| A bat flies through a montane forest in southwestern coastal BC. Did you know that bats are the only mammals that can fly?
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| Investigators |
| Mandy Kellner M.Sc., Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University
Dr. Alton Harestad, Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University
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What is the Issue? |
| INFORMATION GAPS FOR CRITICAL SPECIES, HABITAT LOSS |
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Biologists are just beginning to understand the role that bats play in montane forest ecology. Researchers captured, radio- tagged and tracked bats in an attempt to better understand the range and habits of these bats in southwestern coastal British Columbia. They discovered that, in montane forests, bats managed to find large, dead or dying trees for their roosts. Ongoing research is further examining other aspects of bat communities and their habitat requirements in the montane forests of southwestern coastal BC.
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What is our goal? |
| IMPROVE ECOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING OF BATS IN MONTANE COASTAL BRITISH COLUMBIA AND IDENTIFY KEY HABITAT ELEMENTS FOR CONSERVATION.
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| A montane bat inventory and their habits in coastal British Columbia's subalpine forests. |
Where we currently stand. |
| Throughout 1997 and 1998, researchers captured and identified six different species of bats, four of which are believed to live and reproduce in montane forests. The majority of their roosts were located in old growth forests in trees which were in intermediate stages of decay. It is believed that flexibility of diet enables these species of bats to inhabit and exploit this harsh environment. Results suggest that old growth forests of various classes of trees and snags should be retained in order to provide roosting areas both for bats and for other dependent wildlife. Mandy Kellner's M.Sc. thesis has been successfully completed, and three manuscripts from the study are currently in submission.
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You can help this project - find out how. |
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