VEGETATIVE STRUCTURE AND LAND-USE RELATIVE TO CAVE SELECTION BY ENDANGERED OZARK BIG-EARED BATS (CORYNORHINUS-TOWNSENDII-INGENS)

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.