Quantifying the Preference of Corynorhinus townsendii to Hibernate in Highly Ventilated Areas in Arizona Caves

Corynorhinus townsendii, a bat species residing in north-central Arizona, has historically been observed hibernating in highly ventilated areas within caves and abandoned mines, but there is little to no specific data regarding this tendency. Understanding how air movement may influence hibernacula selection is critical in bettering conservation efforts for Arizona bats, especially with white-nose syndrome continuing to devastate bat species populations throughout the United States. My study aimed to begin filling in this knowledge gap. I measured wind speed in three known Arizona hibernacula during the winter hibernation season and combined this data with the locations of bats observed throughout each of the three survey locations. I modeled our findings using a generalized linear model, which confirmed that wind speed is indeed a predictor of C. townsendii roost selection.