of hibernating big brown bats for a wide range of humidity relative to other bat species. I found that dry-acclimated bats had lower rates of total EWL, compa

Bat populations across North America are either facing new threats from white-nose syndrome (WNS) and wind energy development or have already experienced precipitous declines. Accordingly, researchers and managers need to know how to best monitor bats to document population and distribution changes, as well as where to look for persisting populations. Landscape-scale WNS impacts to summer bat populations are not well understood, and although acoustic monitoring is commonly used to monitor these populations, there is limited information about differences among acoustic detectors and the implications to managers thereof. My objectives were to model the relationship between WNS impact, influence of available hibernacula, and environmental factors for summer nightly presence of three WNS-affected bats and to compare how multiple models of acoustic detectors perform in terms of detection probability and nightly recorded bat activity. I collected acoustic data from 10 study areas across Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky to describe changes in nightly presence of WNS-affected bat species during summer 2017. During the same period of time, I compared five types of acoustic detectors at Fort Knox, Kentucky. My results show the potential efficacy of using a WNS impact-year metric to predict summer bat presence, and highlight which environmental variables are relevant for large-scale acoustic monitoring. Additionally, my findings suggest that each of the detector types tested would suffice for most research and monitoring activities, but standardization of detector type within the scope of a project or study should be encouraged.

My study focuses on six bat species that occur in north-central Kansas. Although each species is widely distributed, information about their diet and activity patterns is lacking, especially within Kansas. Increased knowledge about bat species in Kansas can provide a baseline for future studies and conservation efforts for the species included in my study; big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis), and tricolored bats (Perimyotis subflavus) were captured and fecal samples were examined for diet diversity. I captured bats in mist nets in the Kansas counties of Ellis, Rooks, and Trego from April through October of 2015 and 2016, when temperate bats are most active. Each captured bat was detained to collect a comprehensive fecal sample, which was used to determine diet. I captured 272 bats during 2015, from which 217 fecal samples were collected and captured 333 bats during 2016, of which 241 produced samples. Within the fecal samples, 6 orders of insect were identified: Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, and Orthoptera. Results showed significant differences in diet between bat species within the state of Kansas, specifically between big brown bat and eastern red bat and between eastern red bat and evening bat for consumption of coleopterans. Big brown bat consumed more coleopterans and eastern red bat consumed more lepidopterans. Significant differences also occurred between eastern red bat and evening bat for consumption of lepidopterans, with eastern red bat consuming more lepidopterans. Activity patterns significantly differed between bat species, specifically between big brown and eastern red bats and between big brown and evening bats. Big brown bat was most often captured at an average of 2.45 hours after sunset, evening bat at an average of 1.67, and eastern red at an average of 1.66 hours after sunset.

My study focuses on six bat species that occur in north-central Kansas. Although each species is widely distributed, information about their diet and activity patterns is lacking, especially within Kansas. Increased knowledge about bat species in Kansas can provide a baseline for future studies and conservation efforts for the species included in my study; big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis), and tricolored bats (Perimyotis subflavus) were captured and fecal samples were examined for diet diversity. I captured bats in mist nets in the Kansas counties of Ellis, Rooks, and Trego from April through October of 2015 and 2016, when temperate bats are most active. Each captured bat was detained to collect a comprehensive fecal sample, which was used to determine diet. I captured 272 bats during 2015, from which 217 fecal samples were collected and captured 333 bats during 2016, of which 241 produced samples. Within the fecal samples, 6 orders of insect were identified: Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, and Orthoptera. Results showed significant differences in diet between bat species within the state of Kansas, specifically between big brown bat and eastern red bat and between eastern red bat and evening bat for consumption of coleopterans. Big brown bat consumed more coleopterans and eastern red bat consumed more lepidopterans. Significant differences also occurred between eastern red bat and evening bat for consumption of lepidopterans, with eastern red bat consuming more lepidopterans. Activity patterns significantly differed between bat species, specifically between big brown and eastern red bats and between big brown and evening bats. Big brown bat was most often captured at an average of 2.45 hours after sunset, evening bat at an average of 1.67, and eastern red at an average of 1.66 hours after sunset.

