Bat Species of California's Central Coast Region
An environmental summary created by the ENVS 560/L Watershed Systems class at CSUMB.
This is a list of bat species found in California's Central Coast Region. The intention of this page is to educate the reader on the species' identification, distribution, habitat, life histories, and conservation status.
Contents
- 1 Key to Conservation Status Abbreviations
- 2 Western mastiff bat (Eumops perotis californicus)
- 3 Mexican free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis)
- 4 Pallid bat (Antrozous pallidus)
- 5 Townsend's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii)
- 6 Big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus)
- 7 Spotted bat (Euderma maculatum)
- 8 Silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans)
- 9 Western red bat (Lasiurus blossevillii)
- 10 Hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus)
- 11 California myotis (Myotis californicus)
- 12 Western small-footed myotis (Myotis ciliolabrum)
- 13 Long-eared myotis (Myotis evotis)
- 14 Little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus)
- 15 Fringed myotis (Myotis thysanodes)
- 16 Long-legged myotis (Myotis volans)
- 17 Yuma myotis (Myotis yumanensis)
- 18 Western pipistrelle (Parastrellus hesperus)
- 19 Threats to Bat Species
- 20 Importance of Bat Species to California's Central Coast Region
- 21 Reporting Sick, Dead or Injured Bats
- 22 Links
- 23 References
- 24 Disclaimer
Key to Conservation Status Abbreviations
Agencies & Organization | Designation | |
California Department of Fish and Wildlife | Species of Special Concern | SSC |
United States Forest Service (USFS) | Sensitive Species[1] | USFS |
United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) | Sensitive Species[2] | BLMS |
Western Bat Working Group | High Priority | WBWG(H) |
Western Bat Working Group | Medium Priority | WBWG(M) |
Western Bat Working Group | Low Priority | WBWG(L) |
Family | Scientific Name | Common Name | Conservation Status |
---|---|---|---|
Molossidae | Eumops perotis californicus | Western mastiff bat | WBWG(M); SSC; BLMS |
Molossidae | Tadarida brasiliensis | Mexican free-tailed bat; Brazilian free-tailed bat | WBWG(L) |
Vespertilionidae | Antrozous pallidus | Pallid bat | WBWG(L); SSC; BLMS |
Vespertilionidae | Corynorhinus townsendii (formerly Plecotus townsendii) | Townsend's big-eared bat | WBWG(H); SSC; BLMS |
Vespertilionidae | Eptesicus fuscus | Big brown bat | WBWG(L) |
Vespertilionidae | Euderma maculatum | Spotted bat | WBWG(M); SSC; BLMS |
Vespertilionidae | Lasionycteris noctivagans | Silver-haired bat | WBWG(M) |
Vespertilionidae | Lasiurus blossevillii | Western red bat | WBWG(H) |
Vespertilionidae | Lasiurus cinereus | Hoary bat | WBWG(M) |
Vespertilionidae | Myotis californicus | California myotis | WBWG(L) |
Vespertilionidae | Myotis ciliolabrum | Western small-footed myotis | WBWG(M); SSC; BLMS; USFS |
Vespertilionidae | Myotis evotis | Long-eared myotis | WBWG(M); SSC; BLMS |
Vespertilionidae | Myotis lucifugus | Little brown myotis | WBWG(M) |
Vespertilionidae | Myotis thysanodes | Fringed myotis | WBWG(M); SSC; BLMS; USFS |
Vespertilionidae | Myotis volans | Long-legged myotis | WBWG(M); SSC; BLMS |
Vespertilionidae | Myotis yumanensis | Yuma myotis | WBWG(L); BLMS |
Vespertilionidae | Parastrellus hesperus | Western pipistrelle; Canyon bat | WBWG(L) |
Western mastiff bat (Eumops perotis californicus)
Mexican free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis)
Pallid bat (Antrozous pallidus)
Townsend's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii)
Big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus)
Spotted bat (Euderma maculatum)
Silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans)
Western red bat (Lasiurus blossevillii)
Hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus)
California myotis (Myotis californicus)
Western small-footed myotis (Myotis ciliolabrum)
Long-eared myotis (Myotis evotis)
Little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus)
Fringed myotis (Myotis thysanodes)
Long-legged myotis (Myotis volans)
Yuma myotis (Myotis yumanensis)
Western pipistrelle (Parastrellus hesperus)
Threats to Bat Species
Wind Energy
As wind energy has increased in popularity as a clean energy source within the Central California Coast region [3]. However, widespread deployment of wind turbines has resulted in the death of millions of bat species [4]. Migratory bats, like the hoary bat and silver-haired bat, are disproportionately impacted by wind turbines [5]. Recent studies have evidence to suggest that bat fatalities at wind farms result from being physically struck by rotating blades in addition to lung collapse caused by the change in air pressure caused by turbines [6]. As a result of these unprecedented mortalities, coalitions such as Bats and Wind Energy Cooperative have brought representatives from government agencies, private industry, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations together to curtail and prevent mortality of bats at wind energy facilities. Additionally, the California Energy Commission approved voluntary guidelines for reducing impacts to birds and bats from wind energy development.
