Matina C. Kalcounis-Rüppell

My teaching and research interests include the behavior and ecology of wild mammals, especially bats and rodents and their use of ultrasound. I have taught classes in vertebrate zoology and ecology. I am a past chair of the North American Society for Bat Research. I give regular presentations to the public about wildlife conservation, including a popular Halloween season program on bats.

There are 50 included publications by Matina C. Kalcounis-Rüppell :

TitleDateViewsBrief Description
A 23-year-old little brown bat record from southwest Saskatchewan, Canada 2017 532 After accounting for body size, bats have the longest lifespan of all mammals. Little Brown Bats (Myotis lucifugus) are one of the most common and widely distributed mammals in Canada; however, little is known of their longevity. We captured bats in ...
Altered Understory Characteristics Affect Spatial and Foraging Behaviors and Reproduction Patterns 2018 242 Understanding how changes to habitat characteristics affect behaviors is necessary to integrate biodiversity goals with land management. Managed forests are a significant landscape component in the southern United States and provide opportunities for...
Application of object tracking in video recordings to the observation of mice in the wild 2013 1103 We give an overview of methods used to track moving objects in video and describe how information about animal behavior can be extracted from tracking data. We discuss how computer-aided observation can be used to identify and pre-select potentially ...
Axle grease as an alternative adhesive for use on sticky traps. 1992 3840 One of the more frequently used methods of sampling flying insects is the sticky trap. These traps are often used to evaluate the type and size of prey available for aerial insec-tivores, such as bats and birds (e.g. Barclay 1991; Brigham 1992). Non-...
Bat Activity in the Boreal Forest: Importance of Stand Type and Vertical Strata 1999 4448 We examined habitat use by bats in the boreal forest of central Saskatchewan during summer 1995 by monitoring echolocation calls across forest types and through the canopy of mature forest. We sampled bat activity in mature aspen (Populus tremul...
Bat Ecology [book review] 2004 3196 A broad review of bat ecology is timely because of advances over the past two decades in the technical approaches to the study of bats in an ecological and evolutionary framework. These advances include, but are not limited to, a range of ultrasonic ...
Bats and the loss of tree canopy in African woodland. 1998 2216 We studied the activity patterns, abundance, diversity, and diets of bats, along with the abundance of nocturnal volant insects, at 30 sites in Miombo woodland in northern Zimbabwe. The woodland at 50% of the sites had been disturbed by high elephant...
Beating the odds: weather effects on a short season population of mice. 2002 1668 We examined 11 years of data on reproductive success, survival, and population dynamics of two popula-tions (Fortress and Grizzly) of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) in the Kananaskis Valley, Alberta, to investigate the extent to which the dynamic...
Behavioural Ecology: An Evolutionary Approach [book review] 1998 2848 For the past 20 years, J. R. Krebs and N. B. Davies have been synonymous with introductory books on behavioural ecology. In their fourth edition of Behavioural Ecology: An Evolutionary Approach, they incorporate similar topics from previous editions ...
The bold, silent type: predictors of ultrasonic vocalizations in the genus Peromyscus 2018 416 An ongoing question related to the evolution of monogamy is how behavioral traits that characterize individuals in monogamous species evolve, and whether monogamy influences the evolution of these traits. One of the most important models for the stud...
Can External Radiotransmitters be used to Assess Body Temperature and Torpor in Bats? 1996 1895 We tested externally applied, temperature-sensitive, radiotransmitters for determining the body temperature of big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) in various ambient temperatures (2- 260C). There was a slight, but significant, effect of ambien...
Determining species-specific nightly bat activity in sites with varying urban intensity 2018 396 Time of peak bat activity during the night differs among bat species due to temperature, prey availability, habitat availability, and/or interactions between species. Habitat availability is altered in urban areas, which may affect insect prey availa...
Differences in Ultrasonic Vocalizations between Wild and Laboratory California Mice (Peromyscus californicus) 2010 1375 Background: Ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) emitted by muroid rodents, including laboratory mice and rats, are used as phenotypic markers in behavioral assays and biomedical research. Interpretation of these USVs depends on understanding the signific...
Effect of fluorescent powder marking of females on mate choice by male white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus). 2001 2549 Although fluorescent powder marking is a well established and common marking technique used by small-mammal ecologists, few studies have commented on how it might affect behavior. Potential effects on behavior are particularly relevant in studies tha...
Effect of Removal of Woody Biomass after Clearcutting and Intercropping Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) with Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) on Rodent Diversity and Populations 2012 1215 Plant-based feedstocks have long been considered viable, potential sources for biofuels. However, concerns regarding production effects may outweigh gains like carbon savings. Additional information is needed to understand environmental effects of gr...
Effects of habitat modification on cotton rat population dynamics and rodent community structure 2016 324 Concerns over climate change and finite fossil fuels have generated interest in biofuels. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), a biofuel feedstock, was planted in intensively managed loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) stands to investigate sustainability of this...
