Kristina Montoya-Aiona
Kristina Montoya-Aiona has been with PIERC since 2010. Her research has focused on the ecology and conservation of the Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus). Kristina also manages safety and facilities for the center.
Education and Certifications
M.S. University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science, 2020
B.S. University of New Mexico, Biology, 2010
Science and Products
High Elevation Cave Surveys for Bats and White Nose Syndrome
This project examined altitudinal movements of the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat and their use of high elevation caves on the slopes of Mauna Loa volcano on the island of Hawai‘i.
Filter Total Items: 13
Island of Hawai'i, 'ōpe‘ape‘a day-roost use, 2018-2022 Island of Hawai'i, 'ōpe‘ape‘a day-roost use, 2018-2022
The 'ōpe‘ape‘a, also known as the Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus; Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), is a solitary, insectivorous, and foliage-roosting endemic species. We investigated day-roost lability and fidelity, nocturnal activity patterns at the roost, and long-term use of roosts by 'ōpe‘ape‘a. The full data release consists of six tabular datasets: (1) Island of Hawai‘i, 'ōpe...
Pearl Harbor National Memorial, O‘ahu Hawaiian Hoary bat acoustic activity and tree metric data, 2024 Pearl Harbor National Memorial, O‘ahu Hawaiian Hoary bat acoustic activity and tree metric data, 2024
We examined acoustic activity of the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat ('ōpe'ape'a; Lasiurus semotus), as well as surveyed potential roost trees at Pearl Harbor National Memorial (PERL) located on Ford Island, O‘ahu, Hawaii. The study area was located at the Ford Island Chief Petty Officer's (CPO) Bungalows Neighborhood, which covers approximately 4 acres and includes five historic CPO...
Hawai‘i Island ʻōpeʻapeʻa (Hawaiian hoary bat; Lasiurus semotus) mist netting effort, capture, and tag retention, 2018–2021 Hawai‘i Island ʻōpeʻapeʻa (Hawaiian hoary bat; Lasiurus semotus) mist netting effort, capture, and tag retention, 2018–2021
‘Ōpe‘ape‘a (Hawaiian hoary bats; Lasiurus semotus) were surveyed at 23 sites on Hawaiʻi Island from 33 to 2,341 m elevation from May 2018 to August 2021. Of the 23 sites, 8 were established as fixed survey sites for sampling at repeated intervals from January 2019 through January 2021. We surveyed each fixed site at least once per four-month period (January–April, May–August, September...
Hawaiʻi Island ʻōpeʻapeʻa (Hawaiian hoary bat) roost data, 2018–2021 Hawaiʻi Island ʻōpeʻapeʻa (Hawaiian hoary bat) roost data, 2018–2021
Hawaiian hoary bats ('ōpe'ape'a; Lasiurus semotus) were captured and tracked back to roosting locations on Hawaiʻi Island from 2018-2021. We examined resource selection at multiple spatial scales - perch location within a roost tree, roost tree, and forest stand. We used a discrete choice modeling approach to investigate roost selection and describe attributes of day-roost trees...
Marine Corps Base Hawaii Oahu Hawaiian Hoary Bat Acoustic Data 2019-2021 Marine Corps Base Hawaii Oahu Hawaiian Hoary Bat Acoustic Data 2019-2021
Acoustic sampling for presence of the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus, also known as Aeorestes semotus) was conducted at 17 stations across four Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) properties on O‘ahu Island, Hawai‘i. Bats were confirmed as present at all properties; MCBH K?ne?ohe Bay on M?kapu Peninsula, Marine Corps Training Area Bellows (MCTAB) in Waimanalo, Camp H.M...
Hawaii Island, Hawaiian hoary bat acoustic data pre- and post-koa moth outbreak, 2007-2013 Hawaii Island, Hawaiian hoary bat acoustic data pre- and post-koa moth outbreak, 2007-2013
We examined Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus) presence and foraging activity at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge and Lupahoehoe Forest Reserve on Hawai'i Island during the 2013 koa moth (Geometridea: Scotorythra paludicola) outbreak. Hawaiian hoary bat echolocation vocalizations were recorded at seven acoustic stations between 1069 and 1200 m above sea level that operated...
