The frequency of disturbance and heterogeneity of vegetative species characteristic of riparian areas combine to provide a diversity of potential niches for wildlife. Recognition of the importance of riparian areas to wildlife, in combination with recognition of the ecological and economic importance of these areas, has prompted an interest in active vegetation management in riparian areas. However, little is known about the value of various plant communities to different wildlife species.
Riparian areas provide crucial habitat for bats in the Douglas-fir
forests of the Pacific Northwest. Previous research has demonstrated
that nocturnal flying invertebrate abundance is significantly
higher in riparian areas than in forest interiors, and all 12
species of bats that occur in these forests forage solely on
insects. 
Terrestrial
plants in turn influence the prey base that bats rely upon either
directly or indirectly. For example, moths feed directly on
terrestrial leaf matter, whereas aquatic emergent invertebrates
feed on leaf litter in streams that had terrestrial origins.
We are investigating the linkages among riparian vegetation,
nocturnal invertebrates, and bats in the central Oregon Coast
Range. Our specific objectives include:
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Determining the relationships between bat use of stream reaches and the composition of vegetation bordering these reaches at both a fine and coarse scale
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Comparing the community composition and biomass of nocturnal flying insects in stream reaches dominated by deciduous vegetation with that of stream reaches dominated by coniferous vegetation |
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Characterizing bat prey selection |
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Developing models to appraise implications of potential riparian vegetation management prescriptions on bats |
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For additional information about this research study see
the CFER
Annual Report. (2.2 MB)