My study focuses on six bat species that occur in north-central Kansas. Although each species is widely distributed, information about their diet and activity patterns is lacking, especially within Kansas. Increased knowledge about bat species in Kansas can provide a baseline for future studies and conservation efforts for the species included in my study; big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis), and tricolored bats (Perimyotis subflavus) were captured and fecal samples were examined for diet diversity. I captured bats in mist nets in the Kansas counties of Ellis, Rooks, and Trego from April through October of 2015 and 2016, when temperate bats are most active. Each captured bat was detained to collect a comprehensive fecal sample, which was used to determine diet. I captured 272 bats during 2015, from which 217 fecal samples were collected and captured 333 bats during 2016, of which 241 produced samples. Within the fecal samples, 6 orders of insect were identified: Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, and Orthoptera. Results showed significant differences in diet between bat species within the state of Kansas, specifically between big brown bat and eastern red bat and between eastern red bat and evening bat for consumption of coleopterans. Big brown bat consumed more coleopterans and eastern red bat consumed more lepidopterans. Significant differences also occurred between eastern red bat and evening bat for consumption of lepidopterans, with eastern red bat consuming more lepidopterans. Activity patterns significantly differed between bat species, specifically between big brown and eastern red bats and between big brown and evening bats. Big brown bat was most often captured at an average of 2.45 hours after sunset, evening bat at an average of 1.67, and eastern red at an average of 1.66 hours after sunset.

My study focuses on six bat species that occur in north-central Kansas. Although each species is widely distributed, information about their diet and activity patterns is lacking, especially within Kansas. Increased knowledge about bat species in Kansas can provide a baseline for future studies and conservation efforts for the species included in my study; big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis), and tricolored bats (Perimyotis subflavus) were captured and fecal samples were examined for diet diversity. I captured bats in mist nets in the Kansas counties of Ellis, Rooks, and Trego from April through October of 2015 and 2016, when temperate bats are most active. Each captured bat was detained to collect a comprehensive fecal sample, which was used to determine diet. I captured 272 bats during 2015, from which 217 fecal samples were collected and captured 333 bats during 2016, of which 241 produced samples. Within the fecal samples, 6 orders of insect were identified: Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, and Orthoptera. Results showed significant differences in diet between bat species within the state of Kansas, specifically between big brown bat and eastern red bat and between eastern red bat and evening bat for consumption of coleopterans. Big brown bat consumed more coleopterans and eastern red bat consumed more lepidopterans. Significant differences also occurred between eastern red bat and evening bat for consumption of lepidopterans, with eastern red bat consuming more lepidopterans. Activity patterns significantly differed between bat species, specifically between big brown and eastern red bats and between big brown and evening bats. Big brown bat was most often captured at an average of 2.45 hours after sunset, evening bat at an average of 1.67, and eastern red at an average of 1.66 hours after sunset.

My study focuses on six bat species that occur in north-central Kansas. Although each species is widely distributed, information about their diet and activity patterns is lacking, especially within Kansas. Increased knowledge about bat species in Kansas can provide a baseline for future studies and conservation efforts for the species included in my study; big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis), and tricolored bats (Perimyotis subflavus) were captured and fecal samples were examined for diet diversity. I captured bats in mist nets in the Kansas counties of Ellis, Rooks, and Trego from April through October of 2015 and 2016, when temperate bats are most active. Each captured bat was detained to collect a comprehensive fecal sample, which was used to determine diet. I captured 272 bats during 2015, from which 217 fecal samples were collected and captured 333 bats during 2016, of which 241 produced samples. Within the fecal samples, 6 orders of insect were identified: Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, and Orthoptera. Results showed significant differences in diet between bat species within the state of Kansas, specifically between big brown bat and eastern red bat and between eastern red bat and evening bat for consumption of coleopterans. Big brown bat consumed more coleopterans and eastern red bat consumed more lepidopterans. Significant differences also occurred between eastern red bat and evening bat for consumption of lepidopterans, with eastern red bat consuming more lepidopterans. Activity patterns significantly differed between bat species, specifically between big brown and eastern red bats and between big brown and evening bats. Big brown bat was most often captured at an average of 2.45 hours after sunset, evening bat at an average of 1.67, and eastern red at an average of 1.66 hours after sunset.