Filter Total Items: 18
Day-roost use by ‘ōpe‘ape‘a, the Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus) Day-roost use by ‘ōpe‘ape‘a, the Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus)
The ‘ōpe‘ape‘a, also known as the Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus; family Vespertilionidae), is a solitary, insectivorous, foliage-roosting endemic species. Over a three-year period, we investigated day-roost lability and fidelity of 35 bats at 52 roosts (for a total of 544 days of observation), and roost emergence and return patterns of 46 bats at 50 roosts (for a total of 277 days...
Authors
P. Marcos Gorresen, Kristina Montoya-Aiona, Karen Courtot, Amy L. Vievard, Josephine L. Tupu
Inventory of bat activity at Pearl Harbor National Memorial to inform historic preservation and compliance Inventory of bat activity at Pearl Harbor National Memorial to inform historic preservation and compliance
We examined ‘ōpe‘ape‘a, or Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus; Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), acoustic activity and surveyed potential roost trees at the Ford Island Chief Petty Officer’s (CPO) Bungalows Neighborhood of Pearl Harbor National Memorial (PERL) on the island of O‘ahu. We established four acoustic monitoring stations (PERL1–PERL4) that operated nightly to survey for ‘ōpe...
Authors
Kristina Montoya-Aiona, Karen Courtot
Seasonal and elevational differences by sex in capture rate of ʻōpeʻapeʻa (Lasiurus semotus) on Hawai‘i Island Seasonal and elevational differences by sex in capture rate of ʻōpeʻapeʻa (Lasiurus semotus) on Hawai‘i Island
The study of nocturnally active bats is difficult even for those species that seasonally congregate. This challenge is particularly acute for ‘ōpe‘ape‘a (Hawaiian hoary bat; Lasiurus semotus) because of its solitary foliage-roosting behavior. Yet surveys are essential for conservation and management of this endangered species and only land mammal endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. We...
Authors
Julia P. S. Hoeh, Aaron A. Aguirre, Flor A. Calderon, Sean P. Casler, Sarah G. Ciarrachi, Karen Courtot, Kristina Montoya-Aiona, Corinna A. Pinzari, P. Marcos Gorresen
Multi-scale assessment of roost selection by ‘ōpe‘ape‘a, the Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus) Multi-scale assessment of roost selection by ‘ōpe‘ape‘a, the Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus)
The Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus; Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), commonly and locally known as ‘ōpe‘ape‘a, is a solitary, insectivorous, and foliage-roosting species distributed across a wide range of habitats in lowland and montane environments. The species, as with many others in the Hawaiian archipelago, are facing a suite of challenges due to habitat loss and degradation...
Authors
Kristina Montoya-Aiona, P. Marcos Gorresen, Karen Courtot, Aaron A. Aguirre, Flor A. Calderon, Sean P. Casler, Sarah G. Ciarrachi, Julia P. S. Hoeh, Josephine L. Tupu, Terry L. Zinn
Hypotheses and lessons from a native moth outbreak in a low-diversity, tropical rainforest Hypotheses and lessons from a native moth outbreak in a low-diversity, tropical rainforest
Outbreaks of defoliating insects in low-diversity tropical forests occur infrequently but provide valuable insights about outbreak ecology in temperate environments and in general. We investigated an extensive outbreak of the endemic koa moth (Scotorythra paludicola), which defoliated endemic koa trees (Acacia koa) over a third of their range on Hawai‘i Island during 2013 and 2014. At...
Authors
Paul C. Banko, Robert W. Peck, Stephanie G. Yelenik, Eben H. Paxton, Frank Bonaccorso, Kristina Montoya-Aiona, R. Flint Hughes, Steven S. Perakis
Hawaiian hoary bat acoustic surveys on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, 2019–2021 Hawaiian hoary bat acoustic surveys on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, 2019–2021
The endangered Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus, Vespertilionidae, also known as Aeorestes semotus and ‘ōpe‘ape‘a) occurs on all the principal volcanic islands in Hawai‘i. Advances in acoustic bat monitoring techniques have contributed to the body of knowledge of bat activity and behavior in many areas of the State of Hawai‘i; however, there is still much that is unknown about the...
