Bat activity in selection harvests and intact forest canopy gaps at Indiana state forests

Abstract

Forest managers often prescribe silvicultural methods based on how effectively they mimic the natural disturbance agents that have historically shaped the forests they manage. On Indiana state forests, selection systems are used on most harvested acreage and appear to structurally mimic the effects of naturally occurring, gap-forming disturbances affecting individual trees, groups, or small patches of trees. Forest bats often forage within canopy gaps and along the edges of openings; however, it is unclear whether bats use harvested stands and canopy gaps in intact forest similarly on Indiana's state forests.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings 19th Central Hardwood Forest Conference

Citation

Haulton, Scott; DeCosta, Kathryn L. 2014. Bat activity in selection harvests and intact forest canopy gaps at Indiana state forests. In: Groninger, John W.; Holzmueller, Eric J.; Nielsen, Clayton K.; Dey, Daniel C., eds. Proceedings, 19th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; 2014 March 10-12; Carbondale, IL. General Technical Report NRS-P-142. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 80-81.