Habitat Loss
As natural habitat becomes more scarce bats struggle to find suitable roosting, foraging and pupping habitat. Habitat loss results from destruction, fragmentation, and degradation. California's Central Coast has experienced intense habitat destruction as land was converted for agriculture. In Monterey County, 61% of the total land is designated as agricultural land [7]. Fragmentation occurs when land becomes divided and a space that used to be wide open and connected to other natural spaces is now isolated and reduces connectivity. Degradation of habitat can also occur as a result of increased pesticide use[8], light pollution [9], or contaminated water[10].
White-nose syndrome
White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a disease has killed an estimated 6.7 million bats in North America since 2006[11]. WNS is caused by an invasive fungal pathogen (Pseudogymnoascus destructans), which was likely unintentionally introduced from Europe by humans[11]. This fungus kills hibernating bats but has been detected on migratory bats that remain unaffected by WNS[11]. During hibernation, bats lower their metabolic, heart, and respiratory rates which increases their energy efficiency and subsequently lowers their immune systems[12]. This fungus feeds on the soft tissue of hibernating bats (i.e. face and wings) and causes them to arouse from torpor thus depleting their limited fat reserves and resulting in death[11]. The mortality rate of a bat with WNS is estimated to be as high as 90-100%[13].
WNS syndrome has been detected in 33 states, including California which has its first confirmed case in Plumas County[14].
Importance of Bat Species to California's Central Coast Region
Pest Control in Agriculture
Ecosystem Indicator Species
Reporting Sick, Dead or Injured Bats
Please report any unusual behavior observed in bats, such as trouble flying, flying during the daytime or during cold winter weather, dying or sick bats (on the ground, unable to fly), or bats that have a white fungus on their face or wings to California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) by clicking here.
If you have found a bat that appears to be injured, please contact your local bat rehabilitator:
* Monterey County: SPCA Monterey County * San Benito County: There currently are not any bat rehabilitators serving San Benito County. * San Luis Obispo County: Pacific Wildlife Care * Santa Barbara County: Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network * Santa Cruz County: Native Animal Rescue
Links
- Special Status Animals in the Central Coast Region
- California's Central Coast Region
- Riparian corridors in the California Central Coast Region
References
- ↑ https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=109406&inline
- ↑ https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/documents/files/Programs_FishandWildlife_BLMCA%20Special%20Status%20Species.pdf
- ↑ https://eerscmap.usgs.gov/uswtdb/viewer/#7.28/36.465/-120.467
- ↑ https://www.usgs.gov/centers/fort/science/bat-fatalities-wind-turbines-investigating-causes-and-consequences?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects
- ↑ https://tethys.pnnl.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Arnett-Final-Report-2009.pdf
- ↑ http://batsandwind.org/wp-content/uploads/hornetal2008.pdf
- ↑ https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/home/showdocument?id=43988
- ↑ https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/41a2/e60c16503c1425b0ab001b68485ab2b90b1f.pdf
- ↑ https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/03/190327080702.htm
- ↑ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/where-clean-drinking-water-is-hard-to-find-bats-could-lead-way-180968941/
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/bat_crisis_white-nose_syndrome/Q_and_A.html
- ↑ https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bats/hibernate-or-migrate.htm
- ↑ https://cwhl.vet.cornell.edu/disease/white-nose-syndrome
- ↑ https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/press-release/deadly-bat-fungus-detected-in-california
Disclaimer
This page may contain student work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate and does not necessarily reflect the opinion or policy of CSUMB, its staff, or students.