Ta. Wethington et al., VEGETATIVE STRUCTURE AND LAND-USE RELATIVE TO CAVE SELECTION BY ENDANGERED OZARK BIG-EARED BATS (CORYNORHINUS-TOWNSENDII-INGENS), The Southwestern naturalist, 42(2), 1997, pp. 177-181
Habitat was evaluated surrounding occupied, sporadically occupied, and
unoccupied caves within the range of the endangered Ozark big-eared b
at (Corynorhinus townsendii ingens) in eastern Oklahoma. Vegetative st
ructure of the habitat immediately surrounding caves was assessed in 0
.04-ha circular plots. Types of habitats and land use within 3 km of c
aves were determined by interpretation of color infrared aerial photog
raphy and analysis of digitized cover types in a geographic informatio
n system (GIS). Few differences were documented for vegetative paramet
ers that were measured. Habitat and land-use types surrounding occupie
d (maternity and hibernacula) and unoccupied caves did not differ. Bas
ed on these and previous findings, the surface habitat surrounding cav
es does not appear to be significant in cave selection by this subspec
ies in eastern Oklahoma.