Multi-state occupancy models of foraging habitat use by the Hawaiian hoary bat Lasiurus cinereus semotus

PLoS ONE
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Abstract

Multi-state occupancy modeling can often improve assessments of habitat use and site quality when animal activity or behavior data are available. We examine the use of the approach for evaluating foraging habitat suitability of the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus) from classifications of site occupancy based on flight activity levels and feeding behavior. In addition, we used data from separate visual and auditory sources, namely thermal videography and acoustic (echolocation) detectors, jointly deployed at sample sites to compare the effectiveness of each method in the context of occupancy modeling. Video-derived observations demonstrated higher and more accurate estimates of the prevalence of high bat flight activity and feeding events than acoustic sampling methods. Elevated levels of acoustic activity by Hawaiian hoary bats were found to be related primarily to beetle biomass in this study. The approach may have a variety of applications in bat research, including inference about species-resource relationships, habitat quality and the extent to which species intensively use areas for activities such as foraging.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Multi-state occupancy models of foraging habitat use by the Hawaiian hoary bat Lasiurus cinereus semotus
Series title PLoS ONE
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0205150
Volume 13
Issue 10
Year Published 2018
Language English
Publisher Public Library of Science
Contributing office(s) Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center
Description e0205150; 14 p.
First page 1
Last page 14
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