Angelo Coast Range Reserve

15 May, 05 AM - 30 Jun, 05 AM

Rivers and riparian areas are important foraging habitats for bats. However, little is known about how structural components of riverine landscapes influence bat foraging activity. River channel geomorphology and riparian vegetation structure are expected to influence the rate of aquatic insect emergence and the lateral dispersal of aquatic insects into the riparian zone, potentially having large direct and indirect effects on bat foraging activity. Emergent aquatic insects can make up a substantial proportion of riparian consumer diets (e.g., birds, lizards, spiders) (reviewed by Baxter et al. 2005); however, the importance of riverine subsidies to bats has not been investigated. Even though bats have a greater potential of responding to riverine prey subsidies than ground-based consumers (e.g., spiders) due to their high mobility. To determine how river channel geomorphology and riparian vegetation structure influence bat foraging activity, I will measure insect and bat activity along river reach sites characterized by either confined canyons with satellite meadows or wide floodplains with contiguous meadows. Additionally, insect and bat activity will be measured in multiple habitat types (open river channel, riparian vegetation edge, meadow center, forest edge in meadow, and within Douglas fir forest) associated with each site. To quantify the importance of riverine subsides to bat diets, bats will be captured within each site and habitat type, and diet composition will be determined. This study will advance ecological understanding of how features of the riverine landscape affect riparian food web dynamics, taking an important step in integrating landscape and food web ecology (Polis et al. 1997). Additionally, investigating how physical properties of river channels influence ecosystem structure and function may have important implications in predicting the effects of restoration and management practices on both stream and terrestrial ecosystems.

Visit #9549 @Angelo Coast Range Reserve

Approved

Under Project # 6494 | Research

Effects of river channel geomorphology and terrestrial vegetation structure

graduate_student - Arizona State University

Reservation Members(s)

Elizabeth Hagen May 15 - Jun 30, 2006 (47 days)
Elizabeth Hagen May 15 - Jun 30, 2006 (47 days)

Reserve Resources(s) | Create Invoice

Computer lab 2 May 15 - Jun 30, 2006
Fox Creek Lodge 2 May 15 - Jun 30, 2006
Lab 2 May 15 - Jun 30, 2006