Effects of wastewater treatment plant effluent on bat foraging ecology in an urban stream system. 2007 6094 Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent in the Cape Fear River Basin headwaters in North Carolina, USA, has influenced stream water quality and aquatic components of the stream food web. To examine effects of WWTP effluent on terrestrial predators...
Elephants, woodlands and biodiversity in southern Africa. 1997 12776 When elephant densities exceed approximately 0.5 per km[2], savanna woodlands are generally converted to shrub-lands or grasslands. The impact of such elephant-mediated habitat change on biodiversity in African game reserves has seldom been measured....
Female and male adult brush mice (Peromyscus boylii) use ultrasonic vocalizations in the wild 2013 318 We examined the individual context of ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) produced by free-living wild male and female adult brush mice (Peromyscus boylii). We tested the hypothesis that USV production is dependent on behavioral context, and is important...
A genetic analysis of group movement in an isolated population of tree-roosting bats 2008 1265 Group fission is an important dispersal mechanism for philopatric adults. In Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, Saskatchewan, tree-roosting big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) exhibit fission–fusion roosting behaviour. During 2004–2007, the majority o...
Genetic relatedness in winter populations of seasonally gregarious southern flying squirrels, Glaucomys volans 2010 237 Southern flying squirrels (Glaucomys volans) face a dilemma: winter aggregation is beneficial for thermoregulation but costly due to nest mates pilfering stored food in the home area and the tendency for groups to attract predators. Living with kin i...
Genetic relationships of roost-mates in a fission-fusion society of tree-roosting big brown bats. 2007 1908 Abstract: Kin-based patterns of associations are often observed in group living mammals. Colonies of forest-living big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) exhibit fission–fusion roosting behavior and female philopatry. Within a roosting area of forest, ad...
Hard forest edges act as conduits, not filters, for bats 2013 324 High levels of bat activity have been reported at forest edges worldwide, but few studies have examined the ecological function of edges as a linear landscape feature. Patterns of association of bats at edges between old and young forest stands (hard...
Impact of predation risk on emergence by little brown bats, Myotis lucifugus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), from a maternity colony. 1994 3261 When bats emerge from their roosts in the evening to forage and drink, it appears as though their departure involves brief periods when many individuals emerge interspersed with periods during which few individuals emerge. Clustering is seen in many ...
Influence of Intensive Pine Management on Dipteran Community Structure in Coastal North Carolina 2009 225 Intensive pine (Pinus spp.) management is a primary land use in the southeastern United States. In eastern North Carolina, intensively managed pine stands often occur on land previously ditched and drained. Because modification of natural vegetation ...
Intercropping Switchgrass with Loblolly Pine Does Not Influence the Functional Role of the White-footed Mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) 2013 1571 Intercropping biofuel feedstocks in managed forests of the southeastern United States is a potentially sustainable source of renewable energy. Ecological effects of energy crops in forests are poorly understood, and it is unknown whether the ecologic...
Intraspecific Variation in Roost-site Selection by Little Brown Bats (<i>Myotis lucifugus</i>) 1996 1625 Although many species of bats select roost sites in large trees that are in open areas, intraspecific variation in roost-site selection may exist. We collected data on the roosting behaviour of little brown bats in the Cypress Hills, Saskatchewan,...
Intraspecific variation in wing loading affects habitat use by little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus). 1995 3508 Morphological constraints have been linked to habitat partitioning by different species of animals. Interspecific differences have been explored, but less is known about the relationship between individuals of the same species. The purpose of this st...
Lavia frons 1999 1827 Lavia frons (Fig. 1) is distinguished from all other African bats except Cardioderma cor in having a large, erect noseleaf, a divided tragus, and large ears that are basally united across the top of the head. Lavia frons diffe...
Male fidelity expressed through rapid testosterone suppression of ultrasonic vocalizations to novel females in the monogamous California mouse 2015 1266 The steroid hormone testosterone (T) is a well-known mediator of male sexual behavior in vertebrates. However, less is known about T's rapid effects on sexual behavior, particularly those involving ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), a mode of communica...
Medium-and long-term reuse of trembling aspen cavities as roosts by big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) 2003 1758 Roost availability may limit some bat populations, implying that there may be a selective advantage associated with the ability to reuse sites on an annual basis. We monitored aspen tree use by Eptesicus fuscus during multi-year studies (spann...
Myotis septentrionalis Trouessart (Northern Long-eared Bat) Records from the Coastal Plain of North Carolina 2009 3577 Myotis septentrionalis (Northern Long-eared Bat) is a small, insectivorous bat found in the eastern United States and Canada. Along the east coast, its range is thought to extend as far south as the Great Dismal Swamp in coastal Virginia. We...
Partitioning Of Space, Food, and Time by Syntopic Peromyscus Boylii and P. Californicus 2002 3127 We used trap associations, nest-site preferences, a food selection experiment, and measurements of nightly activity to describe resource partitioning by syntopic Peromyscus californicus and P. boyliiin Monterey County, California. P. californicus and...
