HABITAT USE BY CORYNORHINUS-TOWNSENDII-VIRGINIANUS IN THE DANIEL-BOONE-NATIONAL-FOREST

We monitored activity of bats in five habitats in the Daniel Boone Nat ional Forest, Lee County, Kentucky, during June, July and August 1992, Activity of bats was detected with narrow-band ultrasonic bat detecto rs tuned to 32 kHz, the frequency at which echolocation calls of Virgi nia big-eared bats (Corynorhinus townsendii virginanus) were received best. activity of bats varied among habitats (P < 0.0001), with activi ty of bats in old fields significantly higher than the other habitats surveyed (P < 0.05). Activity of bats was also high above cliffs. Thes e data suggest that old fields are an important habitat component for bats in the Daniel Boone National Forest and are probably used by Virg inia big-eared bats as foraging sites.