My study focuses on six bat species that occur in north-central Kansas. Although each species is widely distributed, information about their diet and activity patterns is lacking, especially within Kansas. Increased knowledge about bat species in Kansas can provide a baseline for future studies and conservation efforts for the species included in my study; big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis), and tricolored bats (Perimyotis subflavus) were captured and fecal samples were examined for diet diversity. I captured bats in mist nets in the Kansas counties of Ellis, Rooks, and Trego from April through October of 2015 and 2016, when temperate bats are most active. Each captured bat was detained to collect a comprehensive fecal sample, which was used to determine diet. I captured 272 bats during 2015, from which 217 fecal samples were collected and captured 333 bats during 2016, of which 241 produced samples. Within the fecal samples, 6 orders of insect were identified: Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, and Orthoptera. Results showed significant differences in diet between bat species within the state of Kansas, specifically between big brown bat and eastern red bat and between eastern red bat and evening bat for consumption of coleopterans. Big brown bat consumed more coleopterans and eastern red bat consumed more lepidopterans. Significant differences also occurred between eastern red bat and evening bat for consumption of lepidopterans, with eastern red bat consuming more lepidopterans. Activity patterns significantly differed between bat species, specifically between big brown and eastern red bats and between big brown and evening bats. Big brown bat was most often captured at an average of 2.45 hours after sunset, evening bat at an average of 1.67, and eastern red at an average of 1.66 hours after sunset.

My study focuses on six bat species that occur in north-central Kansas. Although each species is widely distributed, information about their diet and activity patterns is lacking, especially within Kansas. Increased knowledge about bat species in Kansas can provide a baseline for future studies and conservation efforts for the species included in my study; big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis), and tricolored bats (Perimyotis subflavus) were captured and fecal samples were examined for diet diversity. I captured bats in mist nets in the Kansas counties of Ellis, Rooks, and Trego from April through October of 2015 and 2016, when temperate bats are most active. Each captured bat was detained to collect a comprehensive fecal sample, which was used to determine diet. I captured 272 bats during 2015, from which 217 fecal samples were collected and captured 333 bats during 2016, of which 241 produced samples. Within the fecal samples, 6 orders of insect were identified: Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, and Orthoptera. Results showed significant differences in diet between bat species within the state of Kansas, specifically between big brown bat and eastern red bat and between eastern red bat and evening bat for consumption of coleopterans. Big brown bat consumed more coleopterans and eastern red bat consumed more lepidopterans. Significant differences also occurred between eastern red bat and evening bat for consumption of lepidopterans, with eastern red bat consuming more lepidopterans. Activity patterns significantly differed between bat species, specifically between big brown and eastern red bats and between big brown and evening bats. Big brown bat was most often captured at an average of 2.45 hours after sunset, evening bat at an average of 1.67, and eastern red at an average of 1.66 hours after sunset.

My study focuses on six bat species that occur in north-central Kansas. Although each species is widely distributed, information about their diet and activity patterns is lacking, especially within Kansas. Increased knowledge about bat species in Kansas can provide a baseline for future studies and conservation efforts for the species included in my study; big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis), and tricolored bats (Perimyotis subflavus) were captured and fecal samples were examined for diet diversity. I captured bats in mist nets in the Kansas counties of Ellis, Rooks, and Trego from April through October of 2015 and 2016, when temperate bats are most active. Each captured bat was detained to collect a comprehensive fecal sample, which was used to determine diet. I captured 272 bats during 2015, from which 217 fecal samples were collected and captured 333 bats during 2016, of which 241 produced samples. Within the fecal samples, 6 orders of insect were identified: Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, and Orthoptera. Results showed significant differences in diet between bat species within the state of Kansas, specifically between big brown bat and eastern red bat and between eastern red bat and evening bat for consumption of coleopterans. Big brown bat consumed more coleopterans and eastern red bat consumed more lepidopterans. Significant differences also occurred between eastern red bat and evening bat for consumption of lepidopterans, with eastern red bat consuming more lepidopterans. Activity patterns significantly differed between bat species, specifically between big brown and eastern red bats and between big brown and evening bats. Big brown bat was most often captured at an average of 2.45 hours after sunset, evening bat at an average of 1.67, and eastern red at an average of 1.66 hours after sunset.

