Understanding the Fall Migration of the Endangered Lesser Long-Nosed Bat (Leptonycteris curasoae) An Extension of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum's Migratory Pollinator Program(2-year project)

Krebbs, Karen; Tibbitts, Tim; McCasland, Curtis; Pate, Ami

In July and August 2004, we tested several markers on Leptonycteris curasoae at a maternity roost in southwestern Arizona and attempted to follow the marked bats to other roosts and to the southeastern part of the state. We had tested five markers earlier in the year on 10 captive Macrotus californicus. Our objectives in this study were to: 1) test different marking techniques on captive M. californicus: bat necklaces with reflective tape and bands, micro-chips (passive integrated transponder tags) with reflective tape, wrist bands, fluorescent powder and then utilize the best marker(s) on L. curasoae, 2) obtain information on the movements of L. curasoae in Arizona from their maternity roosts to roosts in southeastern Arizona, 3) determine if the bats were moving from one roost to another and obtain information on timing of the bats' movements, and 4) collect DNA from L. curasoae at the maternity roost where the bats were marked. Test the feasibility of using cheek swabs as a method for collecting DNA. We accomplished all of our objectives with the exception of one. We were not able to determine if bats were moving from one roost to another in southwestern Arizona. The captive studies with M. californicus indicated that the micro-chip (PIT Tag) with reflective tape caused the least problems and was the best marker that we tested to utilize for the fieldwork with the L. curasoae. The micro-chips with reflective tape were glued on the backs of 60 L. curasoae in July, 2004 at the Copper Mountain maternity roost. Eleven additional bats were fitted with radio transmitters and DNA collected from all the bats (71) with micro-chips and radio transmitters. DNA was collected from an additional bat for a total of 72 bats (as per Federal permit). DNA samples were turned over to Dr. Melanie Culver at the University of Arizona. Monitoring for marked bats was carried out in July and August at three maternity roosts (Copper Mountain, Bluebird Mine, Pinacate Cave) in southwestern Arizona and northern Mexico. In southeastern Arizona, roost checks were made at the State of Texas Mine (Huachuca Mountains), Patagonia Cave (Patagonia Mountains), Pyeatt Cave (Huachuca Mountains), and various other locations in the Chiricahua, Patagonia, and Huachuca Mountains. Radio telemetry equipment, video cameras with IR lights, night-vision goggles, and a micro-chip reader/antenna were utilized outside of roosts to search for marked bats. Micro-chips with reflective tape could be detected with the night-vision goggles, video cameras, and light. The micro-chip reader and antenna did not record any of the marked bats. On August 10, 2004, a bat was detected with the radio telemetry equipment west of the Patagonia Cave. The radio pulses were heard two different times during the evening. This bat appeared to be flying in the west and away from the Patagonia Cave. Attempts to locate the bat the following evenings failed. This adult female bat was marked with the radio transmitter on July 20, 2004 at the Copper Mountain roost in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (ORPI). The female was tracked with the radio telemetry equipment up to July 29, 2004 at ORPI near the Copper Mountain maternity roost. After July 29th, the bat could not be located in the ORPI area. The Patagonia Mountains are located about 211 kilometers southeast of ORPI. This is the first evidence that a L. curasoae has migrated from southwest Arizona to the southeastern corner of the state and may indicate that this species is moving between the coastal and inland corridors. The Copper Mountain bat netting provided important information on both adult females and young of the year. Adult females fitted with radio transmitters were tracked at 6 ORPI for almost two weeks after marking. During a netting session two weeks after the marking of the bats, the only bats caught in the net were young of the year.

Understanding the Fall Migration of the Endangered Lesser Long-Nosed Bat (Leptonycteris curasoae) An Extension of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum's Migratory Pollinator Program(2-year project)

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