Maternal colonies of the big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus were studied in Delaware and Grant Counties from 21 May to 22 September, 1992. Nineteen colonies of bats were located and revisited several times during the summer. Bats were captured, sexed, aged, weighed and banded at each site. The weight gain pattern of the bats was related to rainfall and temperature during the summer. Other factors that might affect weight gain such as ectoparasites, tooth wear, and wing damage were also measured.The summer of 1992 had below normal rainfall in May and above normal rainfall in June and July. Temperatures were below normal during the study period. The weights of captured bats were compared to weights of bats captured at similar colonies during the same period in 1988, a dry year, and 1989 a wet year. Both of these years had near normal temperatures. Lower weight gain for juveniles and for adult females in late spring and early summer of 1992 was associated with higher than average precipitation and lower than average temperatures during the period. / Department of Biology
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/184610 |
| Date | January 1993 |
| Creators | Drumm, Robert |
| Contributors | Ball State University. Dept. of Biology., Cartwright, Anne M. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | v, 83 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
| Coverage | n-us-in |
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