My study focuses on six bat species that occur in north-central Kansas. Although each species is widely distributed, information about their diet and activity patterns is lacking, especially within Kansas. Increased knowledge about bat species in Kansas can provide a baseline for future studies and conservation efforts for the species included in my study; big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis), and tricolored bats (Perimyotis subflavus) were captured and fecal samples were examined for diet diversity. I captured bats in mist nets in the Kansas counties of Ellis, Rooks, and Trego from April through October of 2015 and 2016, when temperate bats are most active. Each captured bat was detained to collect a comprehensive fecal sample, which was used to determine diet. I captured 272 bats during 2015, from which 217 fecal samples were collected and captured 333 bats during 2016, of which 241 produced samples. Within the fecal samples, 6 orders of insect were identified: Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, and Orthoptera. Results showed significant differences in diet between bat species within the state of Kansas, specifically between big brown bat and eastern red bat and between eastern red bat and evening bat for consumption of coleopterans. Big brown bat consumed more coleopterans and eastern red bat consumed more lepidopterans. Significant differences also occurred between eastern red bat and evening bat for consumption of lepidopterans, with eastern red bat consuming more lepidopterans. Activity patterns significantly differed between bat species, specifically between big brown and eastern red bats and between big brown and evening bats. Big brown bat was most often captured at an average of 2.45 hours after sunset, evening bat at an average of 1.67, and eastern red at an average of 1.66 hours after sunset.

My study focuses on six bat species that occur in north-central Kansas. Although each species is widely distributed, information about their diet and activity patterns is lacking, especially within Kansas. Increased knowledge about bat species in Kansas can provide a baseline for future studies and conservation efforts for the species included in my study; big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis), and tricolored bats (Perimyotis subflavus) were captured and fecal samples were examined for diet diversity. I captured bats in mist nets in the Kansas counties of Ellis, Rooks, and Trego from April through October of 2015 and 2016, when temperate bats are most active. Each captured bat was detained to collect a comprehensive fecal sample, which was used to determine diet. I captured 272 bats during 2015, from which 217 fecal samples were collected and captured 333 bats during 2016, of which 241 produced samples. Within the fecal samples, 6 orders of insect were identified: Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, and Orthoptera. Results showed significant differences in diet between bat species within the state of Kansas, specifically between big brown bat and eastern red bat and between eastern red bat and evening bat for consumption of coleopterans. Big brown bat consumed more coleopterans and eastern red bat consumed more lepidopterans. Significant differences also occurred between eastern red bat and evening bat for consumption of lepidopterans, with eastern red bat consuming more lepidopterans. Activity patterns significantly differed between bat species, specifically between big brown and eastern red bats and between big brown and evening bats. Big brown bat was most often captured at an average of 2.45 hours after sunset, evening bat at an average of 1.67, and eastern red at an average of 1.66 hours after sunset.

Bats use sonar to identify and localize objects as they fly and navigate in the dark. They actively adjust the timing, intensity, and frequency content of their sonar signals in response to task demands. They also control the directional characteristics of their sonar vocalizations with respect to objects in the environment. Bats demonstrate highly maneuverable and agile flight, producing high turn rates and abrupt changes in speed, as they travel through the air to capture insects and avoid obstacles. Bats face the challenge of coordinating flight kinematics with sonar behavior, as they adapt to meet the varied demands of their environment. This thesis includes three studies, one on the comparison of flight and echolocation behavior between an open space and a complex environment, one on the coordination of flight and echolocation behavior during climbing and turning, and one on the flight kinematic changes that occur under wind gust conditions. In the first study, we found that bats adapt the structure of the sonar signals, temporal patterning, and flight speed in response to a change in their environment. We also found that flight stereotypy developed over time in the more complex environment, but not to the extent expected from previous studies of non-foraging bats. We found that the sonar beam aim of the bats predicted flight turn rate, and that the relationship changed as the bats reacted to the obstacles. In the second study, we characterized the coordination of flight and sonar behavior as bats made a steep climb and sharp turns while they navigated a net obstacle. We found the coordinated production of sonar pulses with the wingbeat phase became altered during navigation of tight turns. In the third study, we found that bats adapt wing kinematics to perform under wind gust conditions. By characterizing flight and sonar behaviors in an insectivorous bat species, we find evidence for tight coordination of sensory and motor systems for obstacle navigation and