Peromyscus boylii (Rodentia: Cricetidae) 2009 2621 Peromyscus boylii (Baird, 1855), the brush deermouse, is a common cricetid rodent in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is a member of the Peromyscus boylii species group and has had a complicated taxonomic history because ...
Predation of free-ranging Common Poorwills in Saskatchewan. 1995 1412 Although losses of Common Poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii) nests to predators are common, little is known about predation on adults. Remains of three adults, radio-tagged in Cypress Hills Provincial Park, Saskatchewan, were found. The transmitter ...
Preliminary notes on bat activity and echolocation in northwestern Argentina 2003 372 We recorded echolocation sequences to examine activity of bats in 4 biomes of northwestern Argentina during August 1997 (early southern spring). Our aims were to evaluate the level of bat activity among the four biomes and to preliminarily investigat...
Production of ultrasonic vocalizations by Peromyscus mice in the wild. 2006 1895 Background: There has been considerable research on rodent ultrasound in the laboratory and these sounds have been well quantified and characterized. Despite the value of research on ultrasound produced by mice in the lab, it is unclear if, and whe...
Rapid increases in bat activity and diversity after wetland construction in an urban ecosystem 2018 435 Wetland construction can mitigate the biodiversity and water quality losses associated with reduced natural wetland coverage. While beneficial effects of wetland construction for bats have been observed in natural and rural settings, the effects of w...
Relationships of Basal Metabolism and Life History Attributes in Neotomine-Peromyscine Rodents (Cricetidae: Neotominae). 2007 1902 With the exception of a positive relationship between energy expenditure and number of offspring per litter, few links have been made between energy expenditure and life history attributes in mammals. The purpose of this study was to examine relation...
Response of rodent community structure and population demographics to intercropping switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) within loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantations in a forest-dominated landscape 2014 259 Intercropping switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in existing managed pine (Pinus spp.) forests potentially can produce a biofuel feedstock without encumbering additional arable land. However, it is not clear how intercropping, which changes understory ve...
Rodent population and community responses to forest based biofuels production 2014 273 Intensively managed forests in the southeastern United States are a potential source of cellulosic bioenergy and, as conversion technologies improve and demand increases, a greater land area may be required to produce biofuel feedstocks. However, res...
Secondary Use of Aspen Cavities by Tree-Roosting Big Brown Bats 1998 4550 To further explore natural roost-site selection by temperate bats, we examined the use of tree roost sites by big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) in the West Block of Cypress Hills Provincial Park, Saskatchewan, an area where the number of hum...
Separating the effects of water quality and urbanization on temperate insectivorous bats at the landscape scale 2017 1195 [2017-2018 UNCG University Libraries Open Access Publishing Fund Grant Winner.] Many local scale studies have shown that bats respond to water quality degradation or urbanization in a species-specific manner. However, few have separated the effects o...
Similar Acoustic Structure and Behavioural Context of Vocalizations Produced by Male and Female California Mice in the Wild 2011 1367 Ultrasonic vocalizations (USV) are an important part of multimodal communication in mice; however, nothing is known about the behavioural context of USV production by individual mice in the wild. Using remote-sensing methods we recorded USVs from ind...
Testosterone pulses at the nest site modify ultrasonic vocalization types in a monogamous and territorial mouse 2018 240 Modulation of baseline testosterone (T) via long-lasting T implants alters territorial, sexual, and social behavior of animals in the field. Transient T increases occur in numerous species after social interactions, but these transient increases in T...
Tree roost selection by bats: an empirical synthesis using meta-analysis. 2005 2466 Over the past 2 decades, we have begun to accumulate a basic understanding of the roosting and foraging ecology of temperate insectivorous bats in forests. As our understanding improves, it is not surprising there should be attempts at synthesizing o...
Ultrasonic vocalizations of male mice differ among species and females show assortative preference for male calls 2015 474 Male house mice (Mus musculus) emit ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) during courtship, which attract females, and we aimed to test whether females use these vocalizations for species or subspecies recognition of potential mates. We recorded courtship ...
Use of forest edges by bats in a managed pine forest landscape 2010 638 Forest edges often have increased species richness and abundance (edge effect) and affect spatial behaviors of species and dynamics of species interactions. Landscapes of intensively managed pine (Pinus spp.) stands are characterized by a mosaic of p...
Use of modified water sources by bats in a managed pine landscape 2009 389 In eastern North Carolina, USA, intensively managed pine (Pinus spp.) forests, a primary forest type in the Southeastern United States, often are established where water levels are maintained via ditching. In these landscapes, water occurs in numerou...
Winter Activity of Coastal Plain Populations of Bat Species Affected by White-Nose Syndrome and Wind Energy Facilities 2016 742 Across the entire distribution of a species, populations may have variable responses to environmental perturbations. Many bat species experience mortality in large portions of their range during hibernation and along migratory paths to and from winte...