Bats of the White and Inyo Mountains of California–Nevada

Authors

Joseph M. Szewczak, University of California, White Mountain Research Station, Bishop, California
Susan M. Szewczak, University of California, White Mountain Research Station, Bishop, California
Michael L. Morrison, California State University, Sacramento, California
Linnea S. Hall, California State University, Sacramento, California

Abstract

We surveyed bats throughout the White and Inyo Mountains of California and Nevada. From December 1990 to November 1996, we surveyed hibernating bats, and foraging bats from June 1992 to September 1996. The White–Inyo Range rests in a unique biogeographical junction between the Sierra Nevada, Mojave Desert, and Great Basin Regions. Elevational gradients of 305–4340 m, combined with limited human development, further enhance the interest of natural history and faunal distributions in this range. We found 13 bat species in the course of 2668 observations. Three of these species, the spotted bat (Euderma maculatum), silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans), and hoary bat (Lasturus cinereus), have no previous records from the White–Inyo Range. We found bats in all vegetation zones except alpine, 3500–4342 m. Despite an abundance of mines in this range, only Townsend's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) and western small-footed myotis (Myotis ciliolabrum) used them routinely. Our data also indicated the importance of surface water to bat populations in arid regions.

Recommended Citation

Szewczak, Joseph M.; Szewczak, Susan M.; Morrison, Michael L.; and Hall, Linnea S. (1998) "Bats of the White and Inyo Mountains of California–Nevada," Great Basin Naturalist: Vol. 58: No. 1, Article 7.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn/vol58/iss1/7