Foraging Strategies and Morphometric Characteristics of Bats in North and South Dakota

Abstract

Insectivorous bats are an important group for studying links between dietary flexibility and associated impacts on foraging and morphology of individuals from different populations. Since different habitats generally have unique insect communities, populations across a species range will likely be adapted for most effective foraging within their local environment. I aim to 1) investigate the diets and associated foraging strategies of the eleven bat species found in North and South Dakota and 2) examine the morphological characteristics of Eptesicus fuscus (Big brown bat), Myotis lucifugus (Little brown bat), and Myotis septentrionalis (Northern long-eared bat). I predicted that 1) interspecific variation in foraging strategies would exist due to morphological variation and 2) any intraspecific variation in foraging strategies would correlate with population-level differences found in morphological characteristics. Understanding population-level differences can provide managers with critical information, keying in on the protection of resources that are important to local bat populations.