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Jennifer Krauel

Exploring aeroecology and life in the night sky

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  • About me
    • CV
    • Publications
    • Reflections
  • Aeroecology
  • Research
  • Blog
  • Media
  • Contact
  • Search
Photo: bat with a tiny transmitter on its back

Bat Migration

Did you know that many bats migrate? Some of them hibernate AND migrate. And migratory bats face extra conservation challenges.

Bats are not birds

Bat migration is similar to its well-studied cousin, bird migration, but there are many important differences. First, migration is very common in birds, but seems to be uncommon in bats. This might be because bats can escape extreme conditions by hibernating, and birds do not. Second, bats also move shorter distances than birds, but there are a few species that move thousands of kilometers each direction. A larger number of bat species travel in the 100-500 km range, often between hibernacula and summer roosts; we call these “regional” migrants.

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Regional migrants

Map showing Indiana bat migratory movements in the midwest

In the Midwestern US, some bats use caves for hibernation but move to forests in the summer to have their pups. This includes the endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) and threatened northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis). They travel 300 miles or more each year between summer maternity roosts and winter hibernation caves. The map shown here is from a paper describing Indiana bats banded in Michigan during the summer, and then later seen hibernating in locations hundreds of miles to the south. Other regional migrant bats in this area do not use caves. For example, eastern Red bats (Lasiurus borealis) hibernate in trees or even in leaf litter on the ground.

Long distance migrants

Brazilian free-tailed bats Tadarida brasiliensis are an interesting example of long-distance migratory bats. Not all individuals migrate; those in the eastern United States are thought to be sedentary, although this topic has not been recently explored and we have now documented considerable northward and westward range expansion. Long-nosed bats, which are important pollinators, are also long-distance migrants. Without these bats we would not have tequila!

Conservation of migratory bats

Many of these bats are already under severe pressure from an invasive fungal disease called “White-nose Syndrome” which has resulted in up to 100% mortality at affected sites in the eastern US. In addition, wind turbines kill large number of migratory bats each year. So it’s urgent that we have a better understanding of what bats need during migration. One fun way that you can help migratory bats is to purchase bat-friendly tequila. Research shows that if only 5% of agave plants are left to bloom, it would be enough to sustain migration of long-nosed bats!

Questions? Comments? There’s more information in the blog entries below, but please feel free to start a conversation with me on Twitter: Tweet to @batgrrl

Well-attended NASBR business meeting

NASBR 2019 was terrific!

November 21, 2019

NASBR 2019 was terrific!Read More

Screenshot: Rapid range expansion of the Brazilian free-tailed bat

Free-tailed bats coming your way?

October 17, 2018

Free-tailed bats coming your way?Read More

Screen shot: Testing traditional assumptions about regional migration in bats

Regional migrant bats don’t read the memo

March 12, 2018

Regional migrant bats don’t read the memoRead More

Photo: View of submerged road in southern Indiana

Turning grant money into data

February 7, 2018

Turning grant money into dataRead More

Photo: Hands holding a soldering iron and antenna cable

Open source science

October 8, 2015

Open source scienceRead More

Photo: Sign describing scientific research project on bats

Stumbling upon science

September 15, 2015

Stumbling upon scienceRead More

Screen shot: Weather-driven dynamics in a dual-migrant system: moths and bats

The answer is: cold fronts.

September 13, 2015

The answer is: cold fronts.Read More

Photo: Recent advances in bat migration research book chapter

My first (book) chapter!

January 11, 2014

My first (book) chapter!Read More

Photo: Rustic arrow sign pointing up a hillside trail

Why Migration?

July 29, 2013

Why Migration?Read More

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Your AeroEcoTour Guide:

mmHi, I'm Dr. Jennifer Krauel. I’m an ecologist who's fascinated by animal migration, especially when it comes to bats and insects and at high altitudes. My research is driven by a deep desire to conserve and protect biodiversity. Read more »

Follow @batgrrl

Aeroecology

What is aeroecology? »
  • bat migration
  • conservation
  • free-tailed bats
  • insect migration
  • nocturnal aeroecology
  • predator-prey interaction
  • radar aeroecology
  • tools
  • why does it matter?
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