Acoustic sampling considerations for bats in the post-white-nose syndrome landscape

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dc.contributor.authorBarr, Elaine Lewisen
dc.contributor.committeechairFord, W. Marken
dc.contributor.committeememberStauffer, Dean F.en
dc.contributor.committeememberSilvis, Alexanderen
dc.contributor.departmentFish and Wildlife Conservationen
dc.date.accessioned2021-07-21T06:00:06Zen
dc.date.available2021-07-21T06:00:06Zen
dc.date.issued2020-01-27en
dc.description.abstractBat populations across North America are either facing new threats from white-nose syndrome (WNS) and wind energy development or have already experienced precipitous declines. Accordingly, researchers and managers need to know how to best monitor bats to document population and distribution changes, as well as where to look for persisting populations. Landscape-scale WNS impacts to summer bat populations are not well understood, and although acoustic monitoring is commonly used to monitor these populations, there is limited information about differences among acoustic detectors and the implications to managers thereof. My objectives were to model the relationship between WNS impact, influence of available hibernacula, and environmental factors for summer nightly presence of three WNS-affected bats and to compare how multiple models of acoustic detectors perform in terms of detection probability and nightly recorded bat activity. I collected acoustic data from 10 study areas across Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky to describe changes in nightly presence of WNS-affected bat species during summer 2017. During the same period of time, I compared five types of acoustic detectors at Fort Knox, Kentucky. My results show the potential efficacy of using a WNS impact-year metric to predict summer bat presence, and highlight which environmental variables are relevant for large-scale acoustic monitoring. Additionally, my findings suggest that each of the detector types tested would suffice for most research and monitoring activities, but standardization of detector type within the scope of a project or study should be encouraged.en
dc.description.abstractgeneralBat populations across North America are either facing new threats from white-nose syndrome (WNS) and wind energy development or have already experienced devastating declines. Accordingly, wildlife biologists need to know how to best monitor bats to document population and distribution changes, as well as where to look for remaining populations. Landscape-scale WNS impacts to summer bat populations are not well understood, and although acoustic technology is commonly used to monitor these populations, there is limited information about differences among acoustic detectors and the implications to managers thereof. My objectives were to model the relationship between WNS impact, influence of available bat hibernation caves, and environmental factors for summer nightly presence of three WNS-affected bats and to compare how multiple models of acoustic detectors perform in terms of detection probability and nightly recorded bat activity. I collected acoustic data from 10 study areas across Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky to describe changes in nightly presence of WNS-affected bat species during summer 2017. During the same period of time, I compared five types of acoustic detectors at Fort Knox, Kentucky. My results show potential viability of a WNS impact-year metric to predict summer bat presence, and highlight which environmental variables are relevant for large-scale acoustic monitoring. Additionally, my findings suggest that each of the detector types tested would suit most research and monitoring activities, but standardization of detector type within the scope of a project or study should be encouraged.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:23687en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/104232en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectAcoustic monitoringen
dc.subjectdetection probabilityen
dc.subjectbat activityen
dc.subjectMyotis septentrionalisen
dc.subjectMyotis sodalisen
dc.subjectLasiurus borealisen
dc.subjectEptesicus fuscusen
dc.subjectwhite-nose syndromeen
dc.subjectGIS interpolationen
dc.subjectbat acousticsen
dc.subjectbat detectoren
dc.titleAcoustic sampling considerations for bats in the post-white-nose syndrome landscapeen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineFisheries and Wildlife Scienceen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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