Authors
Corinna A. Pinzari, Kristina Montoya-Aiona, Danielle Gross, Karen Courtot
Science and Products
High Elevation Cave Surveys for Bats and White Nose Syndrome
This project examined altitudinal movements of the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat and their use of high elevation caves on the slopes of Mauna Loa volcano on the island of Hawai‘i.
Filter Total Items: 13
Island of Hawai'i, 'ōpe‘ape‘a day-roost use, 2018-2022 Island of Hawai'i, 'ōpe‘ape‘a day-roost use, 2018-2022
The 'ōpe‘ape‘a, also known as the Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus; Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), is a solitary, insectivorous, and foliage-roosting endemic species. We investigated day-roost lability and fidelity, nocturnal activity patterns at the roost, and long-term use of roosts by 'ōpe‘ape‘a. The full data release consists of six tabular datasets: (1) Island of Hawai‘i, 'ōpe...
Pearl Harbor National Memorial, O‘ahu Hawaiian Hoary bat acoustic activity and tree metric data, 2024 Pearl Harbor National Memorial, O‘ahu Hawaiian Hoary bat acoustic activity and tree metric data, 2024
We examined acoustic activity of the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat ('ōpe'ape'a; Lasiurus semotus), as well as surveyed potential roost trees at Pearl Harbor National Memorial (PERL) located on Ford Island, O‘ahu, Hawaii. The study area was located at the Ford Island Chief Petty Officer's (CPO) Bungalows Neighborhood, which covers approximately 4 acres and includes five historic CPO...
Hawai‘i Island ʻōpeʻapeʻa (Hawaiian hoary bat; Lasiurus semotus) mist netting effort, capture, and tag retention, 2018–2021 Hawai‘i Island ʻōpeʻapeʻa (Hawaiian hoary bat; Lasiurus semotus) mist netting effort, capture, and tag retention, 2018–2021
‘Ōpe‘ape‘a (Hawaiian hoary bats; Lasiurus semotus) were surveyed at 23 sites on Hawaiʻi Island from 33 to 2,341 m elevation from May 2018 to August 2021. Of the 23 sites, 8 were established as fixed survey sites for sampling at repeated intervals from January 2019 through January 2021. We surveyed each fixed site at least once per four-month period (January–April, May–August, September...
Hawaiʻi Island ʻōpeʻapeʻa (Hawaiian hoary bat) roost data, 2018–2021 Hawaiʻi Island ʻōpeʻapeʻa (Hawaiian hoary bat) roost data, 2018–2021
Hawaiian hoary bats ('ōpe'ape'a; Lasiurus semotus) were captured and tracked back to roosting locations on Hawaiʻi Island from 2018-2021. We examined resource selection at multiple spatial scales - perch location within a roost tree, roost tree, and forest stand. We used a discrete choice modeling approach to investigate roost selection and describe attributes of day-roost trees...
Marine Corps Base Hawaii Oahu Hawaiian Hoary Bat Acoustic Data 2019-2021 Marine Corps Base Hawaii Oahu Hawaiian Hoary Bat Acoustic Data 2019-2021
Acoustic sampling for presence of the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus, also known as Aeorestes semotus) was conducted at 17 stations across four Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) properties on O‘ahu Island, Hawai‘i. Bats were confirmed as present at all properties; MCBH K?ne?ohe Bay on M?kapu Peninsula, Marine Corps Training Area Bellows (MCTAB) in Waimanalo, Camp H.M...
Hawaii Island, Hawaiian hoary bat acoustic data pre- and post-koa moth outbreak, 2007-2013 Hawaii Island, Hawaiian hoary bat acoustic data pre- and post-koa moth outbreak, 2007-2013
We examined Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus) presence and foraging activity at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge and Lupahoehoe Forest Reserve on Hawai'i Island during the 2013 koa moth (Geometridea: Scotorythra paludicola) outbreak. Hawaiian hoary bat echolocation vocalizations were recorded at seven acoustic stations between 1069 and 1200 m above sea level that operated...