Bats occupy diverse and unique niches and are regarded as important components in maintaining ecosystem health. They are major consumers of nocturnal insects, serve as pollinators, seed disperser, and provide important economic benefits as consumers of agricultural and forest pest insects. Bats have been proposed as good indicators of the integrity of natural communities because they integrate a number of resource attributes and may show population declines quickly if a resource attribute is missing. Establishing community- and population-level data, and understanding species interactions is especially important in changing landscapes and for species whose populations levels are threatened by outside factors of anthropomorphic disturbance from hibernacular visitation to energy production and fungal pathogens. For these reasons I have set out to establish habitat use patterns, detection probabilities, spatial and temporal occupancy, and investigate species interactions. This thesis is broken down into three distinct chapters each intended to be a stand-alone document. The first establishes the basic ecology from natural history accounts, provides an overview of the various sampling strategies, and gives a comprehensive description of the study area. The seconds sets out to identify the factors influencing detection probabilities and occupancy of six sympatric bats species and provide insight into habitat use patterns. The third examines spatial and temporal activity patterns and investigates species interactions. This study can provide understanding into the secretive and poorly understood patterns of free flying bats across the landscape. It can also deliver useful information to land managers regarding potential changes in landscape practices for the conservation of bat species.

Using social information can be an efficient way to respond to changing situations or to learn skills. Other benefits of foraging in a group, such as social facilitation, have also been reported. Furthermore, individuals foraging near conspecifics may use acoustic communication to mediate interactions. Many bat species (Order Chiroptera) are gregarious, and many tropical frugivorous bats rely on seasonally-abundant foods such that following conspecifics to a food source could benefit "followers" without harming "leaders." Animal-eating bats do not typically share food, but information obtained from experienced foragers could help facilitate development of prey acquisition skills in young bats. Additionally, communicative vocalizations serving various social functions have been reported in diverse bat species. Despite the opportunities for social learning and information transfer that many bats experience, few studies have attempted to determine if these phenomena occur in bats. Similarly, despite research on echolocation and some communicative calls, the context and function of social calls emitted by flying, foraging bats have received relatively little study. In this dissertation, I examine interactions between individuals in a foraging context and the impact of these interactions on the individuals' behavior. Specifically, I used pairs of big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) to test whether insectivorous bats can acquire a new foraging skill via social learning and what social cues might facilitate learning. I then describe the context of and attribute function to social calls emitted by bats in pairs. Finally, I examine the effects of social context on the foraging behavior of the frugivorous short-tailed fruit bat (Carollia perspicillata) presented with a food-finding task. My results provide the first evidence of the role of social learning (via attention to feeding buzzes and interaction with experienced individuals) in the deve

The simple auditory system of noctuoid moths has long been a model for anti-predator studies in neuroethology, although these ears have rarely been experimentally stimulated by the sounds they would encounter from naturally attacking bats. We exposed the ears of five noctuoid moth species to the pre-recorded echolocation calls of an attacking bat (Eptesicus fuscus) to observe the acoustic encoding of the receptors at this critical time in their defensive behaviour. The B cell is a non-tympanal receptor common to all moths that has been suggested to respond to sound, but we found no evidence of this and suggest that its acoustic responsiveness is an artifact arising from its proprioceptive function. The A1 cell, the most sensitive tympanal receptor in noctuid and arctiid moths and the only auditory receptor in notodontid moths, encodes the attack calls with a bursting firing pattern to a point approximately 150 ms from when the bat would have captured the moth. At this point, the firing of the A1 cell reduces to a non-bursting pattern with longer inter-spike periods, suggesting that the moth may no longer express the erratic flight used to escape very close bats. This may be simply due to the absence of selection pressure on moths for auditory tracking of bat echolocation calls beyond this point. Alternatively, the reduced firing may be due to the acoustic characteristics of attack calls in the terminal phase and an acoustic maneuver used by the bat to facilitate its capture of the moth. Although the role of less sensitive A2 cell remains uncertain in the evasive flight responses of moths it may act as a trigger in eliciting sound production, a close-range anti-bat behaviour in the tiger moth, Cycnia tenera.