USGS FORT - Mesa Verde National Park - Bats - 2006-2007

Laura Ellison; Annie Simpson

doi:10.15468/dxkppa

USGS FORT - Mesa Verde National Park - Bats - 2006-2007

Citation

Ellison L, Simpson A, Everette A ( (2019). USGS FORT - Mesa Verde National Park - Bats - 2006-2007. Version 1.1. United States Geological Survey. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/dxkppa accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-12-15.

Description

Mesa Verde National Park offers important habitat for bats. Recent high-intensity fires, drought, and pest insect infestations have destroyed a large proportion of the park's pinyon-juniper, Douglas-fir, and ponderosa pine habitats, but the bat fauna of the park has not been assessed since these widespread changes took place. Fort biologists documented 16 species of bats at Mesa Verde in 2006, which includes all species of bats known from western Colorado. This included the first documentation of a maternity colony of the spotted bat (Euderma maculatum) in Colorado. The high mesas at Mesa Verde, bisected by numerous canyons and cliff faces, provide very favorable roosting habitat for bats, and this was borne out by results of radiotracking bats of several species to roosts. The availability of roosts in crevices in cliffs probably overrides any extensive reliance on pinyon or juniper trees and snags as roosts by bats. Additional documentation of the bat fauna, assessment of their reproductive condition, and determination of roosting habits will be carried out in 2007, with a final report delivered in 2008. This dataset consists of an Excel workbook containing capture histories of bats in and around the park during the years of 2006 and 2007.

Purpose

This dataset will help the National Park Service with the development of scientific information and decision support tools required to effectively manage terrestrial wildlife resources. Results are intended to assist with the development of adaptive management approaches for bats at Mesa Verde National Park. The purpose of the dataset is to 1) Compile, review, and synthesize available information on the occurrence and status of bats at and around Mesa Verde National Park; 2)Identify water sources in pinyon juniper forests where bats can be mist netted.

Sampling Description

Study Extent

We sampled bats in mist nets set near three sewage lagoons and less frequently at five other sites on 58 nights from 17 may to 13 August 2006. Mist-netting was concentrated along the margins of four sewage treatment lagoons at various locations within the park. At sewage lagoons we generally set all nets possible given our equipment, averaging 91 m of coverage each night using nets that were set on 3-m-high poles. On nine nights at three of the sewage lagoons we also set multiple 20-m-long stacked nets at 6-m heights using a pulley system. Nets were tended from dusk until midnight or later, depending on the weather. We also netted for bats at the drainage tunnel under the Cliff Palace on one night. We also set nets on two nights on two nights near the stairwell at the Far View Visitor Center, a site where bats are known by park staff to hang up and night roost at night between foraging bouts.

Sampling

Date, location, and taxonomic and morphological data for each individual bat captured.

Quality Control

Although this data and information has been processed successfully on a computer system at the USGS Fort Collins Science Center, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the accuracy or utility of the data and information on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. This disclaimer applies both to individual use of the data and information, and aggregate use with other data and information. It is also strongly recommended that careful attention be paid to the contents of the metadata file associated with these data and information. The USGS shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data and information described and/or contained herein.

Method steps

metadata received from ScienceBase, https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/5397d057e4b0f7580bc0cd16

Taxonomic Coverages

15 species of bats of Colorado

Chiroptera
common name: bats rank: order
Lasionycteris noctivagans
rank: species
Myotis volans
rank: species
Myotis yumanensis
rank: species
Antrozous pallidus
rank: species
Myotis ciliolabrum
rank: species
Myotis occultus
rank: species
Myotis evotis
rank: species
Tadarida brasiliensis
rank: species
Euderma maculatum
rank: species
Lasiurus cinereus
rank: species
Myotis thysanodes
rank: species
Myotis californicus
rank: species
Eptesicus fuscus
rank: species
Corynorhinus townsendii
rank: species
Parastrellus hesperus
rank: species

Geographic Coverages

Montezuma County, Colorado

Bibliographic Citations

Metadata record for: O’Shea, T.J., P.M. Cryan, E.A. Snider, E.W. Valdez, L.E. Ellison, and D.J. Neubaum. 2011. Bats of Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado: composition, reproduction, and roosting habits. Monographs of the Western North American Naturalist. 5(2011): 1-19. - https://www.fort.usgs.gov/products/22601
O’Shea, T.J., P.M. Cryan, E.A. Snider, E.W. Valdez, L.E. Ellison, and D.J. Neubaum. 2011. Bats of Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado: composition, reproduction, and roosting habits. Monographs of the Western North American Naturalist. 5(2011): 1-19. - https://ojs.lib.byu.edu/spc/index.php/wnanmonos/article/view/30412/28894

Contacts

Laura Ellison
originator
position: Ecologist
USGS Fort Collins Science Center
2150 Centre Avenue, Building C
Fort Collins
80526
Colorado
US
Telephone: +1 970-226-9494
email: ellisonl@usgs.gov

Annie Simpson
originator
position: biologist & information scientist
Core Science Systems
12201 Sunrise Valley Dr
Reston
20192
VA
Telephone: 7036484281
email: asimpson@usgs.gov

Anthony (Lance) Everette
metadata author
position: Technology Specialist/Project Coordinator
USGS Fort Collins Science Center
2150 Centre Avenue, Building C
Fort Collins
80526
Colorado
US
Telephone: +1 970-226-9225
email: everettel@usgs.gov

Anthony (Lance) Everette
author
position: Technology Specialist/Project Coordinator
USGS Fort Collins Science Center
2150 Centre Avenue, Building C
Fort Collins
80526
Colorado
US
Telephone: +1 970-226-9225
email: everettel@usgs.gov

Thomas O'Shea
author
position: ecologist emeritus
USGS Fort Collins Science Center
2150 Centre Avenue, Building C
Fort Collins
80526
Colorado
US
Telephone: +1 970-226-9397
email: osheat@usgs.gov

Laura Ellison
principal investigator
position: ecologist
USGS Fort Collins Science Center
2150 Centre Avenue, Building C
Fort Collins
80526
Colorado
US
Telephone: +1 970-226-9494
email: ellisonl@usgs.gov

Paul Cryan
author
position: research ecologist
USGS Fort Collins Science Center
2150 Centre Avenue, Building C
Fort Collins
80526
Colorado
US
Telephone: +1 970-226-9389
email: cryanp@usgs.gov

Ernest Valdez
author
position: ecologist
Arid Lands Field Station
UNM Biology Department MSC03 2020
Albuquerque
87131-0001
New Mexico
US
Telephone: +1 505-277-0284
email: ernie@usgs.gov

Laura Ellison
administrative point of contact
position: Ecologist
USGS Fort Collins Science Center
2150 Centre Avenue, Building C
Fort Collins
80526
Colorado
US
Telephone: +1 970-226-9494
email: ellisonl@usgs.gov