Mona Colburn

Bat guano deposits are common in the Mammoth Cave system (Kentucky, USA). Paleontological remains associated with these deposits are important records of local landscape changes. Recent excavations in the cave suggest that vertebrate remains in most of these deposits are dominated by Chiroptera. Although no extinct fauna were identified, the presence of a large roost of Tadarida brasiliensis in the Chief City section is beyond the northern extent of its current range suggesting that this deposit dates to an undetermined interglacial period. Stable isotope analyses of Tadarida-associated guano indicate a C3 prey signature characteristic of forested habitat. This was unexpected since this species is typically associated with open environments. Further ecomorphological analysis of wing shape trends in interglacial, Holocene, and historic-aged assemblages indicate that interglacial faunas are dominated by fast-flying, open-space taxa (T. brasiliensis) while late Holocene and Historic as...

Mammoth Cave guano deposits contain a rich record of troglofauna spanning the last 125,000 years. In particular, chiropteran remains from Chief City provide insight into ecosystem dynamics of the cave area during the last interglacial. This paper presents results of paleontological excavations undertaken in 2008. Sub-fossil remains (N=1134) in Chief City guano deposits are dominated by chiropteran taxa. Although all identifi ed taxa are extant, the combination of Myotis leibii and Tadarida brasiliensis is an association without modern analogue. Stable isotope analyses of guano indicate a C3 prey signature characteristic of forested habitat. This was unexpected given the prevalence of T. brasiliensis, a species that is typically associated with open environments. Ecomorphological consideration of wing shape trends in these assemblages indicate that interglacial faunas are dominated by fast-fl ying, open-space taxa (T. brasiliensis) while late Holocene and Historic assemblages contain...