Time and Energy Budgets for Dayroosting in a Maternity Colony of Myotis lucifugus

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Abstract
Dayroosting behavior of the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) was observed in a maternity colony located in central Massachusetts. The percentages of time spent in various activities were: resting 79%, grooming 14%, active 5%, and moving 1%. Significant differences were found in the amount of time allocated to these activities by bats occupying different positions within clusters and for different times of day and year. Conspecific interactions were restricted to the period of cluster formation at dawn when late returning bats attempted to obtain central positions within groups. Using two measures of roost temperature, the energetic cost of dayroosting was estimated to be 3.13–7.35 kJ, or 12–24% of the daily energy budget. Nonresting behavior, primarily grooming, accounted for more than half of the energy expended during the dayroosting period.