Filter Total Items: 18
Day-roost use by ‘ōpe‘ape‘a, the Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus) Day-roost use by ‘ōpe‘ape‘a, the Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus)
The ‘ōpe‘ape‘a, also known as the Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus; family Vespertilionidae), is a solitary, insectivorous, foliage-roosting endemic species. Over a three-year period, we investigated day-roost lability and fidelity of 35 bats at 52 roosts (for a total of 544 days of observation), and roost emergence and return patterns of 46 bats at 50 roosts (for a total of 277 days...
Authors
P. Marcos Gorresen, Kristina Montoya-Aiona, Karen Courtot, Amy L. Vievard, Josephine L. Tupu
Inventory of bat activity at Pearl Harbor National Memorial to inform historic preservation and compliance Inventory of bat activity at Pearl Harbor National Memorial to inform historic preservation and compliance
We examined ‘ōpe‘ape‘a, or Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus; Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), acoustic activity and surveyed potential roost trees at the Ford Island Chief Petty Officer’s (CPO) Bungalows Neighborhood of Pearl Harbor National Memorial (PERL) on the island of O‘ahu. We established four acoustic monitoring stations (PERL1–PERL4) that operated nightly to survey for ‘ōpe...
Authors
Kristina Montoya-Aiona, Karen Courtot
Seasonal and elevational differences by sex in capture rate of ʻōpeʻapeʻa (Lasiurus semotus) on Hawai‘i Island Seasonal and elevational differences by sex in capture rate of ʻōpeʻapeʻa (Lasiurus semotus) on Hawai‘i Island
The study of nocturnally active bats is difficult even for those species that seasonally congregate. This challenge is particularly acute for ‘ōpe‘ape‘a (Hawaiian hoary bat; Lasiurus semotus) because of its solitary foliage-roosting behavior. Yet surveys are essential for conservation and management of this endangered species and only land mammal endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. We...
Authors
Julia P. S. Hoeh, Aaron A. Aguirre, Flor A. Calderon, Sean P. Casler, Sarah G. Ciarrachi, Karen Courtot, Kristina Montoya-Aiona, Corinna A. Pinzari, P. Marcos Gorresen
Multi-scale assessment of roost selection by ‘ōpe‘ape‘a, the Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus) Multi-scale assessment of roost selection by ‘ōpe‘ape‘a, the Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus)
The Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus; Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), commonly and locally known as ‘ōpe‘ape‘a, is a solitary, insectivorous, and foliage-roosting species distributed across a wide range of habitats in lowland and montane environments. The species, as with many others in the Hawaiian archipelago, are facing a suite of challenges due to habitat loss and degradation...
Authors
Kristina Montoya-Aiona, P. Marcos Gorresen, Karen Courtot, Aaron A. Aguirre, Flor A. Calderon, Sean P. Casler, Sarah G. Ciarrachi, Julia P. S. Hoeh, Josephine L. Tupu, Terry L. Zinn
Hypotheses and lessons from a native moth outbreak in a low-diversity, tropical rainforest Hypotheses and lessons from a native moth outbreak in a low-diversity, tropical rainforest
Outbreaks of defoliating insects in low-diversity tropical forests occur infrequently but provide valuable insights about outbreak ecology in temperate environments and in general. We investigated an extensive outbreak of the endemic koa moth (Scotorythra paludicola), which defoliated endemic koa trees (Acacia koa) over a third of their range on Hawai‘i Island during 2013 and 2014. At...
Authors
Paul C. Banko, Robert W. Peck, Stephanie G. Yelenik, Eben H. Paxton, Frank Bonaccorso, Kristina Montoya-Aiona, R. Flint Hughes, Steven S. Perakis
Hawaiian hoary bat acoustic surveys on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, 2019–2021 Hawaiian hoary bat acoustic surveys on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, 2019–2021
The endangered Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus, Vespertilionidae, also known as Aeorestes semotus and ‘ōpe‘ape‘a) occurs on all the principal volcanic islands in Hawai‘i. Advances in acoustic bat monitoring techniques have contributed to the body of knowledge of bat activity and behavior in many areas of the State of Hawai‘i; however, there is still much that is unknown about the...
Authors
Corinna A. Pinzari, Kristina Montoya-Aiona, Danielle Gross, Karen Courtot