Temporal and spatial distribution of bats at Pipe Spring National Monument and the Kaibab Paiute Indian Reservation: final report

Taylor, John; Jack, Cameron; Warren, Zachary

Pipe Spring National Monument represents one of the few perennial water sources within the Arizona Strip, a narrow stretch of land incorporating both southern Utah and northern Arizona. The water has been captured and stored in two historic ponds since the late 1800’s. These ponds are a critical element of the cultural landscape for which the Monument was established in 1923. Because Pipe Spring remains one of the few water sources in the area, there is a tremendous amount of bat biodiversity. Historically, bat populations have only been studied sporadically and during a narrow window of the summer season. This study unifies past reports and has expanded the data collection window beginning in early spring and ending in late fall. Acoustical recording devices were deployed twice a month to record bat echolocation calls as well as monthly mist netting events. From hand capture methods we continued to find bats common to the area such as Allen’s Big-Eared Bat, Western Pipistrelle, and the California Myotis. Using the acoustical equipment we have identified calls from the Western Red Bat, the Spotted Bat, and the Western Mastiff Bat, species previously unknown to the area. Additional data has also been provided by this project to the migratory patterns of the Mexican Free-Tail and Hoary bats. This project informs Park Management and land managers of the Kaibab Paiute Indian Reservation when certain bat species are present in the area, thereby influencing future decisions on when to conduct maintenance and other activities that may impact bat species.

Temporal and spatial distribution of bats at Pipe Spring National Monument and the Kaibab Paiute Indian Reservation: final report

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